It's the first time she's openly asked me that since I got back from the cruise, and I've quite liked not having to answer any questions. It’s really given me time to figure out my relationship with Zach.
“It's going well, actually,” I say.
Olivia tilts her head. “Really?”
“Yeah. It's good. Zach's not pressuring me into anything. We just message each other about our days. It's nice to be able to talk to him like a friend, you know?”
She nods, letting out a small hum.
“He's really busy with his team, and I'm ready to head to college and start a new challenge.” It sounds rehearsed, but it's the truth. As much as I admire Olivia's contentment, I might have a little of it too.
She looks at me for a long moment, and I can see the follow-up questions queuing behind her eyes. Then she lets them go.
“Good,” she says simply. “I'm happy for you.”
“Thanks,” I say, unscrewing the soda and taking a sip.
“Ladies.”
Mike walks into the room, and the second he sees Olivia, his whole face softens. Not that he tries to hide it. He never has.
No. Mike Wilson has looked at Olivia like she’s his sunshine since they were in first grade.
I remember sitting at the back of a school bus while Olivia talked about him for forty-five solid minutes, then finished with ‘anyway, it’s not like that.’
I also lived through the painfully awkward month where she realized it was exactly like that.
I was on the phone at midnight the night he told her he loved her for the first time and was there when Mike proposed.
Never did I expect anything other than this perfect, beautiful life for them.
He makes his way to the rocking chair and kisses her on the top of her head before crouching down and dropping his hand to her stomach. Olivia immediately relaxes as she leans her head against his arm.
My heart does a little skip because all I see are two people finding their center of gravity.
“How's Zach?” Mike asks.
I look directly at him. “How did you—”
“Your face.” He says it with a grin. “You've got that dazed look in your eyes you get when you're thinking, talking, or looking at him. First time I noticed it was at senior prom.”
My cheeks heat, and I take a long swig of my drink to avoid saying anything.
He shrugs. “It's not a bad thing. Zach's face does the same thing whenever you're mentioned.”
It does?
I glance at Olivia. “He’s not lying.”
“We were just texting,” I say.
“Sure, texting when he's supposed to be playing his first NFL game in about—” he checks his watch, “three hours.”
“He's been at the stadium all day. He won't be late.”
“All day? Is that how long you've been texting?” he teases even though he knows the answer. “Anyway, since it's your last night with us, I thought we could get a pizza and watch his game.”
“Aww, that sounds good,” Olivia says. “Honey, what do you think?”
