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I take her chin in my hand and tilt her face up toward mine. I laugh softly and shake my head at her. "And here I thought you didn't have any wicked side in you," I say teasingly. "But I guess I was wrong."
She looks surprised for a moment before a small smile spreads across her lips as she takes in what I've said. She playfully punches me on the arm and shakes her head at me, though there's no hiding the twinkle of amusement in her eyes.
"Don't be fooled - this is nothing compared to how bad I can be," she says with a mischievous smirk on her face.
I chuckle and raise an eyebrow at her as if to say, “Oh really?” causing Olivia to break out into peals of laughter that echo through the parking lot.
"Where did you learn to curse like a sailor?" I ask jokingly.
Olivia's laughter fades away, yet the twinkle in her eyes remains as she looks at me thoughtfully. "My dad," she says finally, her voice a little wistful.
I smile gently and nod in understanding before bringing the moment back to light-heartedness. "Ah, well then I should really meet him someday. Maybe he could teach me a thing or two," I joke lightly.
"Meet my dad?" she laughs. "Yeah, right. Like that'll ever happen."
Something in me stirs.
I can't quite put my finger on it, but the idea of meeting Olivia's dad suddenly seems like a challenge I want to take on. I want to prove to her that I'm worth introducing to her family, that I'm more than just another guy she's dated.
"Hey, you never know," I say with a shrug, trying not to show my eagerness. "I'm pretty good at winning people over."
Olivia looks at me skeptically, but there's a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "We'll see," she says, though her tone is lighter now.
I grin at her, feeling a sudden burst of confidence. "Challenge accepted," I say, and we both laugh.
"No, seriously, Olivia," I say, now my voice settles on a whisper. "I want to meet your father ... please."
Olivia looks at me, her expression turning serious. "It's not that simple, you know," she says, her voice low. "He's not the easiest person to get along with. And there are other things to consider ... like our age difference. Plus, he doesn’t even know I’m seeing you. He might flip when he learns you’re a real estate developer. He hates real estate developers."
"I understand that," I reply, still determined. "But I want to try. I want to show you how much you mean to me, and meeting your family is a big part of that. It's not fair that you and Emily spend so much time together, and I'm being kept away from your family like a dirty little secret."
She studies me for a moment as if weighing her options. "Okay," she finally says, her voice softening. "Not anytime soon, but I’ll think about it... you know, for down the line."
I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. "Thank you, Olivia. You won't regret it."
We stand there for a moment, looking at each other, before Olivia leans in and presses her lips to mine. The kiss is sweet and gentle, the way lovers kiss.
As we pull apart, Olivia rests her forehead against mine. "I think I’m kind of falling for you really bad," she whispers.
"I think I’m kind of falling in love with you really bad too," I reply, feeling my heart swell with emotion.
I put the car into start, one hand still intertwined with hers, and I can't help but feel like something has shifted between us. Meeting her dad might be a challenge, but it's a challenge I'm willing to take on for Olivia.
CHAPTER 17
OLIVIA
Fortwoweeksstraight,I can’t get that one thought out of my mind. Adrian Carter told me he thinks he’s kind of falling in love with me really bad.
Admittedly, I was the first one to say something along the lines of that. But, nowhere in that sentence did I use the word, “love.”
I’m happy I’m not the only one feeling this way, but I’m also scared. Love is such a strong word, and I’m not sure if I’m ready for it. But then again, maybe I’m just overthinking things. Maybe it’s just a crush that will pass eventually.
It's a funny thing, the way love sneaks up on you. One moment you're just casually dating someone, enjoying their company, and getting to know them. And then, before you know it, you can't stop thinking about them. You want to be with them all the time, to take care of them, and to make them happy.
That's how it is with Adrian. At first, I'm just intrigued by him. He's successful, charming, and very handsome. I enjoy spending time with him, but I don't take him too seriously. After all, I've been burned before. I'm just not eager to jump into another serious relationship with him.
But then, there's that foolish desire every heart holds dear. Love is love. Love triumphs over all else. And I get another thought, this one of disappointment. Why didn't he tell me he loved me? Why did he instead say,hethinks he’s kind of falling in love with me really bad?
