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“It’s a racing game,” the kid says on automatic, and then briefly looks at her, “And hi, Miss Liv!”
I leave the duffel bag on the carpet near the couch and go sit by her side, placing an arm around her shoulders.
“You’re free to stay with us for as long as you need,” I say, and then kiss her temple.
However, she immediately pulls away, visibly uneasy, gritting her teeth as she expresses, “That's not what I had in mind, Alex.”
“I’m confused,” I say, blinking in surprise.
“Do you have any friends in real estate that can help me find a cheap place?” she asks, looking at me sideways.
“Um,” I lean forward, a hand on my chin. “I do have a friend in real estate, but his office doesn’t open until tomorrow. Think you can stand spending a night here?”
“Wow!” she laughs. “Staying here is not a horrible ordeal, Alex!”
“You made it sound like it,” I shrug, secretly bitter, but trying not to let it show.
“Alex…” She leans in, placing a hand on my thigh. “I told you I don’t want that much proximity between us yet!”
I look at her, my eyes narrow, but calm and collected inside. “Liv… I told you I don’t take things like…Making love,” I use the euphemism for the sake of Harlan, “lightly. For me this is serious, and it offends me deeply that you keep shunning me away.”
Liv looks at me with a solemn intensity, her eyes reflecting a profound seriousness. “Is that how you really feel?” she asks in a faltering voice.
I just nod. I think for a moment in averting my gaze from her, but instead, I keep my eyes focused on hers, firm and unrelenting, standing my ground and proving a point.
“Yes, Liv,” I say with a tiny smile on my lips. “This isexactlyhow I feel.”
She jumps on me then, kissing me, and holding me tight as if trying to rob me of all my air.
“What did I do to deserve all of this?” I ask, snickering, still gasping for air.
“For being such an adorable and sweet cinnamon bun, that’s what!” She gives me a peck and lets me go.
“Then you’ll stay?” I ask, threading carefully.
“No,” she says, standing up. “I better go to a hotel.”
My brain goes into a knot, “Okay, I’m confused again.”
And she laughs. “I promise I will start coming here more often, now that Bella… knows,” she shrugs. “But I need my space, big guy. We need to move at a slower pace. Please…”
Liv leans down to kiss me, and I pull her down to hold her, sitting her on my lap.
“Did you have lunch already?” I ask her after a slap on her thigh.
“Not even breakfast…” Liv moans, feeling her stomach.
“Then let’s have lunch, and maybe I can convince you to stay at least until tomorrow.”
“Not going to happen, sir…” she says, insinuating.
“What’s the ‘sir’ business? You call me ‘big guy’ remember? That’s the agreement!” I say in jest.
“Alright…” she laughs. “Take me to lunch, big guy!”
“Harlan, pause the game and go get dressed.”
Harlan looks at us with puppy eyes, but I give him a stern look and he pauses the game in the same instant. “Going, dad!”
