The first.
Chapter 13
Noah
Oliviawalksinthefront door and it’s clear to me something is different. When I hug her, it feels quick and distant like she’s pushing away and shutting me out of her life. Her smile and demeanor are quiet, and polite, as if my tongue wasn’t in that soft spot between her legs two days ago. Something is definitely wrong, maybe she regrets that night.
She’s wearing a pair of black yoga pants and an oversized red and white Christmas sweater, her hair is pulled up in a claw clip with pieces falling around her face. She is wearing large clear square glasses, making me smile because Ollie always hated wearing her glasses when we were in high school.
“They make my face look pudgy,” she would whine, whenever we asked her where they were or if she could even see anything.
But these glasses fit her face perfectly and make her look professional, but cozy.
She turns to look at me as she slides off her fuzzy slippers and I instantly clutch my chest, shooting her a shocked look.
“Glasses? Has the world ended?” I gasp at her.
“Ow, you wound me,” I say after her slipper hits me in the shoulder.
She smirks and pushes past me toward the kitchen where Mom and Bec are arguing over where the green olives should be on the cutting board.
“Ollie’s here!” I shout to the kitchen, hoping their banter will stop as I close the door. I follow her, finding it impossible not to stare at her beautiful body. I barely make it in the kitchen before I notice the green olives are now being placed in a clear glass jar next to the cheese wheel and the pastrami slices. Ollie has this magical ability to diffuse any situation around her, and has always been a problem solver to a fault, sometimes.
Bec quietly retreats to her bedroom. While she loves helping and setting up for these big events, she needs time to herself before they happen. They tend to be full of people, asking so many questions about our lives and what our plans are and it's always the people who do not actually give a shit but are just nosey and just here for the drama. That also means tonight will be the night the whole town learns I’m home for good this time, so I have to tell Ollie before she leaves today. I’d rather she find out from me than someone else.
I sit up on the counter and watch Ollie and Mom decorate the charcuterie board. They’re laughing and making jokes about who’s going to show up in the most ridiculous Christmas sweater this year. My money is on Gary from down the road.
It’s nice to see them together again in the kitchen, it reminds me of the old traditions we had when they’d cook together before a party and then yell at me for picking food off the platter too early. But hey, a growing boy has got to eat.
“Gary. One hundred percent, Gary. He’s like the weird, friendly uncle that nobody wishes they had,” I say.
Ollie swats my leg and Mom gives me a scolding look before Ollie says,
“Leave Gary alone, he is widowed and has no one. Christmas is his favorite holiday,” Ollie exclaims. She’s always looking to see the good in people.
“As long as his sweater doesn’t sing again,” Mom says, laughing.
It’s at this moment where I really can see a future here in Fisher Creek with Olivia. It’s the first time that I can see us together planning out our lives and spending time with both our families. I long for the continuation of that relationship, reconnecting with Cole and Carter and constantly fighting off Penelope’s sisterly threats.
Ollie brushes up against my leg as she passes by to put the cutting board in the sink, and sends an electrifying shock through my body, pulling me out of my fantasy.
As she walks back toward the counter, she brushes against me again, this time with a devilish smirk on her face. She knows exactly what she’s doing. So I slide one hand around her waist and pull her close, nestling her into my body. I feel the instant tension but hold her tight and place a gentle kiss on the top of her head. Two can play this game, and I don’t like to lose.
Her face turns bright red, even as she relaxes into my hold. I know it’s because Mom’s in the room with her back to us but still Ollie is embarrassed. She’s never been a fan of PDA although before this trip our touches had been mostly innocent. I can see the corner of my mom's mouth turning up, happy to see our playful sides coming back. She’s always wanted Ollie to be part of our family,officially, even before I did.
Mom quietly excuses herself to get ready for the Christmas party, leaving Olivia and me alone in the kitchen. Using my hand on her waist, I spin her around so she’s facing me. Her face is still bright red, but she looks up and places her hands firmly on my thighs, pushing up toward my face, and plants a kiss on the side of my face.
I jump off the counter, backing Ollie up against the wall behind her. I place one hand on the front of her hip, and the other around the back of her neck. She lets out a gasp as I lean in to kiss her. But before I get to her mouth, she has both hands gripping the front of my shirt pulling me closer. I kiss from her lips down the side of her neck as she lets out small quiet moans telling me I'm hitting the right spots. Ollie starts moving her hips against the front of my jeans.
“Damn, Ollie,” I rasp. She stops for a moment, grinning. Before she can start again, I wrap my arms around her waist, throw her over my shoulder, and carry her into my bedroom. Using my foot to close the door, I throw Ollie onto the bed but she has a grip on my shirt, pulling me on top of her. I kiss her deeply with my hand wrapped on the inside of her thigh. She moves her hands toward my belt and starts to unbuckle it.
“This time, it's my turn to worship you,” she says with a smirk.
???
We’re lying in bed, Ollie’s head resting on my shoulder, with one hand sitting on my chest, when she sighs deeply, full of emotion.
“Noah, we can’t do this again,” she finally says, filling the silence.
