“You’re late.”
Olivia’s heart soared, and she couldn’t stop from grinning broadly. “Do you ever just say hello?”
Jaime tilted her head. “Now and then. I did greet you at the park, and if I recall correctly, you didn’t say hi back.”
“I was too busy being stunned.”
“I’m told I have that effect on people.”
“You sure havesomeeffect,” Olivia drawled.
“You’re so rude sometimes.”
“Yes, well, you bring it out of me.”
Jaime hummed. “I prefer bringing other sounds out of you.”
Olivia flushed, ducking her head. She had zero reason to feel shy, especially after all they’d already done. “Yes, well…”
“Come on. I want to show you something.” Jaime grasped Olivia’s wrist and pulled her along, releasing her after what felt like a mere second, yet the touch of her cool fingers lingered on Olivia’s skin.
She followed Jaime through a throng of people until they reached a booth showcasing several sculptures.
Jaime halted in front of one that, upon first glance, seemed like a lot of noise—convoluted, a mess of sinews and curves. She was about to ask Jaime what she was looking at when she saw it: two figurines at the center, entwined in a never-ending embrace while the world, chaotic and wild, went on around them as they remained undisturbed in their sheltered cocoon.
“Wow,” Olivia breathed, shifting her gaze from the sculpture to Jaime. Did they see the same thing, or make the same association because it reminded her of—
“Isn’t it amazing? Look at the detail! The meticulous way all these lines are carved.” Jaime traced her fingers over the smooth stone surface. “Look at how thin some of these connecting lines are. The skill to create something like this!” She shook her head.
Olivia smiled. She’d never seen Jaime so animated, and her flushed face and wide-eyes robbed Olivia of an answer consisting of more than, “Yeah.”
She noted the name of the sculpture,a lingering touch. Fitting. She drew her fingers over the name plate.
“Do you want to get something to eat?” Jaime asked.
“Sure. What are you in the mood for?”
“How about some fries? They might even have red wine here.” She grinned almost impishly.
Olivia laughed. “Sure. But that means we have to stay a while so I can digest the alcohol before driving back home.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem.”
They picked up their food and a glass of wine for each before finding a space at a table, eating in companionable silence.
“It’s truly a delicious and terrible combination,” Jaime said with a sigh, wiping her hands on a napkin.
“Agreed.” Olivia finished her last sip of wine. “You know, I’ve been thinking, I still don’t get how you’re such an idealist about justice and humanity, but you can be so…closed off personally.”
Jaime met her gaze. “Believing in humanity is easier than believing in people.”
Olivia frowned. “What does that even mean?”
Jaime shrugged. “With humanity, you look at the long arc—it bends in the right direction, over time. But with individuals? More often than not, people let you down.”
Olivia chuckled. “I’m the opposite. I find it much harder to believe in the good of a group than in a person. People are good, but humanity sucks.”
Jaime smirked. “We’re quite the pair.”
