“Sometimes, as backward as it sounds, it’s easier to have someone dislike you than reject you. You’d fight and storm away, but you never veered very far out of his orbit.” She bit back a laugh. “Your father and I used to crack up at the dumb excuses you’d make for going to his baseball games.”
I spied her shoulders shaking in my periphery but wouldn’t look up.
“My friends went to baseball games—I just tagged along.” That sounded defensive and pathetic to my own ears.
Mom exhaled a long breath.
“Morganwent because you dragged her. And you never refused an invitation to attend a party or dinner Helen invited you to. If you couldn’t stand her son, you certainly never attempted to avoid him.”
“No, he always avoidedme.” I dragged my fingers through my tangled-up curls. “Which is totally my fault.” I rubbed at my temples. “He thinks I’m a spoiled brat, and I don’t blame him—”
“Then show him who you are. Without the games, without the fighting.” She cupped my chin. “Take off the mask, Olivia. You may find it easier to breathe.”
FIVE
TYLER
Ipulled into the restaurant parking lot, lingering in my truck before shutting off the engine. As Olivia had noted, the GPS had the exact location slightly off, and I had to drive around a few times to figure out where the hell the entrance was. I loved hole-in-the-wall restaurants that took effort to find. It usually meant the food was worth it, but I couldn’t shake the urge to bolt.
This was a bad idea. After she witnessed me at my lowest point, I took Olivia up on her ridiculous offer before I realized it and had nothing but regret over it all damn day. But I wouldn’t stand her up, no matter how fucked up my head was today.
I was never the most talkative at work, but I was so mute for the rest of the day that the staff all watched me with concern. Amy wasn’t the issue. I let go not long after she did, but she was full steam ahead in her new life while I remained stagnant. Sure, my business was doing okay, but as much as I’d always been a loner, the actual loneliness hit me hard sometimes. There was no one to share the small successes with other than a couple of close friends or my parents. I’d get aThat’s great, Tyler. It was a genuine but hollow sentiment.
Before I climbed out of the cab, I pulled out my phone to text Olivia that I was here. It felt so odd to have her number after knowing her for most of my life, but that was never our dynamic. Spite was how we rolled, so this new venture into being a fake couple was going to be quite the uphill fucking battle.
I noticed a text from Eli—one of my assistant bakers who’d become a good, if ball-breaking, friend—as I unlocked the screen. I’d told him about Amy after Donnie and Cassandra left the bakery and now wished I hadn’t. Not that I didn’t trust him, but I hated that I was so upset in the moment that I had to tell someone—right after I’d agreed to a pretend date with the bane of my childhood existence.
Eli:I think you need a spite fuck. A few of them actually. Get you right back on your feet.
Tyler:Please don’t suggest one of those stupid apps again.
Eli:You need to get over yourself with that. That’s how busy people find other busy people that are on the same page as they are. And there are places to find the spite fuck you need. Where are you? I figured we could meet for a drink.
Tyler:I’m meeting someone for dinner. Maybe tomorrow night.
Eli:Hey, that’s great. Good for you. I look forward to hearing you’re back on track in the morning.
I was about to saynot so greatbecause the someone was Olivia. But I didn’t want to explain what I was doing since I had no clue myself.
The place was small inside, very few tables facing a large wall-size window overlooking the water. I spotted Olivia right away, sitting at the bar with a snug black top over jeans that hugged every curve to perfection. She smiled at the bartender and rose from the stool, dropping a bill onto the counter while my eyes tracked her the whole time. Without the usual irritation holding me back, I drank in every gorgeous inch of her. It was unfair how one woman could be that damn beautiful. She smoothed her thick, black waves of hair over her shoulder and smiled with full, blood-red lips.
She was a woman who could lure anyone under her spell like a siren, and now that I didn’t actively hate her as in years past, the sudden pull to her was dangerous.
I raked a hand through my hair and groaned. My head was all over the place, and I needed to reel myself in.
“Glad you made it,” Olivia said, grinning as she approached.
“I said I would,” was all I could say, holding in a cringe at how rude I knew it sounded. Olivia only nodded, and I felt even worse. Battle mode was my default with her, but she seemed to be trying, and she was doing a big favor for me so I needed to readjust my bad attitude.
“Now that you’re here, they’ll seat us. Come.” She turned toward the hostess’s desk and waved a hand for me to follow.
“I know it seems empty now, but from what I hear this place fills up quickly since there aren’t many tables,” Olivia told me when we were seated.
“I can imagine.” I picked up a menu but studied her instead.
She smirked as she scanned the laminated specials card inside.
“Still watching to see if I’m going to poison you?”
