I want to tell myself it’s infatuation, the high of something new. But that’s not it. I’ve met beautiful women before. Olivia isn’t just beautiful. She’s grounded, sharp, and there’s something in her that feels steady, like the world could fall apart and she’d just breathe through it.
And I—God help me—I want to be near that.
I finally fall asleep, but set an alarm to get up early. The first pink threads of dawn are sliding through the blinds when Isilence my phone alarm. The thing pings with a dozen messages before I even get out of bed.
Anton: U OK?
Dominic:We need to talk numbers by 10.
Bas:You coming for dinner tonight? You have to eat something that isn’t espresso. Did you even sleep?
Alec:Your father’s right. Come anytime.
I smile at the group chat with my fathers. Bas’s text means he’s back to his old self again and Alec’s “come anytime” tells me Bas is doing much better today. If only they knew the only thing on my mind all night—and even now—isn’t a deal or a dish. It’s her.
I quickly type out a reply. Nothing could keep me from seeing them today. Well, maybe except for Olivia, if only she’d answer my texts.
A wild thought comes to me. I want my fathers to meet her. If she wasn’t leaving today, I’d invite her to come with me, even if it meant a million questions from my parents. I’d willingly take the inquisition if she was by my side.
I check my phone again. Still no reply.
It’s nine when a text comes in from a number I’ve only exchanged messages with once.
Sin: We’re leaving in an hour.
It’s all the invitation I need to hustle out the door. Olivia may have gone silent on me for whatever her reasons, but like I told her last night, this isn’t the end of us. Because something about her has already threaded itself into my life, and no amount of distance—or silence—can undo that.
10
OLIVIA
Waking at seven in the morning is pure torture, especially when we only crawled into bed two and a half hours ago. Erin insisted we stay at the bar until last call, and now my body hates me for it.
“I’m too old for this,” Sin croaks from across the room. She slumps over the side of her bed, hands clutching her blonde, disheveled head.
“I need coffee,” Erin whines.
“You said it, you get it,” Sin and I mumble groggily in unison.
The old rule. Back in school, whoever dared to mention caffeine, greasy food, or anything to help ease a hangover became the poor sucker who had to get it for all of us.
Erin growls and tosses back her comforter. “When am I going to learn to keep my damn mouth shut?”
Despite the achiness and fatigue, I giggle. Erin was always hopeless at this game. She stomps into the washroom with her clothes in hand, while Sin and I collapse back into our beds. Thank God I packed last night before going out for dinner. Fifteen more glorious minutes of half-sleep.
By the time Erin returns, carrying three cups of coffee and a small dose of redemption, Sin and I have managed to get ourselves presentable—barely. I went for comfort over fashion, throwing on my favorite leggings and a baggy off-the-shoulder T-shirt.
Before I remove the little green thingy keeping the coffee warm, there’s a knock at our door. It must be housekeeping even though checkout isn’t till noon.
Erin flings the door wide open and there in the doorway stands Sam. He looks like every woman’s fantasy made flesh. His hair is damp from a shower, his jaw clean-shaven. Faded black jeans cling to long, sculpted legs, and a white T-shirt stretches over his chest like it was made for him.
He looks like he’s just stepped out of a magazine spread—effortless, infuriatingly gorgeous. If I weren’t hungover, I’d swear the spinning in my head was all his fault. “Sam!” Already caffeinated with her double espresso shot, Erin’s far too chipper for someone who’s running on fumes.
“Ladies, salut.” The words roll from him, smooth and deep. Then, with a faint grin at me, he says, “Hi.”
His gaze flicks from Erin to Sin before landing back on me where he holds. One look from those eyes, and I’m a puddle. No makeup. Hair a mess. Grungy as hell. Perfect timing.
Erin rolls her suitcase in front of him and pats his chest. “Lover boy, you blew it last night. Good luck.”
