“Sam.” Her voice snags on my name, high and startled as she steps back.
Across the room, Drew stiffens. His jaw locks, eyes cutting sharply toward her as he steps forward, protective and warning all at once. “Mom.”
Tension, heavy and sharp, crawls up my spine. Whatever’s been brewing here, what Drew’s been evading or carrying, is still strong and thriving.
I step toward her. “Olivia.”
She glances my way, and a fleeting smile tugs at her lips but doesn’t quite land in her eyes.
At the sudden knock on the door, she turns, hesitating, gaze flicking between Drew and me before finally opening it. A man stands on the threshold, dark suit pressed, salt-and-pepper hair neatly styled. He’s a little soft around the middle but carries himself with the easy confidence in that polished,I-own-a-country-clubway.
His grin is too wide, too familiar—and when his gaze lands on Olivia, it widens even more.
“Olivia.” He steps forward slightly, voice warm, practiced. “Can I see you tomorrow? I was thinking we could drive to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Spend the day together.”
The world narrows. Dark and unsteady around the edges.
Drew whips his gaze to me, expression tight, clouded with something that looks a lot like pity. Dinner crawls up my throat, acidic and burning as my stomach churns at what I’m quickly piecing together.
I don’t need to ask who this is. Deep down, I already know. The hit comes low and mean, like a gut punch I never saw coming.
Pete may be out of the picture—or maybe he isn’t fully as his text flashes across my vision. He may still have a part of her heart—but apparently, I’ve got more than him to contend with. Clearly, I’m not the only man in Olivia’s life.
Drew clears his throat and grabs his keys. “I’m out of here. I’m staying at Ken’s tonight. Sam, thanks for dinner, man.”
He doesn’t wait for a response, only bolts down the walkway like he’s running from a bomb that’s about to go off.
The door slams, and the silence that follows detonates—loud, brash, screaming everything left unsaid.
Olivia shifts on her feet, eyes darting anywhere but to me.
“Ah, sorry, I…” Her voice trails off, fragile and uncertain.
And just like that, the air between us changes.
All week, I’d told myself we were fine. That what we had was solid enough to weather the distance, the chaos.
But standing here now, looking at her, at the guilt flickering behind those beautiful eyes, I’m not so sure anymore.
25
SAM
Time to take control of the situation and get rid of this guy. I clap my hands together, hard and fast. I haven’t forgot about his invitation to Olivia or that she hasn’t responded.
“Olivia already has plans.” I fill the space between her and the guy. “Sorry, pal, we haven’t met. I’m Sam.” I extend my hand and deliver the blow with a smile. “Olivia’s boyfriend.”
Shock flashes across his face before he glances at Olivia, who’s now scowling daggers at me.
He shakes my hand weakly. “Damn—sorry, I didn’t know.”
He looks like a man who just stumbled into a minefield, and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. He thinks I’m about to deck him. I’m not. Violence isn’t my thing. But I’ve made my point.
“Hank, this is my friend Sam.” That one word—friend—hits harder than a punch.
“Sam?” He nods, recovering some composure. “Is this the guy from Montreal?” The edge to his tone is subtle.
Olivia stiffens, thrown by the question. The hint of accusation in his voice makes my blood simmer. I don’t like this guy.
