He’d pulled on a pair of jeans and a hoodie after we’d gotten out of the shower, and I was already mourning my eye candy.
I frowned at him. “But you have to work.” He’d already logged in way later than he should have.
He shrugged. “It’s fine. I’m all caught up on everything. Besides, I can spare an hour or so for my favorite girls.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek.
My chest warmed. “Favorite girls?”
“Well, yeah. But don’t tell Noelle.”
My stomach sank at the thought of us keeping this from my brother and his new wife—Oliver’s cousin, I tried to remind myself. If this was going to end badly, I hated the idea that we wouldn’t be able to go back to being friends.
Because I liked being friends with Oliver. But I liked whatever this was even more.
“Ready to go?” He asked, grabbing his coat.
I shoved my arms into mine before clipping Snowball’s leash on her collar. “Ready.”
He extended out his hand, and I laced my fingers through his, just like we had at the wedding. They fit together perfectly, and it made my heart ache for the future.
I wished we could have one.
Leaning my head on his shoulder as we started our walk around the block, I enjoyed the crisp, cool air, and the leaves crunching under my feet. I’d always loved the Pacific Northwest—growing up in Washington, one of my favorite activities on a rainy day was to sit curled up in my favorite chair, watching the rain come down outside as I read a book or worked on memorizing lines. Being back here for the wedding reminded me of how much I missed it.
I loved living in Los Angeles, but I truly thrived on my trips to Portland to visit my brother.
“It’s so beautiful here,” I said, looking up at the trees.
“Yeah,” he agreed. But when I looked up, I found him looking at me, not the world around us.
I tried to ignore the butterflies in my stomach, but it was hard.
“Do you miss it?” Oliver asked. “When you’re not here?”
“Sometimes,” I admitted. “When I get really homesick and remember that the only real family I have left is here. Or when a day really sucks, and I get a drink spilled on me at work or don’t get a part I really wanted. But I love my life there, too. I love acting.”
I wished I could have both.
He squeezed my hand. “I get it.” Oliver looked down at Snowball, who was calmly walking along side me. “I know it’s different. I’ve always lived here. But there’s always a part of me that’s wondered, what if.” He shook his head. “My life is here, though, so.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
His life was here.
And mine was there.
And that was how it was going to be.
Pullingon my favorite white sweater and pair of jeans the next morning, I stood in front of the mirror, brushing through my blonde hair. It was strange to be here and not have anywhere to go or anything to do.
It was completely different from my pace of life in LA, where I was constantly going out for casting calls or auditions, plus working at the restaurant. Though, now that I’d landed a television show—as the star—all of that would change. I hoped. Sure, we’d already filmed the pilot, and the executives had green-lit it for a full first season. But that didn’t mean it would be successful.
I hoped it would, because I really, really loved the role. It was a romance, and I loved my character.
Oliver slid in behind me and pulled me in tight against his body, distracting me from my thoughts.
“Hi,” I murmured, reaching up to cup his cheek as I stared at both of us in the mirror. At howgoodwe looked together. Something I’d never really considered before, but now, it was all I could think about.
“Hey.” He kissed the crown of my head. “I have to get going to work.”
