“Yeah, I’m actually living here for a bit. I thought you were up in Jacksonville with Dustin?”
Oh no.
Olivia takes in a deep breath, one I can see. She doesn’t say anything more and doesn’t walk any closer to Theo. “We were neighbors until we were eighteen,” Olivia fills me in.
“Wow, what a small world,” I tell them, still feeling the tension of what Olivia probably wants to tell Theo, but at the same time, probably doesn’t.
“Just a small town,” Theo says with a wink. “How have you been?” Another question Theo probably doesn’t want the answer to. Although, he continues making his way over. Olivia’s face is turning red, and Theo has no clue what he’s walking over toward. “Where’s Dustin?”
I step in front of Olivia and press my hands into Theo’s shoulders. I widen my eyes and nod my head. “Don’t—“
“What’s going on?” Theo gently nudges me to the side. “Where is he?”
Olivia’s face contorts into the sight of grief. “He’s gone,” she mutters before releasing a shuddering sob.
Theo doesn’t let the information sink in before tangling his arms around her small frame. “Liv, no.”
This is supposed to be a night off for Olivia . I feel like this is my fault.
Olivia pulls in a sharp breath and shakes Theo off of her. “I’m okay,” she says.
“It wasn’t supposed to be like that for you,” he says.
“Who’s to say what should or shouldn’t be, Theo?” Olivia responds.
Olivia gives Theo another strangling hug. “Ashley, would it be okay to invite Theo to join us tonight?”
I can’t help but smile. “Theo has become one of my only friends around here, so I’d love that.”
“I—“ Theo says, stopping himself mid-sentence. Theo points to his house.
“Invite Jim,” I tell him.
Theo releases a quiet laugh. “Jim?” Olivia responds. “Really?” She smiles sweetly and reaches to sweep her hand across Theo’s cheek. “Is Jim—?”
Theo blushes in response. “Not yet, but maybe.”
“This is the best news I’ve heard in the longest time,” Olivia says. “I had hoped you found someone to make you smile.”
“He does,” Theo says, hesitating before each word, but beaming at the same time. “I’ll see if he’s up for it. Give me a minute.”
Theo runs off toward his house. “I’m glad he’s more open about himself now. We were seventeen, and he was having the worst time coming to terms with who he is. He said he’d figure out his way when the time was right.”
“Come on, let’s go out back. I can’t bring you through my house yet until I explain what may or may not be going on in there.”
“I’m not following,” Olivia says.
“Just wait,” I warn. Isn’t this how all good friendships start—one warning another that their roommate openly whips men on the kitchen table at odd times throughout the day.
Chapter 20
Olivia has been focusedon avoiding the topic of Dustin, her deceased husband of six months. Instead, she’s infatuated with curiosity about my current living situation. She was quick to notice the gaggle of men swarming around the beach, and I held off my explanation as long as I possibly could.
“Have you noticed we’re the only women on this beach?”
“This is good pizza, right?” I say, jokingly trying to change the subject.
“Yeah, but the view …” she laughs.
