The doors open to her floor, and even with no chance of them closing on Livy, I still press my hand to the opening as she steps out. She turns to face me, her expression unreadable. Now isn’t the time for a grand gesture or declaration, or to suggest she continue up two more floors to join me for a night cap. I’m lucky I had her to myself for as long as I did tonight and shouldn’t push that luck, as I’ve done over the past few months on more than one occasion.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
“Thank you for dinner,” she sighs, mindlessly playing with her keycard.
“It was my pleasure. Would you be up for coffee in the morning?”
Olivia stops her idle movements, her sweet smile meeting her eyes. “I would, but then you’ll probably ask me to have lunch with you too.”
“Of course. And dinner tomorrow night.”
“Isaac.” Her face falls. “We shouldn’t.”
“No one is going to suspect anything if we spend time together,” I assure her, even if it’s not entirely true.
Taking a step toward me, she lifts onto her toes, pressing a soft kiss on my cheek. “I’ll be downstairs for breakfast at six. If we see each other, we see each other.”
Without another word, she pivots and walks down the hall, looking back once just like she did the first time we met. She’s a different woman now, and I can’t bring myself to tear my eyes away from her even as the elevator door taps against my hand to close. After I step back, I watch her walk away until they shut completely.
It ascends to my floor, and once I’m in my room, I kick off my shoes and shrug off my jacket, draping it over a chair at the small dining table. I only had a few short hours with her, but they were the best hours I’ve had since I left her in New York fifteen years ago. She’s smarter than me and definitely has more courage in her pinky than I have in my whole body. I don’t deserve her, but maybe one day I will. The mountain I have to climb in order to keep her feels impossible, but there has to be a way. Fate didn’t bring us together after all this time for me to lose her, and I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it if I have to.
I have no fucking clue how I’m going to pull this off and will need to call Nikki in the morning for help.
As I pull out a bottle of water from the fridge, there’s a faint buzzing sound coming from my jacket. It’s probably Todd giving me the all-clear, but I’m pleasantly surprised it’s my favorite person.
Livy
Are you free for a drink downstairs?
Of course.
Which bar?
I don’t care. I’m sharing a room with Aubrey, and she’s still busy.
I chuckle to myself, loving how fate is yet again working to my advantage. Who knew a flirtatious bartender was all it would take to give me more time with Livy?
Want me to see about getting you your own room?
We tried when we checked in. The hotel is sold out. We reserved four rooms, and since they were overbooked, we only got two when we arrived. So, Aubrey and I are sharing. My security team has the other.
You’re welcome to come to my suite, or I can meet you downstairs in ten. Whatever you’re comfortable with.
Typing bubbles appear and disappear no less than four times.
What room are you in?
Fuck. Is this really happening? It’s incredibly risky for either of us if we get caught, and I try to not read into it—she just needs somewhere to hide out until Aubrey is done with her bartender. Still, I won’t pass up any opportunity for more time. It’s the only asset I have.
417
13
Olivia
“What am I doing?” I mutter to myself on repeat for the two-floor elevator ride. I should head down to one of the hotel restaurants solo until Aubrey’s done hooking up with Jerry, Justin, Jon… whatever J-name guy she’s fucking right now. It’s my fault. Admittedly, I’m a little jealous and also a dumbass for heading up to my ex-boyfriend’s suite for… what?
Nothing. It has to be nothing. I didn’t even alert Wes that I was done with dinner, so Isaac and I will have a drink, maybe reminisce about college, and that’ll be it. I’ll check in with Wes and go to bed.
