They eventually pulled away from each other, Olivia and Mike both wiping tears from their eyes. They sat on Jake’s bed and talked, using the next hour to try to catch up on ten years’ worth of lost time.
Olivia filled him in on the cliff-notes version of her adult life, highlighting the most important parts, and Mike shared what he could, which wasn’t a lot.
When he talked, he mainly used vague, non-specifics, but she got the gist. While she’d gone to college and become a nurse, her brother had been out saving the world.
Unable to put it off any longer, Mike stood and held out his hand.
“I hate to do this, but I really have to get back. If I’m gone too long, I’ll compromise my cover.”
Olivia tried, and failed, to squelch the sudden fear she had for her brother’s safety. What he was doing was dangerous, and damn it, she’d just gotten him back. To lose him again...
No.She wouldn’t go there. Life was too short, and she was going to enjoy the fact that, though she was still hurt from his deception, her brother was alive and well.
“When will I see you again?”
“Soon,” he promised. “This is my last job. When it’s over, I’m done. There are a lot of things I’ll have to iron out, but I’ll be back in your life, one way or another.”
Olivia didn’t ask how he’d pull that off because it didn’t matter. “Promise?”
He smiled. “I promise, Junebug.”
She pulled him in for one more hug. “Be careful, Mikey. I just got you back, so don’t go doing anything stupid like getting yourself killed for real.”
He chuckled against her. “I won’t.” Mikey pulled back and gave her a look that reminded her of their dad. “And don’tyouforget what I said about Jake. I trust him with your life. You need to do the same.”
“I do.”
And she did. It was trusting him with her heart that worried her.
“I love you, Sis. I’ll see you soon.”
“I love you, too, Mikey.”
With that, her brother turned and walked out of Jake’s bedroom. Before she could close the door, Olivia caught a glimpse of Jake walking toward Mikey.
He looked at her, his face wrenched with pain. She quickly looked away before shutting the door.
Leaning back against it, Olivia sighed. She needed to clear her head and think about everything.
A ball of emotions, she realized the only way she could do that would be to have some time alone. Away from everyone else, especially Jake.
If she stayed here, Olivia knew he’d eventually break down her defenses. She’d end up forgiving him before she even knew whether or not she really wanted to.
Olivia went to her purse and pulled out her phone. She hated to bother her new friend, especially after totally botching their shopping trip, but somehow Olivia knew Mac would help her with what she needed.
After a long, cleansing breath, she tapped on Mac’s name in her contact list and waited for the other woman to answer.
An hour later, Olivia was still hiding out in the bedroom when she heard the doorbell ring, followed by the door opening and Jake’s muffled voice.
She grabbed her suitcase, shopping bags, and purse and lifted her chin before exiting the room. She didn’t look back, not wanting to remember the wonderful nights, and mornings, she’d shared with Jake in his bed.
As expected, she found Jake and Mac standing by the front door. He was scowling at Mac, who looked completely unaffected by it. The other woman smiled at her, but Olivia didn’t miss the pity in Mac’s eyes.
She hadn’t told her the details of what had happened. She’d never compromise her brother’s safety like that—something both Jake and Mikey should have known.
It was one of the reasons she was so pissed off about being kept out of the loop. Olivia would have never said a word toanyoneabout Mikey still being alive. Too bad he and Jake hadn’t trusted her enough to realize that.
When she called Mac, Olivia simply told her that she and Jake had fought, and that she needed to get back to her house so she’d have some time to think. It wasn’t a total lie.
