Even with her vision blurred, Olivia found her way to Mac’s car. She buckled herself in.
When Mac asked if she was okay, Olivia’s only response was to softly whisper, “Please. Just drive.”
Chapter 11
Olivia had to handit to Mac. The entire way home, the other woman never once asked what Jake had done to make her so upset.
When she pulled into Olivia’s driveway less than an hour later, she put the car in park and turned to her. When Mac started talking, Olivia realized she hadn’t asked, because she already knew.
“I’ve never been one to meddle in other people’s business, but I will say this. With my job, I understand exactly why Jake and your brother kept this from you all these years. I also know what it’s like to be betrayed by those closest to you. So, if you ever need to talk, about Jake or anything else, I’m here. And you don’t have to worry about me running off and telling the boss anything you say, either. I don’t play like that. Okay?”
Olivia nodded and smiled as best she could. Her tears had finally dried up, but Mac’s offer of friendship brought them precariously close to the surface again.
“Thank you, Mac. I’ll be fine. I just need some time to sort everything out.” Olivia exited the car, grabbing her bags from the back seat.
She started toward her house when Mac hollered to her from the car. Olivia turned back around to see that Mac standing half-in and half-out of her car.
“I’ll say this, and then, I’ll be on my way. What Jake did, he had a good reason to do. Yeah, he’s a man, and Lord knows they can all be idiots at times”—she rolled her eyes and paused—“but, here’s the thing. Trust isn’t something I give easily, Olivia. Especially when it comes to men. I trust Jake. And that man is head over ass for you. He’d do anything to keep you safe. So, whatever happens...whatever you decide, I hope you believe that. Because that’s one truth I’m certain of.”
Not knowing how to respond, Olivia simply thanked Mac again before climbing up her porch steps and going inside. Feeling both physically and emotionally exhausted, she locked her doors and set her alarm before heading for a long, hot shower.
Half way through rinsing the shampoo from her hair, she broke down again. Her body was wracked with hard, gut-wrenching sobs, which continued until the water had cooled.
She haphazardly dried off, not caring that her skin was still damp when she threw on a pair of sweats and an old t-shirt.
Olivia turned her phone off, shutting out the world, and fell into bed. Then, she cried herself to sleep.
****
Three days. It hadbeen three very long, very fucked up days since Olivia had walked out Jake’s door, taking the best part of him with her.
Desperate to numb the pain, he’d gotten completely shitfaced that first night. Later, when he laid down in his bed, the void there hit him instantly.
The bed was suddenly much too big. And too fucking empty. The worst part? Jake could smell her on his sheets.
Three days later, he still couldn’t bring himself to wash the damn things.
