Page 42 of Wife By Accident

“It does,” Olivia said, squeezing his hand again.

Leo smiled at her before his expression grew serious again. “Then, a few days ago, I found a picture of my brother and me in this beautiful spot in Nevada overlooking a canyon. We went there together on a road trip as teenagers, and we had so much fun together. Those are some of my best memories of him. So, I went back there and scattered his ashes. And then, I found myself alone in Nevada in a place that had meant so much to both of us, without my brother, and I was worried I’d let the sadness win if I stayed there any longer. Or if I went straight back to work. And Kyle would never have wanted me to be sad and alone. So, I went to Vegas to forget everything for a little while.”

“I see.” Olivia nodded slowly. “I was wondering why you were there.”

“I’m never usually that reckless.” Leo smiled absently. “I still can’t believe I bet that much money on a random number. I can hardly believe I gambled at all! I never do stuff like that. I’m always careful with my money.”

“But grief makes everyone act differently,” Olivia filled in.

“Exactly. I wanted to forget, just for a little while. And then, I met you.”

“And then, you met me.” Her green eyes met his. “Do you want to tell me about Kyle?”

“Do you want to hear about him?”

“Yes, please.”

“Well, Kyle was the most wonderful big brother.” Leo smiled, genuinely this time. “I always wanted to follow in his footsteps, and in many ways, I did. But I know that, whether I’d studied computer science, like I did, or became a street mime, he would have loved me just the same. You see…”

And Leo told her all about Kyle. How he’d always been supportive of Leo, even when their parents had unreachably high standards. How he’d stayed up late helping Leo study for a calculus test in high school, even though he’d had a college interview the next day. How he’d loved to run and hike and be outside, even it if was pouring with rain or over a hundred degrees. How he’d always encouraged Leo to try his best and do what he loved. How he’d always made time to talk to Leo, no matter what the topic was. It was the first time Leo had really talked about his brother since the funeral.

As Leo spoke, Olivia listened. She nodded slightly, smiled, laughed at the funny stories, squeezed his hand at the sad ones. Leo was all too aware that he was opening up, more than he’d opened up to anyone in a long time. He’d never been comfortable sharing his feelings, not even with Kyle, but with Olivia, it was easy. Maybe it was her bright, open expression, as though she’d never judge him for anything. Maybe it was her calm, warm presence. Or maybe it was something incalculable, something even she was unaware of.

Whatever it was, Leo knew she wouldn’t judge him or look at him differently, and in that moment, that meant everything.

“I’m sorry,” he said after a while.

“What for?”

“I’ve been doing all the talking. It’s hardly polite.”

“Don’t say that.” Olivia looked right into his eyes. “I appreciate you sharing all this with me. I know it can’t have been easy, and it means a lot to me that you trusted me.”

Leo didn’t know how to respond to that, so he just nodded.

“Thank you for listening. Now, should we order some food? I’m starting to get hungry.”

“Me too. What’s good here?”

They both scanned their menus, the deep conversation let go for now. Leo couldn’t help feeling a weight off his shoulders at having shared his memories with Olivia. It no longer felt like he was the only one in the world who’d known Kyle. And it no longer felt like Kyle had been the only one in the world who knew Leo.

CHAPTER 18

OLIVIA

Olivia scanned the menu, but her thoughts were still on Leo and his brother, Kyle. She’d had no idea that he’d lost someone, or that his sadness had driven him to Vegas that fateful evening.

Wait… no. That wasn’t entirely true. A hazy memory began to form in the back of her mind, just out of reach, like a dream she couldn’t quite remember. Something about the conversation she’d just had was familiar. Before, when Leo had mentioned his brother, she’d thought there was something she should know — and finally, now, she was able to reach out and grasp what it was.

“Leo,” Olivia said. He looked up from his menu.

“Yes?”

“I think I remember something from the night we got married.”

“Really?” Leo sat up straighter and placed the menu on the table, the full intensity of his focus trained on Olivia. “What do you remember?”

“I remember…” Olivia squinted, as though narrowed eyes might help her see into the past. “I remember that we went into the casino after we, um, kissed.” She blushed. She still wasn’t sure if Leo remembered the kiss, too. He hadn’t mentioned it. “We went to the restaurant and got something to eat. Shrimp cocktails, I think. Maybe French fries. You said that, too, when you were telling me what you remembered. After we ate, I felt a little more sober, and I said it was probably time for us to say goodnight. Then you told me that you’d lost someone, and that you didn’t want to be alone. I admitted that I didn’t really want to be alone either, so I stayed. I think maybe you told me about your brother before.”