Page 9 of Always Been You

She takes her hands and runs them up my cheeks until her fingers are gripping the hair on the back of my head. I hold back a groan at the feeling. “Well, they are gorgeous. I could get lost staring at them.” Her words have my body heating. Olivia has never spoken to me like this. It is sending my mind reeling. Her delicate touch and her fingers in my hair are giving my dick the wrong idea. I need to get my mind and body under control.

Reaching up, I grab her hands, remove them from my hair, and place them in her lap. “Thank you, Olivia. Are you good? I should get you home.”

She nods and something flashes through her eyes for a second before disappearing. I close the passenger door before rounding the front of my car and getting in. Throwing the car into drive, I leave the parking space and pull out of the parking garage.

Olivia leans against the window, looking out as we drive down the streets to her apartment. After about 5 minutes, she turns and looks at me.

“Why did we grow apart, Josh? I miss you. I don’t know what happened.” She looks sad like she did when she lost her favourite toy growing up.

“I don’t know, Olivia. I miss you too. You haven’t lost me, though; we can spend more time together if you want,” I tell her. I never thought that she genuinely noticed that I wasn’t around her as much. I knew we were close growing up, but I always thought that she hung out with me because of Matt.

“Yeah, I do. I’d like that,” she says before leaning against the window again. “Drew didn’t come tonight,” she whispers so softly I almost don’t hear it. I don’t know what to say to make it better, so I just keep driving. The rest of the drive is short. When we get to her place, I pull into the parking garage and round the car, opening the door for her. She is still groggy, so I loop my arm around her waist, and she leans in as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. I wish that was the case. I wish she wasn’t with Drew, that she wasn’t my best friend’s little sister, that we were in any other situation where I could just tell her how I feel.

I grab her keys and fob us in the elevator and up to her floor. I remember where the apartment is from when the guysand I helped Matt move her in. Walking down the hallway, I stop outside her door and unlock it. I help her inside and down the hallway to her bedroom.

Her bedroom is completely her, there are pictures on her nightstand and the vanity, and there’s a stack of books and a candle beside her bed. Her bed is covered in pillows and the room is still a mess from her getting ready earlier.

I help her onto her bed, and she nestles into her pillow with a contented sigh. Grabbing an extra blanket from the end of her bed, I cover her with it. She is going to wake up with a killer headache, so I head into her washroom and grab some Advil and a bottle of water from her kitchen. I write a brief note and leave it with the water and pills before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead and quietly exiting her room.

In her living room, she has a bookshelf full of books, pictures, and knickknacks. She has decorative throw pillows all over her couch, and a blanket on each end. I notice on one end table she has her TV remote, a book, and a bouquet of red and white roses, and I smile to myself. They are her favourite flowers, and she has placed them beside where she usually sits.

I reach into the pocket of my coat and grab the present I got for Olivia. I leave it on the table, then step outside her apartment, closing her door softly.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

“Ugh,” I groan as I roll over and search my bed for my phone. My mouth is so fucking dry, and my head feels like there is a tiny construction crew inside using a jackhammer on my skull. Finally locating my phone, I slowly lift it into my line of sight. I crack one eye, I check to see why it’s buzzing. I notice that it’s already eleven in the morning. I have texts from both Matt and the girls’ group chat. Closing my eyes again, I take a deep breath and tell myself, I can do this; I can survive the feeling of death today.

I push myself up onto my elbows and slowly open my eyes. My blackout curtains are still closed, so the light isn’t too harsh. Looking at my nightstand, there are two Advil and a bottle of water with a note beside it sitting on top.

Drink the water and take these. Feelbetter.

-Josh

I force myself all the way up and rub my eyes with the heel of my hands. God, what happened last night? Looking back at my phone, I open the texts from Matt.

Matty:Hey Liv, you alive?

Matty:How are you feeling?

Matty:Call me when you can.

Next, I switch over to the group chat with the girls.

Han:Ugh, tequila shots, remind me never again.

Zo:I have the worst case of cottonmouth, shots are not my thing.

Liz:Who’s up for a greasy brunch?

Han:I’m down.

Zo:Same. I need something to absorb all the alcohol Liv convinced me to drink last night.

Liv:I’m down for greasy food. Sammy’s in 45?

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