Page 37 of Breaking Point

“It means ‘at peace.’ I forget where I heard it, but she’s always brought me that.” Olivia leans her hip against the counter. “That means you owe me a question now.”

“It does,” I say decidedly. “Use it wisely.”

Her eyes light with something devious. “What are you wearing tomorrow night?” The question catches me off-guard, and she must see it because she laughs. “To the wedding.”

“I have a uniform, Ms. Hughes.”

“Is it negotiable?”

“No. Is that really how you want to use your second question?” I huff a laugh, standing to my full height and flipping on the sink. I scrub my dishes as Chesna strolls over, watching me.

Olivia shrugs. “I’ll have other questions.”

“Well, I have one more,” I say, not bothering to test the waters any further. “When did Aleks ask you to plan his wedding?”

Her brows knit together, and I watch her mask slowly slip back into place. One moment, there’s the slightest glimpse of the vulnerable girl I saw last night. The next, she’s replaced with theotherOlivia- the one I still can’t quite read.

“I saw him at an engagement party recently. He asked me then… and I said yes. We’ll meet later this week and hopefully set some things in stone.”

I nod, turning the information over in my head. The announcement was rather sudden.

“You’ll have to let me know how that goes.”

She blinks at the words, finally nodding with a curious smile. “Yeah. I guess I owe ya.”

My next question is cut off by the sound of Taylor keying into the flat. He smiles at us both, and when Olivia sees that he’s on a video call, she waves. “Hi, Lydia!”

Over the phone, Lydia squeals, and I grab my bag and exchange keys with Taylor as they go off on a tangent. Taylor shakes his head as Olivia holds his phone, listening to Lydia describe the new routine with the pregnancy and all. The two have become quick friends, and Taylor grins as I grab my helmet from the room.

“Here, I’ll give you back to your husband. I commandeered a bit, I’m sorry!”

“We’ll talk again soon, Liv! I’m actually going to nap. Love you, Bear! Have a safe shift.”

Taylor and Lydia say their goodbyes, and it isn’t until they hang up that Taylor grins at me. “Another hot date?”

I swat his shoulder. “Don’t be a dick.”

Olivia pours herself another mug of coffee, glancing at me curiously. “Her name’s Winter, right?”

For some reason, hearing the name from her mouth makes my heart stall. But it’s not grief that makes me narrow a look at Taylor.

He’s stirring shit up.

“It’s not a date. I visit her grave sometimes," I clarify, squeezing his shoulder as I pass. “Listening to him will get you into trouble.”

She considers the information silently, and when her eyes flicker between us, I don’t quite know what to make of the sudden understanding there. I take that as my cue to leave.

“Have a good day.”

“Bye,” she smiles smally, and when she strolls toward her room, I try my best not to watch her as she goes.

Chapter Eighteen

Crew

My phone rings just as my shift ends and I’m walking to the parking garage. “Yeah?” I answer.

“How is my daughter?” Harvey’s voice makes my spine straighten, my grip on my bag tightening as I climb the stairwell.

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