Page 45 of Say You'll Stay

Someone new could have found them and is currently holding them hostage.

Aliens could have abducted them both for all she knows.

Lucy’s silence is unusual and terrifying, considering she hasn’t been quiet in days. Despite nearly skidding into the living room, fearing it empty, Olivia discovers a much more satisfying answer.

Lucy and Cole have made it through the eye of the storm and taken a well-deserved rest. The baby is sound asleep, her cheek against his chest and a string of drool wetting his shirt. He’s fallen asleep too, one arm still holding onto Lucy while the other dangles off the couch.

Yeah, she loves this guy.

Dammit.

Fuck.

She hoped that her revelation last night was simply a product of irrational delusion, but she can no longer deny it. Watching him interact so naturally with her daughter, and seeing how close they have become, is forcing her to admit the truth, at least to herself.

It might be the first time she’s beenin love.She can’t remember feeling anything like this when she first met Jason. No gentle butterflies in her stomach or a deep ache in her chest, longing to be closer. Wasn’t smothered by her feelings in such a substantial way that it overwhelmed her.

How unfair, she thinks, grabbing the disposable camera to snap a quiet photo of a beautiful sight. It’s taken her what feels like a lifetime to find him, and her affections are one-sided.

They need all the rest they can get, so she busies herself making tea and sets Cole’s cup on the kitchen table, taking up a chair as rain provides a soft backdrop of white noise.

Their fight practice had her entertaining the possibility he could feel the same about her. She put all her effort into showing him she wanted that kiss she convinced herself wascoming. He stared at her lips, inches away. Surely, that meant something. But nothing happened then, and nothing has since. They share this house in a domestic way that’s begun to feel like the family she always wanted, yet all her efforts are met with a scoff or a tease, as if he assumes she’s not serious.

Olivia’s starting to wonder if that’s his way of letting her down easily.

It hasn’t been that long, she thinks, as he begins to stir in the other room with a groan. They are both damaged in ways that make this difficult. She can’t assume disinterest yet.

He made her breakfast and left a flower by her plate.A flower!Men don’t do that unless they’re interested, she reasons, wondering what the hell she knows about men when she’s only been with one and he was the worst example.

When Cole wakes, he appears in the kitchen shortly after, a relieved smile on his lips and the baby in his arms. “Look, she’s out like a light.”

“You both were,” Olivia gestures to the table. “I made you some tea.”

He sits, taking Lucy with him until she’s propped snugly over his shoulder. “You sleep good, too?”

“I did. I feel a lot better today. I think I was losing it for a while there. I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”

“Don’t gotta apologize to me.”

“I do. I was spiraling off the deep end. You’ve kept me sane when you didn’t have to.” He doesn’t reply, but his gentle half-nod is enough. “Maybe she’ll turn a corner now. I think this is the longest she’s slept since it started.”

“It’s gonna be a good day. I can feel it. Rain’s not stopping, though, so we’re inside for a while.”

“I found some board games in the closet. Deck of cards. Youready for me to kick your ass at poker?”

“Pffft. We’ll see who’s doing the ass-kicking.” Lucy wiggles in his arms, her blue eyes blinking awake. “Someone’s up. You want her back?”

“No, she’s happy there. If she’s quiet, I’d rather not move her.”

“Cole.Can you say Cole?” He slows down his words and stretches them out as if the baby will reply to this impromptu talking lesson.

Olivia smirks. “Is that what you two have been working on when I’m sleeping?”

“Maybe.”

“A little early for that, but she’ll say ‘momma’ first.”

“We’ll see.” He winks, turning his attention back to the baby. “Coleeeee. You got this. Think about it for a while.Cole.”

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