Page 20 of When Forever Comes

Brad rubs his arm that must be numb and looks at Olivia. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I wasted five years of my life on you. I’m sorry I ever thought you were worth anything.”

That final blow strikes a nerve. Pain replaces the calm on Olivia’s face. Her eyes well with tears.

I take a threatening step forward. “Say you’re sorry andmean it.” My voice leaves no room for argument.

“I’m sorry.” He looks at me. “Good enough?”

“Not even close,” I growl. Silently, I beg God for strength when all I want to do is rip Brad apart.

Olivia’s hand on my arm gives me the calm I need.

“He’s not worth it,” she whispers.

As much as I agree with her, I can’t let him off the hook without putting him in his place. “It’s sad that you think you ever deserved Olivia. You’ve never been good enough for her and you know it,” I say.

Brad stares at me with his signature sneer on his face. “Whatever. I’m done with you. Both of you.” He nods to Olivia and leaves.

Once Brad is gone, I expect Olivia to leave or to ask me to leave. Instead, she throws herself into my arms and I wrap them around her. She buries her face in my chest and I sit down in one of the chairs with her curled on my lap.

“He was way out of line. I’m sorry he said those ugly things to you.”

“I’m so sorry,” she whispers with a sniffle.

“What could you possibly be sorry for?”

“I ran away when I should have stayed.”

“With Brad?” I ask, too afraid to hope.

She pulls back to look up at me and scrunches her nose adorably. “No. I should have sprinted away from him years ago.” She runs her finger over the pattern on my tie. “Earlier, I shouldn’t have run. But you… you made me feel things, and it scared me.”

“The last thing I want to do is scare you.” I tip her chin up. “But when I’m in, I’m all in. And from the moment I laid eyes on you, I’ve been all in.”

“It’s been ten years.” Her eyes look between mine.

I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “And in those ten years, God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams. He’s given me way more than I deserve. But there’s been one thing I’ve prayed for desperately that He’s kept out of my reach.”

“Ruling the world?” she asks with a little smirk.

I stare deep into her eyes. “You.”

Her mouth drops open with a surprised exhale. Her lips are like a magnet, pulling me in without permission. There’s not an ounce of protest in me as she leans her face closer to mine. Her brown eyes blink up at me then drop to my lips. I watch in utter fascination as she licks her lower lip, her eyes still fixed on my mouth.

My breaths are ragged and my insides tighten. I am a single breath away from kissing Olivia Swann.

EIGHT

OLIVIA

“I knew it!” Brad bursts through the door, breaking the trance West put me under with his sweet words and shattering our almost-kiss.

I jump off West’s lap, my entire body heating. “Knew what?” I ask.

“That he still has feelings for you. That’s why I chose this resort — to put an end to his ridiculous crush.”

“You knew? That’s why you were so bent on coming here?” I ask, feeling my gut churn at Brad’s endless layers of betrayal.

Brad doesn’t look at me; he turns to West. “Yep. I wanted to make sure he knew his chance with you was over.”

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