Page 25 of When Forever Comes

“How in the world did this all come to be?” She waves her arms around, motioning to our surroundings.

“Do you remember my uncle Hans?” I ask.

She smirks and nods. “Yeah, that grumpy old man is impossible to forget.”

Olivia had taken a trip or two with me back in high school to visit him. Uncle Hans took an immediate liking to her.

“Well, after he died, I found out my regular visits meant more to him than I realized. He left his fortune to me. When I turned eighteen, I became a millionaire. After some investing in the market and real estate, my uncle’s millions turned into my billions, and I bought this resort and then the island.”

Olivia’s eyebrows raise at that. “Wow.” She stares at me for several seconds, her expression shifting from wonder to sadness. “Why didn’t you come back after all that?”

“I planned to, actually. When I finally worked up the courage to disregard your dad’s letter, I found you on social media and saw that you were engaged to Brad. You were the most important reason, the only reason, really, that I wanted to come back. But you were engaged to another man. So I stayed away.” I wanted to go back and claim my forever with her, but it was no longer my forever to claim.

“I was so stupid to give into Brad.”

Despite the years of bitterness I felt after learning of her involvement with my high school nemesis, I don’t want her to beat herself up over me.

I shake my head. “Don’t live with that regret. That’s the past. Right?” Insecurity seeps into my words.

Her brows furrow. “Brad is the past I wish I never had.”

Despite her answer, I can’t shake the feeling that Liv will never want me as much as I want her. That someone else will come in and sweep her off her feet before I can lock her down.

Every night, I prayed for a miracle, or what I thought would be a miracle. For years, I asked God for another chance, and as much as those pictures of Olivia and Brad on social media poked holes in my hope, it never left. There was always a part of me thatknewOlivia was meant to be mine. And in God’s perfect timing, she’s here with me once again. I just pray I won’t mess up and ruin this second chance.

Olivia takes my hand and says, “Let’s not focus on the past. Let’s focus on the future, our future.”

“That sounds good to me.”

We talk for a few more moments, focusing on lighter topics, but when my phone doesn’t stop buzzing with incoming texts and emails, I regretfully say, “I’m sorry, but I have some things that need my immediate attention.”

She removes her hand from mine. “I am so sorry, I’ve been keeping you from your work. It still hasn’t hit me that you own all of this.”

“Me neither. Let me get yours and Dana’s numbers so it’s easier to track you down.”

I hand her my phone and give her the code to unlock it.

She opens my contacts and adds in her number and then Dana’s. Once she’s finished she hands it back to me.

“I’ll let you get back to work. I’m gonna go for a walk to explore this gorgeous beach up close. Can we talk more later?” she asks, looking shy.

“Of course.” It’s my turn to take her hand. Keeping my eyes locked on hers, I kiss her knuckles. “Enjoy your walk.”

After texting Dana and asking for Liv’s sizes, I send my assistant on a shopping run. Liv is going to be angry I’m not following her directions, but I have ten years to make up for and the time I finally get to have with her is priceless.

My security team confirms that Brad will be out on the next flight. I can breathe easier knowing he won’t try to swoop in again. Apparently, he was the one who offered an obscene amount of money for the last-minute wedding. He thought he could win Liv back with a few slimy words. Thank the Lord, Liv saw through him.

As strong as she appears, I know deep down she’s struggling. His betrayal is still fresh. My goal this week is to make her forget Brad Washburn even exists. I want to both take her back to where we first began and show her the future I ache to give her. The future I pray she wants, too.

TEN

OLIVIA

After Brad’s departure and West’s declaration, I go for a walk. West has work to do, and I have thoughts to work through.

Like, how my old best friend has become the most gorgeous billionaire I’ve ever laid eyes on. Not that I’ve ever met another billionaire.

West is absolute perfection. Not just his looks, but his heart. In high school, he stepped in to protect a girl he barely knew, despite the repercussions he’d have to face. Then he faced them and now lives with no regret.

---