Page 4 of When Forever Comes

“Livvy, I know you’re in here. I’m so sorry. I’m sure it will all work out. It’s not like we’ll be staying on the streets.”

I open the door to the stall I’ve taken refuge in. “Why can’t we just go home?”

“Because I am determined to show you that Brad isn’t worth another tear. We are going to have fun. You are going to heal from this.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I just want some ice cream.”

“They have ice cream here.”

“Dana,” I warn her, attempting to give her my most intimidating glare.

It fails.

Her expression softens. “We’re going to figure this out. I promise.” She reaches her hand out and I take it before she pulls me in and hugs me.

Before leaving the bathroom, I remove all traces of my tears and re-apply a swipe of mascara to each eye.

“Gorgeous,” my sister says with a wink.

I link my arm with hers, and we head back to the front desk.

When the check-in desk comes into view, however, the young woman is no longer the one standing behind the computer. It’s a man who I’m ninety-nine percent sure defined the term “tall, dark, and handsome.” His eyes are on the computer screen, a very quizzical look on his chiseled face.

When he lifts his head, he pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Miss Swann, you asked for me?”

I glance at my sister, who has the largest smirk of her life plastered across her face.

“I asked for the manager. That’s you?” Dana asks him.

He nods.

I turn on my sister. “Dana, you asked for the manager? It wasn’t that poor woman’s fault.”

The manager turns his attention to me, and it’s like a spark straight to my chest. Something flashes in his eyes but it’s gone before I can read it. There is something so familiar about him, but it’s as if my heart is blocking my brain from remembering. It’s the strangest feeling.

“Yes, I’m W, the manager.” He pauses for an awkward second, looking at me as if he’s expecting me to do or say something. “After some rearranging, I was able to find you a room.”

I want to ask about his odd name, but think better of it.

“You’re a lifesaver!” Dana announces, bringing W’s focus back to her. “My sister almost had a nervous breakdown when we lost our room. You wouldn’t believe the week she’s had.”

“Oh?” W directs the question at me.

Dana leans forward and plants her hands on the desk and drops her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Her fiancé cheated on her with her best friend the night before their wedding. Can you believe that?”

His expression darkens.

I glare at my sister for divulging such a private and delicate piece of information with a stranger, but before I can say a word to her, W says, “No,” with full conviction. “Any man who cheats is not worthy of you, Olivia. I’m really sorry you had to go through that.” The sincerity of his apology is not lost on me. I don’t understand why he seems to care so much.

“Thank you.”

Dana stands up straight.

I ask, “How do you know my name?”

“Lucky guess.” W shrugs nonchalantly.

I narrow my eyes at him and he smirks, as if he’s hiding a fun secret.

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