Page 8 of Go Away, Darling

“Me too!” Linc howled and went running for his room.

“I understand,” I said to Beau and was honestly a little relieved. I usually didn’t mind hanging out with him, we were friends, but tonight I had another man on my mind. Beau’s presence was weird. It gave me twisty feelings.

On the one hand it made me panicky, like being attracted to another man was cheating, even though I knew Beau dated and we’d been officially divorced for two years.

But on the other hand it was a shocking wakeup call. I’d spent a lot (a lot) of time analyzing what was right about my marriage to Beau Rowland. We had good chemistry, similar problems and expectations from our parents, we found comfort in each other. He was very good looking. He had graced the cover of a dozen magazines. When we met I sizzled. When we got married I had butterflies. Eventually the sizzles and butterflies disappeared. There were very good reasons for that, none of it the fault of either one of us.

And yet today I’d felt something much more potent than a sizzle. Once upon a time I was struck by lightning, so I knew what I felt when I met Chris today was very much the same sort of shocking sensation. And yeah, it didn’t escape my notice that he was the boy I was with when I was struck by that bolt all those years ago.

“Is something on your mind, Olivia?” Beau asked, moving to sit across from me. “Do you need to talk? I can stay if you do.”

“No. No it’s nothing like that.” I could feel my cheeks turning red and I wished there was some way to hide my face. Mostly I had to hope that my darker skin tone hid it from Beau. “I ran into a really old friend today and I was momentarily distracted with a memory. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for that,” he chuckled. “It looks like it was a good thing.”

“I think it was. Actually, can I ask you something?” It was probably crazy to most people that Beau and I really were good friends who could talk about anything.

“Of course.”

“Have you ever fallen in love?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Is this a trick question?”

I laughed. “No.” When we decided to end our marriage we did a lot of talking and decided that while we loved each other it wasn’t that earth-shattering kind of love. Ours was a quiet love that faded into friendship. What I was asking about was the knock-you-on-your-ass, soulmate, forever kind.

“Well, then no. I don’t think so.” He said it slowly and carefully like he didn’t really believe this wasn’t a trick. “I do love you and Linc.”

“I know that. I feel the same way.” I reached over and gave his hand a squeeze of confirmation. “I guess I’m starting to wonder if I will ever fall head over heels or if that’s not something that really happens.”

He stared at our hands. “It happens, Olivia. It does. It just hasn’t happened to either of us yet.”

“How do you know?” I guess I was wondering what the hell I’d felt today. Was it lust? Attraction? Longing? Or was it the beginning of that magical thing I read about in books, saw in other couples? I’d talked myself into believing people didn’t actuallyfallin love. They said they did because they wanted to believe their relationship was magical, but really it was all a lie.

Beau took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Well, my brother for one. Clark and Leslie are definitely crazy in love and it happened overnight. I was there.”

“Really?” Other than the elopement and Beau’s shock, I hadn’t heard the details.

He shook his head. “We were out drinking at this country bar. He saw her laughing and trying to line dance with her friends. It was like someone had tied a rope around the two of them. I swear he has never looked at another woman since. And she fell all over herself flirting right back. They went home together and eloped a month later. They’re celebrating their two year anniversary next month.”

“Wow.” Talk aboutknowing.I couldn’t imagine marrying someone after a month.

“And then there’s Kirk and Andy.”

I had to admit he was right about that. Kirk and Andy loved each other deeply. Also they made out in front of us way too often for me to doubt their chemistry and devotion.

“And Scarlett and Drew. You remember how her jaw was on the floor when they met? Every time he turned around she’d freak out, then paste on this calm smile when he looked her way. They got married six months later.”

He was right again. “I just saw them a couple of months ago,” I murmured. “They still can’t keep their hands off each other.”

“So yeah, I believe people fall head over heels and that one day we will too.” Beau smiled at me encouragingly. “Maybe this old friend?”

I blushed again and he smiled knowingly.

“I doubt that. We haven’t seen each other in twenty years. He was five at the time.”

Beau’s smile grew. “That don’t mean shit and you know it, Olivia. Give the poor guy a shot. If he’s makingyoublush then he might just be that one-in-a-million man you’ve been asking me about.”

“I can’t believe you’re encouraging me to see another man.”

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