Page 34 of Finally Home

“Yeah, I’m still here,” he says to the caller.

I giggle behind my hand when I see him adjusting his erection in his pants.

While he now fully focuses on the phone call, I take the time to look around the room. An assortment of framed photos drag my attention to the far wall. These look like candid memories being made and even include some selfie shots. All the photos in our house growing up were posed and professionally taken. I lovemore candid shots. They can capture real life behind them. You can feel the moment through the image.

Out of all the photos, I think my favorite is a photo where Ollie and another guy are standing with their arms stretched out in front of them, while a girl in a graduation cap and gown lies across their arms in midair. They all have the same piercing eyes, so I assume that’s Archer and Payton in the image with them.

I can sense him before he says anything. Oliver perches his chin on my shoulder and wraps his arms around my waist. “About two seconds later, Archer sneezed, and Payton lost her balance. My mom has the photo of the aftermath on her wall. Payton was just lying on the ground in shock, staring up at us while Archer looked absolutely horrified, and I was in tears from laughing.”

I could listen to him tell stories like this about his siblings for hours. Topher and I don’t have memories like that, and if we did, I know Topher wouldn’t retell them with such animation. There’s nothing I can do about it, yet it still makes me feel sad. How different would life be if I at least had a decent relationship with my brother? What would life have been like growing up in our house to at least have one person in my corner?

“Everything okay?” I ask, referring to his phone call.

“Yeah, that was my brother. I need to run to Tilley’s. Do you want to come with me?”

I spin in his arms and loop mine around his neck. “Is it okay if I stay here?”

“Of course, this is your place. I promise I’ll be quick.”

“Take your time. I’ll be fine and get myself settled in.” He nods before heading over to the dresser. He pulls off his T-shirt and replaces it with a fresh one. “Actually, take all the time in the world. It’ll give me more time to go through all your stuff.” Ofcourse, I’m kidding, but my joke causes him to smirk while he stalks toward me like a predator hunting its prey.

“If you’re gonna rob me, my good booze is in the cabinet above the fridge.” He pecks my cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” With that, he disappears into the hall.

The moment I hear the front door close, I slink back against the wall and let out a heavy exhale. Is this crazy? Me staying here alone while he runs out? Is it insane that he trusts me to be here alone?This can’t be any crazier than asking a complete stranger to be my pretend boyfriend.

It’s just one more week, and then it’s back to normal. I can do this. I can walk away once this is all over, right?

If I allow the thoughts to run a marathon in my brain, I’ll still be in the same spot when Oliver gets home.

I have no idea how long he’ll be gone, so I need to get started getting settled in. The first thing I decide to do is take a shower to rinse off the drive.

After drying off, I throw on a pair of shorts from my bag. Instead of putting on one of my own shirts, I grab the hoodie that hangs over the chair in his bedroom and slip it over my head. There’s no stopping me from bringing the collar to my nose and inhaling. Even without wearing it for a few days, it still smells like him.

I know I joked about it earlier, but I don’t want him to think I’m actually snooping while he’s gone. So I throw my hair up in a bun, not bothering to even dry it, and search for my keys.

Chapter 16

Ollie

Icouldn’t wait to get back home to my girl.My girl.That’s what she feels like. Am I insane, offering her to stay here—maybe? But like I told Hollie before, we’re all a bit nuts.

The whole time I was away, all I could wonder was what would have happened if my brother hadn’t called. Would we have tumbled into bed together? Not that I would have minded, but I meant what I said when I told her I wasn’t putting any pressure on her for sex. I would have hated it but would have been okay with it all the same if she wanted me to sleep on the couch. But my body definitely likes that she wants to share a bed—my bed at that.

I open the front door, and a new aroma fills the air, making my mouth water.

Music softly plays, so I follow it to the kitchen. I stand there and watch Hollie dance in my kitchen to some Elvis-era song.But it’s not just the music that I recognize. I recognize the hoodie Hollie is wearing. It’s mine. A tiny piece of fabric peeking out under the hoodie is the only sign that she’s wearing something underneath it.

When I left her earlier, she seemed slightly hesitant, but in this moment, she looks at home, as if she belongs here. You won’t find me complaining about whatever happened while I was gone. Instead of announcing my arrival, I just stand there and watch her. Eventually, my hand comes up to my heart. Having her here like this has my heart ready to jump out of my chest and deliver itself to her on a silver platter.

Knowing this is temporary, I can’t help but wonder what it would take to make it permanent.Should that scare me?Probably, but when has following my intuition ever steered me wrong? Would that even be something that she would consider?

After her confession last night of never feeling at home anywhere, I don’t know if I could ever even bring it up and ask her to make roots here with me.

Hollie is singing into a fork when she spins around, finally noticing me. “Fuck,” she yelps, jumping almost a foot off the floor. The fork drops to the floor with a clank.

I wave. “Hey there.” I close the distance between us as she clutches her hands to her chest. “Sorry it took me so long, but I see you’ve been busy.” The source of the delicious aromas is now apparent on the counter behind her.

“I ordered dinner as a thank-you. Originally, I planned to make you something, but you don’t exactly have a well-stocked fridge or pantry.”

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