Page 63 of Oliver
I scanned the garden, immediately noting Ryan's location. He'd been circling closer all afternoon, a predator patiently waiting for an opening. Then I realized Oliver was nowhere to be seen. He'd been my constant shadow all day, appearing whenever Ryan drifted too close, a buffer I had insisted was unnecessary, but was now grateful for.
And now he was gone.
Ryan spotted me, his eyes lighting with recognition. He excused himself from Darryl's cousins and started making his way toward me, purpose in his stride.
My pulse quickened. I had to move.
Thankfully, Darryl waved Ryan over to show him something on his phone. It wouldn't hold him long, but it gave me an opening.
Without hesitation, I slipped behind a hedge of climbing roses, following a narrow stone path that led to a secluded section of the garden. The hum of voices faded into a distant murmur the deeper I walked, until it was gone entirely.
Peace and quiet.
I rounded a corner, and there he was.
Oliver stood with his back to me, phone pressed to his ear, silhouette framed by wisteria draping from a wooden pergola. His posture was relaxed, head slightly bowed, voice tender in a way I'd only heard in our most intimate moments.
"I know, Quark. I'm trying..." A pause, then a soft laugh. "Yeah, that's exactly what I said." Another pause. "No, don't worry about it. I'll be back soon."
His gentle tone when talking to Emmet made my heart flutter. Not Professor Beck discussing research with a colleague, not Oliver the fake boyfriend performing for an audience. Just a person speaking to someone he loved.
He turned slightly, still unaware of my presence, and his face transformed with a smile so unguarded it made my chest ache.
I’d never seen him like that, calm and easy. As if, for once, he wasn’t bracing for impact.
Not with me. Not evenbefore.
And the worst part? I wasn’t sure he ever would.
"Listen, I've got to go, but I'll call tomorrow.” Another pause, another warmth-filled chuckle. “Yeah, you too. Bye."
He pocketed his phone and turned, and the second he saw me, the warmth in his expression disappeared. Like a door slamming shut. A sharp pang struck behind my ribs.
He didn’t have a smile for me. Not anymore. Not unless it was part of an act.
"Sorry," I said quickly. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I was..." I trailed off, unsure how to explain I was hiding from Ryan without sounding pathetic. “I needed a breather and somehow found you.”
Oliver's expression softened slightly. "It's fine."
I fidgeted with my tablet, suddenly hyper-aware of the space between us. This was the first time we'd been truly alone since last night. Since clothes had been torn off, since whispered pleas had filled the darkness, since I'd woken up tangled in his arms and fled like a coward.
"How's Emmet?" I finally asked, playing it safe.
"Good." Oliver broke into an incredulous smile. "He seems to be doing fine without me, honestly."
I couldn't help but smile in return, but it faltered as awkward silence stretched between us. Now was the time. Now was when I should say something about last night, about what it meant, about what happened next. But the words stuck in my throat.
"So..." I took a bracing breath. "Thank you for today. You’re a lifesaver."
"Part of the contract." Oliver shrugged, but there was a warmth in his eyes that wasn't there a minute ago. "Buffer services available twenty-four-seven."
My lips quirked up. "Was last night part of the contract, too?"
His startled snort sounded almost rusty, like he wasn't expecting to be amused. "Actually, it's technically a violation of our contract."
"Does that mean I don't have to pay you?" The words slipped out before I could stop them.
His surprised bark of laughter broke the tension. The absurdity of our situation suddenly hit me, and I found myself giggling. Soon we were both laughing, the strained atmosphere dissolving around us.
