Page 58 of Semi Sweet
“I told you this before and I’ll say it again. You are unbelievably strong. You’ve been dealing with that jackass for so long, this is just another test. The final chapter. And if you need me, I’ll be there, but you’ve got this.”
“You make it sound so easy,” I said, defeated.
“I’m being positive, not stupid,” he said with a laugh. “I can’t tell you I know what you're going through, but I know what it’s like to feel alone with no one to help you. Be strong, but know I’ve got your back.”
“He said he was going to kill you.”
Sean pulled back so he could look at me. “He knows you're staying with me?”
I shook my head. “He knows I’m staying with someone. He just assumed I’m earning my keep by having sex with them.” I felt myself going from hopeless to angry. “At this point, I’d probably be happier if that was the case!” I yelled at no one in particular. “I had to maneuver around him for everything in my life. Now, I’m so close to being finished with a college degree I don’t even like or really want to have a job in, and he’s preventing me from finishing that, too!”
“He’s only preventing you from finishing if you allow him.”
“Sean Mizuno, I am not putting you or myself in danger for a marketing degree.” I felt the tears coming again. “What if he tries my internship next?”
“We’ll figure something out,” he promised. “You should sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”
Sean was polite and turned around so I could change out of my clothes and uncomfortable shoes. I slid into his bed, the side that faced the window to the outside world, as he set his alarm. I curled up on my side, preparing to sleep back to back, when more thoughts bubbled up.
“Why can’t I give in to my feelings for you?”
“Olivia, please know I’m not expecting anything from you,” he replied. “I know I came at you with all the cupcakes and poems, but you have enough going on. I just want you to be happy.”
“You can’t mean that,” I countered. “I know for a fact there are women thirsting for you and they’ve only seen what you can cook and bake. You could have any woman you want. So why wait for me to sort out my baggage?” I rolled over to face him, the window gave off just enough light to see his eyes in the dark room. “You have gone out of your way to take care of me. I know I feel something for you. I’m...I’m scared.”
“While I would love to know how I’ve already come up in conversation at the Rocky Mountain Press, let’s save that for another day.” I felt him reach his arms out and stop just short of touching me. “Uh, can I?”
I nodded and he pulled me closer to him so that my head was on his chest.
“We’ve talked before about the wall you’ve got built up. I think you’re giving in more than you realize. Slow. Like really slow. But I’m really patient.”
I could tell from the sound of his voice that he was smiling. I wasn't sure if he was patient or stubborn, but if he was willing to wait for me to figure myself out, I vowed to not let him out of my grasp. I closed my eyes, deciding sleeping like this probably wasn’t a good idea. It was the opposite of slow. But it was putting my mind at ease and that was all I needed for now.
Chapter Twenty-Six: To Aspen
I’donlybeenatmy internship for two days before Evan had gone and thrown a wrench in things. As much as I wanted to hide under Sean’s down comforter, I made myself get up to proceed with my life as normal. What exactly was normal?
I pondered the question as I got ready. Sean was usually up and out of the apartment before I was awake, but after everything that had happened, he wanted to make sure I got to the Rocky Mountain Press in one piece.
We’d shared a bed. I’d expected it to be a bit weird in the morning, but we were moving in a strange sort of synchronization, utilizing the small space while not getting in each other's way.
“I called a cab,” Sean explained, buttoning the white dress shirt he was going to wear under his work coat. “I would go with you if I hadn’t already pushed back my performance meeting with Gio Quittero this morning.” He looked like he was having trouble with that, seeing as how he had been angry Evan wasn’t protecting me from train creeps. Evan was the creep now. “I’ll tell the driver not to drive off until you are in the building.”
“It’s okay,” I tried to muster. “I don’t think he would do anything in broad daylight.”
Honestly, I had no guarantees that was true. I hoped Evan was still trying to put on the air that everything was fine and he’d have to go to work to continue to keep the appearance up. There would be no emergency button to press this time around.
“I was actually thinking of a place we could go where Evan would never think to find you.”
“Don’t say Russia. I’m pretty sure my passport didn’t survive Evan’s rage,” I said as I headed towards the kitchen to make some semblance of a lunch.
“How about Aspen?”
I turned to look at him. The town kept coming up in conversation like some sort of omen. “You think so?”
“I’m overdue to pay my parents a visit and I’ve got a few friends who owe me favors. I could find you a place to lay low for a while.”
“I don’t really know what to say,” I replied, abandoning making lunch. I would see if Tasha or some of the other interns wanted to order takeout instead. “What about school? Your Job? My–” My voice trailed off.
