by Fiona Riley
Olivia nodded. What did she have to lose? “I’ll think about it.”
* * *
“Yes?”
After the fourth ring, Olivia’s voice startled her. Savannah shot forward to grab her phone and fumbled to take Olivia off speaker. “Hey.”
“Can I help you?” Olivia’s tone was quiet and emotionless.
“Uh, yeah, sorry, I wasn’t expecting you to pick up.” Savannah was so nervous her palms were sweating.
“Well, you called me. I can hang up if you’d like.”
“No! No, uh, I didn’t mean to yell.” Savannah palmed her forehead and took a deep breath. “I’m glad you answered. How are you?”
“I’m good.” There was a long pause. “How are you?”
“I’m okay.” Savannah wasn’t sure when she would have another chance at this so she leaped. “I want to talk to you, Liv.”
“We are talking.”
“Not like this. Can we meet up?”
Olivia laughed. “Savannah, unless you invented a teleportation device, that seems highly unlikely.”
“Sorry, Liv. I should have been clearer. I’m in New York. Can I buy you some coffee? And catch up?”
“Wait, why are you in New York?” Olivia sounded surprised. Then annoyed. There was definitely a tone of annoyance there.
“It’s complicated. And long-winded.” Savannah tried again. “How about that coffee?”
“I don’t know, Savannah.” Olivia’s voice sounded hesitant. “I’m just getting comfortable with the idea of talking to you on the phone.”
“Oh.” Savannah deflated a little before she thought about what Olivia said. “Well, I could get used to the idea of you getting comfortable talking to me on the phone.”
“We’re just talking, Savannah.”
“Absolutely,” Savannah agreed easily. “I’m happy to hear your voice.”
“Yeah. Me, too.” That was all the encouragement Savannah needed to make her believe she had a chance at winning Olivia back.
Chapter Twenty-eight
“You seem chipper today,” Reagan said behind dark sunglasses.
Olivia shrugged. “No more than any other day.”
“Nope, I don’t believe that for a second.” Reagan pulled her glasses down a bit and winced at the brightness before pushing them back over her eyes. “You getting laid or something?”
Olivia rolled her eyes and signaled for the waiter. Reagan had been an absolute saint in helping her get over the Savannah betrayal she’d felt. When Corrine informed the rest of the team that they would not be working with New Horizons in the future, Reagan had taken the information in stride. The rest of the group had mixed emotions. Everyone was happy to be done with traveling, but they’d felt a little used at the same time. Farrah and Reagan had both looked at Olivia intently when she had remained stone-faced during the debriefing. Farrah had approached her immediately after the meeting, but Reagan had given her a little more space until she’d caught Olivia crying in the bathroom after giving a magazine interview later that day.
It had surprised her how patient and understanding Reagan was about the whole thing. She knew Olivia was equally if not more devastated about what had happened with Savannah than about just losing the contract. That talk on the flight back to NYC had really helped rebound their friendship. She was grateful for Reagan in her life.
“What can I get you, ladies?” the waiter asked with a smile.
“Mimosas and bacon,” Reagan replied gruffly.
“Don’t mind her, she just got out of rehab and is a little cranky.”
“Oh, well, we have a lovely assortment of non-alcoholic beverages if you’d like—”
Reagan held up her hand and shook her head. “Stop right there, Sparky. She’s being sarcastic. We’ll take two mimosas, an order of blueberry pancakes for Funny Girl over here, and I will have the Heart Attack Combo plate with white toast with butter and extra bacon. Thanks.”
“You’re no fun,” Olivia teased and she sipped her water as the waiter walked away.
“Don’t poke the bear that you dragged out of hibernation early on a Sunday for some godforsaken reason.”
“So, who’s the lucky girl leaving hickeys on your neck?” Olivia poked Reagan’s neck from across the table with her fork.
“Olivia, forks are for eating, not poking.” Reagan batted her hand away and looked off to the left. “Uh, no one in particular.”
“Mm-hmm. Didn’t catch her name, huh?”
Reagan twisted her mouth to the side before reaching to sip her water. “No, she has a name.”
“So, I should ask old lady Cranston next door? I’m sure she turned off her hearing aids to avoid the repetitive chorus of her name last night, given the looks of that bite mark on your collarbone.”
Reagan adjusted the collar of her shirt and grinned. “She knocked a picture off the bathroom wall last night. That old lady is going to put a hole in the plaster one of these days.”
“That old lady is your landlord. Talk about not poking the bear, Rea.”
“Yeah, yeah. We have an understanding. I do all the annoying maintenance stuff and pay my rent on time. She shuts off her hearing aids on Friday and Saturday nights.”
“Don’t forget Wednesday nights,” Olivia pointed out. “You had a pretty legit got-laid grin at the meeting Thursday morning.”
Reagan blushed. “Yeah, that’s true. Fair point.”
“So,” Olivia pressed again, “who is this frequent bed buddy?”
“Oh, uh…” Reagan looked around and mumbled something Olivia couldn’t hear.
“What?”
“Hannah.” Reagan dared to push her sunglasses up on top of her head as she waited for Olivia to reply.
“Hannah?” Olivia gave her a confused look, “Wait, Hannah, Hannah? Like, stage five clinger Hannah? My Hannah, Hannah?”
“I didn’t see your name branded on her anywhere, Liv,” Reagan said with a sly smile. “Trust me, I gave a really thorough check.”
“Ew, Rea.” Olivia grimaced. “Too much info. Brunch hasn’t even been served yet.”
“Anyway.” Reagan cleared her throat. “I ran into her at a bar a few weeks after we got back from Chicago and she was sort of complaining about you a little, sorry.”
“It’s fine, please continue.”
“So, one thing led to another and we sort of ended up naked.”
“You tell a riveting tale, Reagan. Maybe you should have become a writer.”
Reagan gave her a look. “Well, the girl is a little intense, I will give you that, but she’s great in bed.”
Olivia nodded in agreement. “That’s a fair point.”
“I don’t know, I kinda started to like her. I mean, she’s direct, you know? It’s kind of nice to be so desired.” Reagan shrugged. “It’s still new, but it’s working at the moment.”
“Good for you, Reagan.”
“Are you mad?”
“No. I can see it actually. I can see how you two might actually work. She’s a nice girl, Rea. She was just a little too much for me at the time.”
“Yeah, okay, cool. I was kinda afraid you were gonna blow your stack.”
Olivia rolled her eyes as the waiter brought the food over. “Why would I freak out? I’m the one who ended it.”
“I know, but still, I probably should have told you about it sooner.”
“Thanks, Reagan. I appreciate that.” Olivia was touched at Reagan’s sensitivity. It was easy to overlook it sometimes, but Reagan had always proven that she had Olivia’s best interests in mind over years of their friendship, even if it was sometimes hidden under crude language and sexual advances.
“All right. So, spill,” Reagan mumbled between loud chomps on her bacon. “Why Sunday brunch so fucking early?”
“Reagan, it’s two p.m.”
“Yeah, like I said, early. It’s Sunday. That is a day of rest and recovery. What’s up?”
Olivia cut a piece of pancake and popped it into her mo
uth. “This place has the best pancakes.”
“Liv,” Reagan tried again, “what’s up?”
Olivia sighed and put her fork down. “So, let’s say you owe me for the Hannah thing and I need your advice on something—but you owe me, so be nice.”
Reagan nodded and chewed her toast. “Okay, go.”
“I’ve been talking to Savannah on the phone every night for the last week and she’s in town and wants to meet tonight. And I said yes and I’m freaking out.”
Reagan choked on her bite and started coughing, drawing the attention of the table next to them. Olivia pushed Reagan’s water glass closer as Reagan gagged and sputtered.
“Jesus, Liv! Wait for me to swallow before you punch me in the throat, will ya?” Reagan wiped tears from her eyes with her napkin as she tried to glare at Olivia. “For fuck’s sake. A little warning next time.”
Olivia raised her hands in defeat. “Reagan. C’mon. I’m serious.”
“Serious about what? Trying to kill me?” Reagan scowled and pushed her plate away. “I think I lost my appetite.”
“Reagan.” Olivia pouted. “What do I do?”
“Well, it sounds like you already decided what you’re going to do.” Reagan leaned back and rubbed her forehead with her hand. “What do you want me to say, Liv?”
“I don’t know, Reagan, how about You’re making a big mistake, Liv, This is a supremely bad idea, Liv, Cancel your plans, Liv, Your tits look great in that shirt, Liv—anything would suffice.”
“Okay, first off, your tits do look great in that shirt. Is that a new bra?” Reagan winked. “Secondly, I don’t know if I think it’s a bad idea.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Olivia was dumbfounded. She’d been counting on Reagan to talk her out of the meeting tonight. “I guess I—What? Really?”
“How many mimosas have you had, Liv?” Reagan picked up Olivia’s glass and went to drink it before Olivia reached out and grabbed it back. “I’m not sure your ears are working. I was just looking out for you.”
Olivia gulped down the rest of her drink and signaled the waiter for two more. “I guess I figured you would be the voice of reason here.”
“When have I ever been the voice of reason? The voice of bad decisions, dangerous choices, inappropriate suggestions, yes. Reason, no. But I’m flattered.”
Olivia frowned and rested her head heavily on her hands.
Reagan leaned forward and said, “Look, I’m not the biggest fan of Savannah. Mainly because I know she hurt your feelings. And at the end of the day, you’re my best friend and I feel protective of you. But I remember how happy you were when you two were together, even if at the time I didn’t know you were together. You were happy, Liv. And your creative side shone like it did when you were younger. So I think if your gut says go, you should go.”
Olivia looked at Reagan through her fingertips before she lifted her head and chuckled. “Reagan, have I told that you never stop surprising me?”
Reagan beamed. “No. But is my reward you buying brunch?”
“Ha-ha, yeah, Rea, this one’s on me.”
* * *
Savannah had gotten used to being confident and in control. It was something altogether unfamiliar for her to be nervous and jumpy. But tonight, she was definitely feeling the latter. She checked her phone again for the time, to make sure she wasn’t late. Okay, not really. She knew she wasn’t late. She checked it to make sure that if Olivia did stand her up, she would know just how long she had been sitting here in a frantic panic.
“Hey.”
Savannah turned toward the sound of Olivia’s voice and smiled. “Hey, you.”
Olivia slowed to a stop in front of the coffee shop where Savannah was sitting on a bench and hesitated.
Savannah stood and took a tentative step toward Olivia. She reached out and ran her fingers along the hand that held Olivia’s purse close to her side. When Olivia didn’t pull back, Savannah got a little bolder and tugged at Olivia’s fingers until they slackened their hold, and she entwined their fingers. “I’m glad you came.”
Olivia nodded, her eyes watching the way their fingers clasped together.
“Walk with me.” Savannah guided Olivia from the front of the coffee shop.
“Not in the mood for a little caffeine?” Olivia allowed herself to be led down the sidewalk toward Central Park.
“I’m feeling pretty energized.” Savannah paused. “But we can grab a cup if you want.”
“No, I’m okay. So, where are we going?”
“I’m not sure, to be honest.” Savannah ran her thumb along the back of Olivia’s hand. “I’m sure we’ll know it when we find it.”
The night was clear and cool. They walked in silence along the gas lamp lit paths of the park, winding their way past vending carts and children playing soccer on illuminated fields to a bench facing a small duck pond. Savannah nodded toward the bench and they sat down, hands still entwined.
Savannah looked out at the water in front of them and pulled Olivia’s hand into her lap, gently tracing her fingertips along the lines of Olivia’s palm. She let out a soft sigh and faced the woman she had missed so much these past seven weeks. “I’m so sorry, Liv. I’m not, I don’t—” She struggled. “I’m sorry.”
Olivia frowned. “Savannah…I—”
“Wait.” Savannah paused and centered herself. “Hear me out—really, I’m sorry. There were at least a dozen times I could have talked to you or tried to warn you or, I don’t know, done more than I did. But I was selfish and I wanted to enjoy every minute I had with you since I knew the project was ending and you were leaving, and I just—fuck, I’m sorry.”
Olivia blinked. “Savannah, I get it.”
“You do?” Savannah couldn’t believe her ears.
“I get it. I get that you were in a tough spot. I just, I guess a part of me felt like I should get preferential treatment in that case.” Olivia frowned as she spoke. “That sounds ridiculous when I actually say it out loud.”
Savannah surveyed Olivia’s face closely before she asked what had been on her mind almost constantly for the last week they had been casually speaking. “Why didn’t you take any of my calls or emails? I tried to reach you for weeks. What changed?” She held Olivia’s hand and quickly followed up with, “Not that I’m complaining.”
“I couldn’t talk to you, Savannah. I couldn’t stomach the thought of what you had to say.”
Savannah took a chance and released Olivia’s hand, reaching to cup Olivia’s jaw. “And what were you so afraid of hearing?”
Olivia didn’t answer her, but she didn’t turn away or shrug her off either.
“Tell me,” Savannah implored as she leaned closer to Olivia.
“There’s that sex voice again, kryptonite.” Olivia sighed as she leaned into Savannah’s touch. “I guess I was afraid you would tell me that we had a good run but that you had no intention of pursuing this relationship beyond the end of the project. And I don’t think I could have handled that.”
Savannah moved so her knees were pressed against Olivia’s, her body facing Olivia’s fully as she asked, “And now?”
Olivia furrowed her brow in confusion. “And now what?”
“Can you handle it if I tell you I have every intention of pursuing this?” Savannah pressed her thumb against Olivia’s lower lip while she waited for an answer.
Olivia’s eyes closed and she shuddered.
“Can you handle it if I tell you that these last few weeks have been the most difficult of my life because you weren’t in them?” Savannah brought her lips to the edge of Olivia’s mouth, pausing before she gambled and placed a long, slow kiss to Olivia’s lips.
To her delight, Olivia responded earnestly. Her hand threaded into Savannah’s hair and Savannah let herself be consumed by the passionate familiarity of Olivia’s mouth on hers.
Savannah broke away from the kiss and rested her forehead on Olivia’s. “Can you handle it if I t
ell you I love you?”
Olivia blinked, then her mouth opened slightly, but she said nothing.
A pit formed in Savannah’s stomach when Olivia did not respond. It wasn’t that she expected to hear it back. She hadn’t even expected to say it aloud. “Because I do, Liv. And I’m not sorry about that. But if it’s more than you can handle, I understand.”
Savannah’s attempt to pull away was halted by Olivia’s lips on hers. Olivia mumbled between kisses. “It’s not. I can handle that. Stop seducing me and kiss me.”
“Gladly.”
Chapter Twenty-nine
Olivia awoke to the smell of coffee and the soft sound of music coming from her kitchen. She glanced over at the clock and let out a lazy sigh. It was Monday, but she was in no rush. She had warned Corrine via email a little after midnight not to expect her until late.
“You’re up.” Savannah’s voice was soft and playful from Olivia’s bedroom doorway.
“Why are you all the way over there?” Olivia whined and impatiently pulled back the covers, motioning for Savannah to join her.
“I was making coffee, babe.” Savannah crawled into bed, her warm lips caressing Olivia’s jaw. Olivia had surprised herself when she asked Savannah to come in after their date last night. She’d had every intention to toss Savannah to the curb, until she saw her, that was. And then all those feelings rushed to the surface. And then the L-word showed up and the train jumped off the tracks and she found herself wrapped in familiar long limbs, breathing in her favorite perfume like they had never been apart.
Olivia turned her head to expose her neck to Savannah’s lips. “Coffee sounds like heaven right about now.”
“Mm-hmm,” Savannah hummed into the skin over Olivia’s collarbone.
Olivia let herself bask in the affection for a moment before she asked, “What’s your schedule today?”
Savannah sucked on Olivia’s clavicle briefly before she rolled onto her back and pulled Olivia onto her T-shirt clad chest. “I have some meetings in the early afternoon, nothing too important. What about you?”
