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“Should we try being friends?”

I openabout I do We can’t stay away, so what’s the alternative? She hiccups from the Coke

“You know, I’ve never le word co out of his mouth,” she snaps

I grin Usually, if I let her talk without interrupting her, she’ll tell me more than she intended

“I hateAnthony back on the street”

“Where’s Noah?”

“Germany”

I raise my eyebrows “He was out of the country for the verdict?”

“Shut up We didn’t kno long they’d take to deliberate”

“You should be celebrating” I lean back and sling both arms across the back of the couch

She starts to cry, stoic-faced, tears pouring like an open tap

I stay where I am I want to comfort her, but when I touch her, it’s hard to stop

“You re because you thought you were going to fail that test, and the professor thought you were having a seizure?”

She cracks up I relax

“You did your job, Duchess,” I say softly “You did it well”

She nods, gets up Our time is over

“Caleb … I-”

I shake , or that it won’t happen again

I walk her to the door

“Am I supposed to say I’h her lashes Her tears have cluether On another woman it would look sloppy, on Olivia it looks like sex

“I wouldn’t believe you if you did”

She smiles; it starts in her eyes and spreads slowly to her lips

“Come over for dinner Noah’s alanted to meet you” She hs “He’s great Really Bring a date?”

I run my hand over my face and shake my head “Dinner with your husband is not on my bucket list”

“Neither was defending your ex-wife in a lawsuit”

I flinch “Ouch”

“See you next Tuesday at seven?” She winks at me and practically skips out of my condo

I don’t agree, but she knows I’ll be there

Damn I’m whipped

Chapter Two

I callbehind schedule as usual I’ve seen her twice a week for the last three months It came as a surprise how much I enjoy her company, especially after what happened with Leah I felt done ouess I’m an addict

We agree to ether I text her Olivia’s address while I trio for James Dean and wear blue jeans and a white shirt There is still a tan line whereband used to be For the firstfor the ring, having athat I’d lost it The truth always choked e, not , and it had been my fault Forever became five years, death till us part became irreconcilable differences I still miss it, or maybe the idea of it My mother always said I was born to be married I rub at the e

She’s still in the sa Leah’s trial It’s about three ti s that overlook the ocean She’s a show off Olivia doesn’t even like the ocean The closest I’ve ever seen her get is to stick in her big toe She’s on the top floor I clutch the bottle of wine as the elevator pings and the door slides open She’s the only one on this floor