When I get cold, he offers me a sweatshirt to put on.

When Solly rubs himself on his leg, he picks him up and cradles him in his arms.

“I’ve never seen this part of you,” I say, smiling.

“I love animals,” he says. “They don’t lie. They don’t cheat. They only want one thing, love and that's the only thing that any of us have to give.”

I nod, petting Solly on the head, too.

He closes his eyes in pleasure.

“Besides, this one is kind of special. He loves someone I happen to as well.”

What did he just say? I look up at him.

“I should’ve said this a long time ago, Olive. I knew that I did after just a few days of being with you. And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to say it. It was so stupid. I just never heard anyone say it growing up and I guess that rubbed off on me.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask quietly.

“I love you, Olive. I’ve loved you ever since we met and I will always love you.”

I swallow hard.

I stare into his deep eyes, not knowing exactly what to say back to him. No, that’s not true. I know exactly what I should say. I need to tell him I love him, too. I need to throw my arms around him and press my lips to his. But something holds me back.

“You don’t have to say anything back.” Nicholas puts his finger on my lips when I open my mouth. “It’s not about that. I just needed you to know this. This was one of my biggest regrets from our time together.”

After saying the words that I have been waiting to hear this whole time, Nicholas gets up and clears the table.

He washes the dishes in the sink and offers me something else to drink.

I glance at the time and see that somehow it got to be almost nine.

I had promised myself that I would leave before it got dark, but that was ages ago.

“It’s getting really late, I think I better be going.”

“Are you driving back now?”

“No, I was going to stay at a motel in town.”

He nods, his shoulders slope down.

“What? What is it?” I ask.

“Why don’t you stay here?” he suggests.

I look him up and down. The way his shirt clings to him, I can see practically every outline of his six pack.

His shoulders are wide and strong and his forearms have clearly outlined veins. He licks his lips and I feel a flutter in my core.

When he leans on the counter, his hair falls into his face. My knees start to feel weak.

“No, that’s not a good idea,” I mumble.

I don’t trust myself with him.