You could cut the sexual tension between Olivia and me with a knife, but there are more than a few moments throughout the night where my Olivia shines through. My friend Olivia. She gives Shane as many embarrassing stories about my teenage years as she can while he tells her equally embarrassing stories about my adulthood. A shadow of grief creeps into her eyes while he tells her about my college graduation that he and the boys crashed. She does what she can to cover it up, but I see it before she can hide behind her smile. I know the cause behind those shadows. She should’ve been at that graduation. She should’ve walked across that stage with me or at the very least been in the crowd. I don’t know how to get her to let the past go. Whatever moments we missed back then don’t matter now. All that matters is now. I need her to choose the now.

After dinner, Shane convinces me to go with him to meet with the guys. Olivia all but pushes me into his car. I agree only because it’s time to get the conversation about my past with Olivia out once and for all, and I know those assholes won’t wait any longer. She walks behind me to pick up my plate, but I place my hand on top of her wrist to stop her. “You cooked; we’ll clean.”

“I’m capable of loading the dishwasher.”

“No one said anything about capabilities. It’s called good old-fashioned home training.” My fingers trace a path up her arm, and I watch the light layer of hair there stand at attention from my touch. “I’ll lock up behind us so you can go relax if you want.”

She snatches her arm away from me like I burned her. “Umm, yes. Okay, yeah. Yep. Got it. I’ll just…I’ll go.”

I snicker under my breath and stand to grab the dishes when I feel a brush against my stomach. I turn and Olivia’s hand is brushing against my stomach as she leans forward to grab one of the glasses on the table. My dick is immediately swollen.

“I’ll just help you carry some stuff into the kitchen.” She leans up until her lips graze my ear and whispers, “Two can play that game.” She drops her hand and strolls into the kitchen where Shane is already rinsing off his dishes.

There’s my girl.

Chapter Seventeen

Kai

Twenty-four.

That’s how many cold showers I’ve taken since my intense moment with Olivia a few weeks ago. It’s been torture.