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“You’re dating, aren’t you? Isn’t that enough of a commitment?”
“No. I want a ring, and he knows that I do.”
“Is that all it takes?” I say, desperate. “I’ll give you a ring. Marry me.”
The elevator dings, and we step in. “Lucian, we had sex. That isn’t a relationship. We don’t know each other. Now you want me to marry you?”
“I care for you. Don’t you care for me?”
“I do, but not like you want me to.”
“I think you’re lying. I think you like me more than you let on.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Then tell me you felt nothing when I kissed you at Rory’s wedding. Tell me that your body didn’t react. I know you did because of how you responded to me.”
“I was half drunk,” she counters, “I had a lot of champagne that night.”
I snort. “Olivia, you’re kidding yourself. You might look back when you move to Chicago and think about what could have been if you had given me a chance.”
“I don’t think that will be the case. I gave you a chance, and you didn’t come through.”
I stare at her, pleading with my eyes, but I know it’s no use. The rest of our ride is spent in silence, and we go our separate ways when we reach the lobby. Much like the way I felt when I lost Cassie, I leave feeling the same. It’s Friday, but I don’t want to go to Lexi’s. Last week, Olivia brought her boyfriend, and I couldn’t stop glaring at him. I wasn’t even aware I was doing it until Chase poked me and asked what was wrong.
Instead, I go home and run as hard as I can on the treadmill. Only when I am dripping with sweat, and I’m soaked that I finish. Since I’m not interested in eating, I blend up a protein shake—a habit I’ve done each day since the wedding.
Zane keeps telling me that I should take the training wheels off and have a few one night stands. Now that I’ve broken my celibacy, he says it’s easy. But I’m not the kind of guy that can just choose a woman, sleep with her, and go home. I never was. Besides, I’m stuck on Olivia, and it’s going to take me some time to get over her.
I spend the weekend hanging out with Hunter and Rory. They recently got back from their honeymoon in Bali, both with great tans. As much as I tried to hide my melancholy, they knew something was wrong. I told them what happened, and Hunter asked if I wanted him to talk to Olivia. I told him no, that she would have to change her mind willingly.
On Monday, I’m in my office when my company email chimes. Attached is a memo that turns my stomach. I read it over and over because I’m having trouble comprehending what I’m seeing, or maybe I don’t want to.
Dear Eltech Staff,
It is with great regret that we say goodbye to one of the members of our Programming Department.
Olivia Adams will be leaving us at the end of the week. She’ll be moving to Chicago with her fiancé, Joshua Timmons.
Let’s congratulate her on her engagement and let her know how much her departure saddens us.
We will be sending her off with a farewell party on Friday in the break room.
Regards,
Lillian Valenzuela
Director of Human Resources
After reading the memo five more times, it finally sinks into my head. Olivia is not only leaving, but she’s engaged. Any chance of us getting back together is gone. I’ll probably never see her again after she moves to Chicago. She’ll marry, have babies, and I’ll hear how she’s doing from Lexi or Matty. Maybe we’ll exchange Christmas cards with stories of how Jimmy is doing in Little League or Debbie in Ballet.
At lunch, I decide to go to her office. She’s eating a sandwich and has her head bent over her laptop. From the window, I can see the engagement ring on her finger. It’s gaudy, with a too big center stone and thick gold band. Not what I would have picked for her delicate hand. I softly knock on the glass. She gestures for me to come inside. I sink into one of the chairs in front of her desk.
“When did he ask you?” I ask blankly.
“Friday night in front of everyone at Lexi’s.”
I thank God I didn’t go. It would have torn me apart to see another man place a ring on her finger, claiming her as his own.
