AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She slipped into her sneakers and headed out the door. She didn’t even bother looking in the mirror. She had no one to impress. The only person she had to impress was herself. . Though, she had liked the way Shane’s eyes would follow the curve of her bare legs when she was in cute shorts, or how his attention would dip to the low cut of her shirt. The pesky tears stung her eyes, but she forced them back.
He was ridiculous to think that Olivia wouldn’t want to be with him. Didn’t he realize that a perfectly healthy person could get sick down the road? The future was unpredictable, and his logic was stupid. Not to mention, he took the choice away from her. It shouldn’t be his decision if she wanted to be with him; it should be hers.
For a guy who seemed intelligent, well-rounded, and introspective, he was a real dope. She stomped down the driveway, wishing she would have smacked Shane upside the head before she left. Maybe she could have knocked some sense into him.
She was done being disappointed by men. If he didn’t want to be with her, she wasn’t going to waste another second thinking about him.
She forced every thought of Shane out of her head and continued down the street, focusing her attention on the vibrant flowers lining Ms. Oliver’s lawn, the birds chirping in the tall oak tree on the Garrison property, and the two squirrels chasing each other across Harbor Hill Lane.
There was beauty all around her, and she’d ignored it for so long. Living in the city, she was always on the go, walking at rapid speed, going from one place to the next. She never stopped to appreciate anything. Maybe that’s why the day she bought her bag became her favorite day. She’d finally allowed herself to slow down and enjoy the moment.
She had no idea where life was going to take her—if she would one day wind up back in the city, or if living in a small town was really where she was meant to be. Either way, she was going to appreciate what she had.
Shane had nothing when he came to Morgan’s Bay, but he was content, and Olivia envied that. But the jerk could have more; he could have love if he got beyond his own fears and allowed her in. There was nothing wrong with wanting love.
She groaned to herself. “We’re not thinking about him!”
The sound of a car rumbled behind her, and she moved closer to the edge of the road. As the car neared, it slowed. She turned to see who it was, and her smile faltered. Shane looked at her from the driver side, arm hanging out the window, a stupid sparkle in his eyes.
“Need a ride?” he asked.
“Not from you, thank you.”
She wasn’t going to let him be nice to her after he ended things. She continued walking, but he kept pace beside her. She came to an abrupt halt and about-faced it away from him.
She headed the opposite direction, figuring she could cut down Harbor Hill and take it to Magnolia Drive. A car door slammed shut and she cursed under her breath. She picked up speed. If he wanted to talk then he was going to have to work for it.
He broke her heart, and it would be a snowy day in hell if she was going to lay out the welcome mat for him.
“Olivia, please.” His hand touched her elbow, electricity zipping up her arm. She yanked her arm back and stumbled slightly. He reached out, steadying her. Even when she was being a brat, he was still nothing but a gentleman.
She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She was furious, and she had every right to be, but if he wanted to talk, then she was willing to listen.
“Please,” Shane said, a desperate plea in the brownish green depths of his eyes. “Let me explain.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m listening.”
“I’m sorry for last night. You have to know that in my head I was doing it for you. I wanted to protect you from getting hurt.”
“You did a real shitty job of it.” The pesky tears she’d be holding at bay swelled up and crested against her lids.
He stepped closer to her, and she didn’t back up. She let his masculine scent surround her, comfort her. “I’m a coward.”
She expected him to say many things, but that was not one of them.
“The minute I realized I was falling in love with you, I panicked.”
Her eyes widened at his declaration, heat rushed to her heart, and she could no longer hold back the pesky tears. “You love me?”
He nodded and reached up, dragging a finger down the curve of her face. “I don’t want to be your rebound. I want to be your end game.”
She wanted to bask in the moment, relish in the glory of Shane’s words, but there was still one problem. “What about all that nonsense about you getting sick? That’s why you pushed me away in the first place, is it not?”
“There will always be that possibility that I can get sick again, but I can’t live my life in fear, waiting and wondering. What if I never get sick again, and I pushed the best thing that ever happened to me away for nothing? I don’t want to live with regrets. The day I die, I want to know that when given the choice, I chose happiness.Youare my happiness.”
She inhaled an ugly breathy snort, warmth spreading through her. “You’re mine, too.”
“That’s good.” A smile full of pure joy spread across his face. “My parents fell in love after two weeks together. My mom always said when you know, you know. And I know.” Shane’s hand slipped into his pocket, and he pulled out his mother’s ring.
