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“No? Why would you do that?” My gaze whips around to face her.
“Well, because I’m not looking to start a relationship right now. The timing is off.”
“Are you kidding me, Ells! There must be more to it than that. Don’t ninety-eight percent me. That’s the most ridiculous thing that has ever come out of your mouth, and that’s really saying something.”
Ellie earned the nickname in college because ninety-eight percent of what she says is exaggerated or made up to make her story more impressive. This is one of those times.
“You missed the turn, Ells. Make a U-turn right up here.”
Ellie ignores me and continues to drive further past the area of the beach where we set up earlier today.
“Ellie! You need to turn around.”
She grins but remains silent. It’s pretty clear she is ignoring me. She shrugs and a smile creeps over her mouth.
“What are you doing? Where are you going?”
“I love you, Olivia, you know I do, but you can be so stubborn sometimes. I’m going to need you to trust me on this.”
And then it hits me all at once when she makes the left turn towards the beach house. One more right turn and we will be directly in front of it. My pulse starts to race.
“Ellie, what’s going on?”
A second later, Ellie is pulling our Bloom van into the driveway of the beach house. My eyes narrow on Parker standing in the doorway and I feel like the air is squeezed from my lungs. It all happens so fast that I’m not prepared for the thousand different emotions I’m hit with all at once. Seeing him for the first time in over three weeks sends chills over my skin. He’s wearing jeans that fit him perfectly in all the right places and a short sleeve black t-shirt. His hand grips the door casing above his head. Why does he have to be so sexy?
And then comes the sinking feeling as I remember why I haven’t seen him in weeks, and it hits me like a freight train. It all comes back to me, flooding my thoughts. I’m supposed to be mad at him. I am mad at him but it’s like my heart hasn’t quite caught up to what my brain is telling me. Ellie must see my body tense.
She reaches over the center console and squeezes my hand. “Hear him out, Olivia.”
“Why the hell would I do that?”
“Could you live with yourself if you didn’t and possibly miss out on something amazing?”
“Ells, you are supposed to be on my side.”
“Let me ask you a question. Do you still love him?’
“You know I do. I’m the idiot who can’t stop loving the man who chose to cheat on her.” I say, trying not to cry.
“Then you owe it to yourself to hear him out. I promise. You can do this.” She squeezes my hand in reassurance.
“I don’t think I can, Ellie.” I blow out a breath.
“I know you can. Trust me, you are going to want to hear what he has to say.” She gives me the nudge I need to move my body from the passenger seat.
On shaky legs, I exit the car and walk slowly towards him. I stop inches away from him, my heart beating through my ribcage. We are face to face, only the breeze from the ocean between us. I can feel myself wanting to reach out and touch him, but I restrain myself. There’s so much he needs to explain before I even consider allowing him to touch me.
“Hey.” His voice is hesitant but sure, with the slightest hint of a smile. “Will you come inside with me? Can we talk?”
“We can talk here.”
“Livy please. I only need ten minutes of your time. Please come in.”
“This is a bad idea, Parker.”
He considers this. “I promise you, Livy, ten minutes. That’s all I ask.”
I’m so nervous I’m shaking, but recalling Ellie’s advice, I follow my instincts and nod. I can listen to what he has to say and then leave.
