Chapter 9

I don’t like waiting. I bounce my foot and lean over the café table. My ginger tea almost drained already. I pick up the phone and pull up the text messages with Jareth. I go to text him, but then stop and put it down again.

Don’t be clingy. I’m sure he has a perfectly good reason for being late. Ten minutes late.

I take another sip of the tea and frown. Empty.

I stand and go to throw the cup away. I should just go. He doesn’t care about me or tiny baby. He decided he wanted to do something else. Somone else. I am sure Melody got to him and he is going to stay away. It’s fine. I’m not heart broken. I already planned to do this on my own.

“Olive!”

I turn around so fast I’m sure I gave myself whiplash. He’s running up to me from where the parking lot is. Don’t smile like an idiot. Be mad and annoyed that he is late.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” he gasps out as he gets close. Damn him apologizing right away. Now I can’t be mad at him. At least not about this. I’m sure I can find something to be mad about. Why do I want to be mad at him when that smile is so cute. Like a puppy happy to see you. I want to ruffle his hair…

I clasp my hands together.

“It’s fine, I just finished my tea.”

“I’ll buy you another one. You should be hydrated right?” He is already walking to the counter. I follow him like I’m the puppy dog now. “I might have been up late last night looking up ways to help you.” He goes on after ordering another tea for me, a coffee for him. “I wanted to find alternate ways to support you, because I get the impression if I just offered you money…” he hands me the hot paper cup.

“I would turn you down. Yeah, what Melody said about me being a gold digger really stung. It’s going to take a while to get over that.”

“I’m sorry she said that to you. This whole situation is my fault, I was drunk and not safe with you,”

“I was there too.”

We walk slowly down the sidewalk to nowhere in particular. I spy his hand swinging near mine. He’s walking on the street side between me and the cars. I want to hold his hand. Should I? Are we dating now? Is it okay to touch him when I want to?

“My family drama is why I was late. My mom was trying to get me to stay longer and I was having a hard time finding an excuse to leave that wouldn’t lead to a bunch of questions, or make Melody suspicious. I’m not ready to share you with them. Not until we have things figured out between the two of us.”

Suddenly the sunshine behind him becomes his shining armor as my knight protects me from the cars and his family and. And I don’t need a man to protect me. Don’t romanticize him. He still didn’t text to say he was running late. I sip my tea as his ramble continues.

“Melody doesn’t know that I know or that she knew and didn’t tell me. I’m still steaming mad at her about that one. I know we are going to have it out, but I’m not ready to yell at her about it. I can’t focus on that right now I want on you and us and…”

He looks at me and I look at him.

“Tiny baby?”

He smirks and chuckles softly.

“Tiny Baby? I like that.” His hand brushes mine. Fuck yeah! He made the first move now I get to hold his hand and not seem weird and clingy. I entwine our fingers and sip my tea to hide my smile. He sips his coffee. We walk like that for a comfortable moment. My nerves feel better. I think his do too, because he has stopped rambling. I miss his voice though. I want to hear him talk about something. Anything.

“How do you feel about Brian and Melody getting married?” His hand tightens and his body stiffens. Shit. Wrong question.

“I should have seen it coming.” He sighs. “Brian has had a crush on her since we were kids. She was one grade below us and we hung out with the same people. I freaked out on him in middle school once and banned him from dating her. But the feelings never died and he practically begged me to let him make a move in March.”

“So them hooking up at the bar wasn’t spur of the moment?”

“No. I told him after college he would have my blessing to shoot his shot.”

“An engagement ring is a pretty big shot.”

“I didn’t give my blessing for that one.” He sipped his coffee again. “My dad gave that to him.”

“He even asked your dad for permission?” My eyes go wide. I knew Brain seemed like a traditional prince charming type, but he really was checking off all the boxes.

“He is from one of the pre-approved families, so it was an easy approval.”

“Pre-approved families?”

“Rich families like to stay rich, so they marry their kids to other rich families. For generations.”

“I guess that makes since.” My heart sinks a bit though. I am definitely not pre-approved. Why am I thinking about my marriageability? That is way too far ahead Olive. Hold your horses.

“Speaking of I huh,” I look at him as he contemplates his next words. “I might be engaged.”