CHAPTER 4.

Olivia shut the door behind her and stood still for a few minutes before walking over to the kitchen to pour a glass of water.

Nothing made sense anymore.

She didn't want to cry. Not again. Neither of them are worth her tears. She stared at her reflection in the microwave door. Her face looked calm, but, deep down, she was one step away from crashing out.

Her phone lit up on the counter. A call from Ella.

She ignored it.

Olivia knew that if she picked up the call, instead of words coming out of her mouth, it would be tears falling from her eyes.

She turned the phone face down and gripped the glass of water in her hands. Inhale. Exhale.

She took a long sip of water, the cold helping to keep her still, her hands were trembling, and then the doorbell rang.

Olivia froze. Her first instinct was to ignore it. But then a knock came again. Who could that be? Ella couldn't have gotten here so quick, or could she? She thought.

Another knock again. She walked over to the door slowly, peeping outside through the peephole.

Theo.

A sigh of relief escaped her mouth, and she unlocked the door. “What are you doing here?” She asked.

“Even I have no idea.” He said, letting himself into her house.

He stepped inside and took a glance around, his hands in his pockets.

“Who told you to come in?” she said, closing the door behind her.

He looked over his shoulder, calm as usual. “You opened it.”

“I don't have time for this.” She didn't have the energy to argue. She walked past him, towards the kitchen, to pour away the half full glass of water on the counter.

Theo leaned against the edge of the doorway, watching her.

“I wanted to know how you were holding up.” He said.

Olivia let out a bitter laugh. “Why? Because you didn't want me to break down and skip workday?”

He didn’t flinch. “You’re funny.”

She looked over at him. “Yeah. I know.” She smiled.

Theo pushed off the doorframe and walked closer till he was 2 inches away from her. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?”

Her throat tightened. She hated how much being close to him made her feel.

She stepped back, clearing her throat. “I don’t understand what you're saying.”

“Do you want me to leave?” he asked, his voice calm and low.

“I don't know.”

He moved closer.

“Do you want me out of your house? I won't ask again.” He said quietly.

“No.” Before she could grasp what she had said, the words already fell out of her mouth.

Theo reached into his pocket, pulled something out, and dropped it on the counter.

Olivia shook her head as she started at it. “What the fuck is this?”

He laughed. “What? It's chocolate.”

“For what?”

“To comfort you.” He said, trying to defend himself. “I thought that's what you girls eat as comfort food.”

Olivia blinked twice at him, speechless.

Then she burst out laughing.

Theo looked amused. “What?”

“You're unbelievable,” she said through a grin, shaking her head. “Who told you that?”

“I see it in the movies.”

Olivia rolled her eyes, still laughing. “That explains a lot.”

Theo raised a brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Not everybody's comfort food is chocolate. As a matter of fact, I don't eat chocolate. I take ice cream. Vanilla ice cream.” She tossed the chocolate into a jar, opened the fridge and took out a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

She grabbed a spoon, leaned against the counter and took a slow bite.

Theo watched her with a slight tilt of his head.

She took another spoonful and pointed the tip of it towards him. “You want some?”

Theo's brows rose. “Me?”

“No, I'm talking to the man behind you.” She looked behind him and at him again. “Yes, I'm talking to you.”

He stepped closer, leaned forward and took the bite from her without breaking eye contact.

Olivia watched his lips, and looked away quickly so he wouldn't notice.

“Not bad.” He smirked.

Silence filled the room again.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low.

Olivia looked down to her toes “Can you stay the night?” She stared up at him. “I just…. I don’t….you know what, just forget it. Forget I said anything.” She said, staring back at toes.

“Olivia darling, are you asking me to sleep with you?” He said, faking a British accent.

A smile formed on her face. “You’re annoying.”

“Sure. I can stay the night.” He said. “But, only if it's in your bed.” He winked and smiled widely.

“Go away.” She walked past him into her bed room, came out empty handed. “It seems like your joke has turned into a reality. My spare blanket is dirty, the only one available is the one on my bed.”

“Well, it seems like your prayers are about to be answered.”

Olivia shook her head, smiling half way, as she turned back towards the bedroom.

Theo followed behind her. “No promises.”

She scoffed. “You're impossible.”

They walked back into the bedroom, Olivia turned on the light and pulled back the covers, and slid into the bed.

Theo stood at the edge, looking amused.

“What? You haven't seen a bed before?” She said,

He took off his shirt and climbed in beside her.

Silence filled the room. She faced the wall. He lay on his back.

“Oli-” A buzz from Olivia's phone cut him off.

She picked up her phone to see what it was.

Alex.

Her hands froze and for a minute she forgot how to breathe.