105

ALAYNA

I keep my distance from Brandon, but I’m too aware of his presence next door. Not even Casey or Arianna can console me. I just wanted to be alone to think. Then I remember Oliver’s proposition. He told me to come to him if I decided to hear him out.

I send a text to Casey the following day to tell Oliver I need to see him. I can’t go out of the room because I’d rather stay with my family and not face Brandon. Casey tells me Oliver is coming. While I wait for him, I watch Jason and Arianna playing with our younger siblings in the living room, which makes me smile.

Oliver then appears at the door and asks me to join him for coffee downstairs. I ask Jason if it’s safe to go out, and my brother assures me that it is since he owns the entire building.

Oliver and I sit across from each other at the coffee shop nursing our lattes.

“You look great,” I tell him. The bruises on his face have slightly faded.

“I look almost normal, thank you.” He chuckles. “What’s up?”

I let a beat pass be