Chapter 10

The air between us felt heavy, charged, melancholy……

For six months I had imagined in at least a hundred ways on what would happen if I ever met Russell again

In some versions Russell was angry.

In others he didn’t care.

But the man standing in front of me right now looked neither angry nor indifferent.

He looked… exhausted, gutted….

Russell’s green eyes slowly traced my face like he was trying to confirm to himself if I was real

“You look well,” Russell finally said quietly.

“I’m managing,” I replied briefly glancing at Wilson who stood awkwardly watching us

Russell cleared his throat slightly.

“Congratulations,” he said, gesturing toward the restaurant behind me

“The place is impressive.”

I followed his gaze briefly and replied.

“Thanks.”

Silence fell again.

Wilson rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

“Okay,” he muttered. “This is painful.”

We both raised our heads and looked at him.

Wilson raised his hands defensively.

“You two clearly need to talk. Alone.”

Russell opened his mouth to protest.

But Wilson cut him off.

“I’m serious.”

He pointed toward the side of the building where a quieter patio area overlooked the ocean.

“Go talk before one of you explodes from emotional constipation.”

Russell sighed softly.

Wilson looked over at me

“Please?”

I hesitated then nodded.

“Fine.”

Wilson immediately stepped back toward the restaurant.

“I’ll be inside if either of you decides to murder the other.”

Russell rolled his eyes faintly.

Wilson disappeared through the door, leaving Russell and I alone for the first time in half a year.

We walked toward the patio slowly.

The evening air was cooler now, carrying the scent of saltwater from the nearby ocean.

Neither of us spoke at first, I leaned against the railing overlooking the water.

Russell stood a few feet away, hands still in his pockets.

“You’ve lost weight,” Russell said suddenly.

“That’s the first thing you say?” I blinked and looked at him

Russell shrugged slightly.

“It’s the first thing I noticed.”

“Oh. I’ve been busy.”

Running businesses alone had that effect.

Russell nodded.

“I heard.”

I frowned.

“You heard what?”

Russell looked slightly uncomfortable.

“Wilson keeps track of you.”

That made my chest tighten unexpectedly.

“He does?”

Russell nodded.

“Every article, every business update.”

I looked down at the water and smiled faintly.

“That’s… creepy.”

Russell smirked faintly.

“Wilson has always been obsessive.”

Silence descended on us again.

Finally I asked the question that had been sitting in my chest for months.

“Why didn’t you stop me?” I asked

Russell’s expression tightened.

“When I left Vegas, you didn't try to stop me” I said in clarification.

Russell looked out at the ocean.

“I thought you wanted to go.”

I laughed bitterly.

“I was waiting for someone to give me a reason to stay.”

Russell closed his eyes briefly.

“Well… that explains a lot.”

“Does it?”

Russell turned toward me fully now.

“That night when you said you loved… everything changed.”

I nodded stiffly.

“I figured.”

Russell shook his head.

“No, you don’t understand.”

His voice was calmer than usual, but I could hear the strain and sadness beneath it.

“I have spent my entire life watching my dad cheat again and again I know I literally said I wanted you that day but it felt like I was cheating on Wilson at that moment ”

I frowned slightly

“ I love the both of you. Russell I love both you and Wilson”

I said looking in his face. Did he think I was choosing Him over Wilson

Russell's face first went blank before looking at me with confusion

“ What? What do you mean you said I love you while looking at me”

“Russell it's just like you told Wilson you love him while looking at me. You actually meant you loved us both. That's what I said”

I hurriedly explained

Russell looked at me straight in the eyes.

“I love you.”

I felt the world shift slightly beneath my feet.

“You… what?”

I stammered watching as Russell ran a hand through his dark hair.

“I didn’t want to admit it at first.”

“Why not?”

“Because loving you meant risking everything I had built with Wilson.”

My chest tightened.

“I never wanted to come between you two.”

“You didn’t.”

Russell’s voice was firm.

“If anything, you made us stronger.”

I quickly blinked in surprise.

Russell continued quietly.

“So why are you here tonight?” I asked

Russell met my gaze again.

“Because six months ago I made the biggest mistake of my life.”

I felt my chest tightened again.

“And that was?”

Russell exhaled slowly.

“I let you walk away,but I thought if you left… maybe it meant you needed a life that didn’t include us.”

I quickly shook my head immediately.

“I left because I thought you didn’t want me.”

Russell stared at me

“So we both assumed the worst.”

I laughed softly relief filling my chest.

“Seems like it.”

Russell hesitated for a moment.

Then he stepped closer, close enough that

I could see the faint shadows beneath his green eyes.

“Ollie…..If I asked you something right now… would you answer honestly?”

I nodded slowly.

“Depends on the question.”

Russell’s voice dropped slightly.

“Do you still love us?”

My heart pounded loudly in my chest.

Six months.

Six months of trying to forget.

Six months of convincing myself it had all been temporary.

But the truth had never changed.

“Yes.”

The word rushed out before i could stop it.

Russell closed his eyes briefly. Russell looked relieved.

“Good” he breathed out

“Good?” I blinked

“Because we didn’t come here just to apologize.”

He said

“Then why did you come?”

Russell glanced toward the restaurant where Wilson was waiting inside.

Then he looked back at me

“We came to ask you something.”

“What?”

Russell’s voice was calm, but there was something hopeful in his eyes.

“We want to know if you’d consider giving us another chance.”

I stared at him then slowly whispered.

“A chance?”

Russell nodded.

“Yes.”

My mind raced.

“You mean… like before?”

Russell shook his head slowly.

“No.”

He stepped even closer.

“Something more serious this time.”

My heart skipped a bit.

“What kind of serious?”

Russell’s lips curved slightly.

“Russell…”

“Yeah?”

“This is a lot.”

Russell nodded.

“I know.”

I rubbed the back of my neck.

“I need time to think.”

Russell didn’t look disappointed.

“That’s fair.”

My gaze travelled as I glanced toward the restaurant again.

“Does Wilson know you were going to say all this?”

Russell smiled slightly.

“He’s the one who forced me to.”

I laughed quietly.

“That sounds like him.”

Russell took a small step back.

“So… what do you say?”

I looked out at the dark ocean.

Then back at Russell.

“I say…”

“…you both better come inside and try the food first.”

Russell raised an eyebrow.

“That’s your answer?”

My smirk came out faintly.

“It’s the beginning of one.”

Russell studied me for a moment.

Then he smiled for the first time that night.

And somehow that simple smile made me feel like maybe…

Just maybe…

The story between the three of us wasn’t over yet.