Chapter 85 Shadows of the Past
Blake: POV
I drove home, my mind still churning with thoughts of the evening—Sophia's desperate situation, Alex's trouble with Daniel. The brief conversation with Alex at the bar kept replaying in my head.
By the time I pulled into our driveway, it was past eleven, and the house was dark except for a single light in the bedroom. The neighborhood was quiet, just the gentle rustling of leaves in the night breeze. I found myself pausing for a moment in the car, gathering my thoughts before facing Olivia. How much should I tell her about tonight?
Quietly, I made my way upstairs, the familiar creaks of the third and seventh steps announcing my arrival. I found Olivia sitting up in bed, her laptop open, glasses perched on her nose, hair tied in a messy bun. She looked up when I entered, offering a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Hey," she said, closing her laptop with a soft click. "How was guys' night?"
"Interesting." I sat on the edge of the bed, leaning over to kiss her forehead, breathing in the familiar scent of her lavender shampoo. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired. Nauseous. The usual." She studied my face, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Something happened tonight. I can tell."
I hesitated, then decided honesty was best. "I ran into Sophia."
Olivia's body tensed immediately, her eyes narrowing, fingers clutching the edge of the comforter. "Sophia? Your Sophia?"
"She's not my Sophia," I corrected gently, trying to keep my voice even. "But yes, that Sophia."
"What did she want?" The edge in Olivia's voice was unmistakable, sharp as a blade.
"Nothing. She was in trouble, and I helped her out. That's all." I took Olivia's hand, running my thumb over her knuckles, feeling the coolness of her skin. "Nothing happened."
Olivia pulled her hand away, her expression guarded. "You just happened to run into her? After all these years?"
"It wasn't planned, if that's what you're asking." I felt a flicker of frustration rising in my chest. "I was meeting Alex at Jade Bar, and she was harassed outside."
"And naturally, you had to play hero." Olivia's tone was flat, her eyes avoiding mine now.
I stood up, suddenly tired of defending myself, pacing the small space between the bed and the dresser. "What was I supposed to do? Walk away while two guys harassed her?"
"Of course not." Olivia sighed, rubbing her temples, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I'm sorry. I just... I don't trust her."
"It's not like that," I pointed out, stopping my pacing to face her directly.
"I know enough." Olivia's eyes met mine, challenging. "I know she told me you said you liked her. Back in Middle school."
I stared at her, genuinely confused, feeling like I'd missed a crucial piece of information. "What? I never said that to her."
"Well, she certainly thought you did." Olivia's laugh was bitter, almost painful to hear. "She said that to me back when we were friends in middle school."
"Is that why you pulled away?" I asked quietly, the pieces suddenly falling into place. "Because of something Sophia said?"
Olivia looked away, her silence answering for her. The soft ticking of the bedside clock filled the space between us.
"Liv." I sat back down, gently turning her face toward mine, feeling the softness of her skin beneath my fingers. "I never told Sophia I liked her. Never. I've only ever wanted you. Since we were kids."
"Then why did she—"
"I don't know. Maybe she misinterpreted something I said or did. Maybe she was jealous of our friendship." I stroked her cheek, wiping away a tear that had escaped. "But it wasn't true. It was never true."
Olivia's eyes searched mine, looking for any hint of deception. Finding none, her shoulders slumped. "I believed her," she whispered, voice barely audible. "All this time..."
I pulled her into my arms, feeling her body relax against mine, her heartbeat gradually slowing to match my own. "I'm sorry she made you think that. But I'm here now. With you. That's all that matters."
Olivia nodded against my chest, her arms tightening around me, fingers clutching the back of my shirt. After a moment, she pulled back, a small smile playing on her lips. "So, you've liked me since we were kids, huh?"
I laughed, relieved to see the tension leaving her face, the familiar spark returning to her eyes. "Is it that surprising?"
"Kind of." She tilted her head, a strand of hair falling across her face. "You never said anything."
"I tried to, many times. But something always got in the way." I pressed my forehead to hers, our breaths mingling. "I'm just glad I finally got the chance to show you how I feel."
Olivia leaned in, kissing me softly, her lips warm and familiar against mine. When she pulled away, her eyes were clear and warm. "I'm glad too."
I moved to the bathroom to get ready for shower, feeling lighter than I had all evening. As I brushed my teeth, watching my reflection in the mirror, I heard Olivia call out.
"Blake?"
I poked my head back into the bedroom, toothbrush still in hand. "Yeah?"
Olivia was sitting cross-legged on the bed, looking suddenly vulnerable, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her nightshirt. "You really never liked Sophia? Not even a little?"
I walked back to her, toothpaste forgotten, taking her hands in mine. "I saved her from bullies when we were thirteen. That's it. I felt sorry for her, and I was nice to her because that's how my parents raised me. But like her? No." I squeezed her hands, feeling the delicate bones beneath her skin. "My heart's been pretty occupied with someone else."
Olivia's smile was radiant this time, all traces of doubt gone from her eyes. "Good," she said simply, her voice stronger now. "Because I don't share."
I laughed, pulling her into another kiss. "Neither do I."
After my shower, I found Olivia massaging her lower back, wincing slightly. Without a word, I sat behind her on the bed and gently moved her hands away, replacing them with my own. My fingers worked in slow, deliberate circles, feeling the knots of tension beneath her skin.
"God, that feels amazing," she murmured, her head dropping forward. "Right there."
I continued the massage, working my way up her spine, then across her shoulders, feeling her muscles gradually relax under my touch. Her soft sighs of relief filled the quiet room.
"Better?" I asked, pressing a kiss to the nape of her neck.
"Much better," she whispered, leaning back against my chest.
As I sat on the bed, Olivia's head now resting on my chest, my fingers absently playing with her hair, I realized that tonight's chance encounter with Sophia had actually been a blessing in disguise. It had forced us to clear the air about a misunderstanding that had been lurking between us for years.
I looked down at Olivia, her face peaceful in the soft lamplight, and gave her a quick kiss. "Can we get a little... intimate tonight?"