Harmon - Placeholder
The music died. All eyes were on us in seconds, but I only cared about a set of brilliant blue ones watching this play out. Will was right next to me. I fought with myself not to seek Olivia out in the crowd.
Still somehow on my side despite Macy being his wife's best friend, Will gestured for two of Liam's guys to intervene. I would have said I was sorry, but I really wasn't. Our break up was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Olivia was the best thing that ever happened to me.
"Macy, think of your reputation. This isn't the time or place," Will said coolly.
"You lying, cheating piece of shit. She can have you. I'm nobody's placeholder. Let go," Macy ranted, seeming to calm down as she pulled her wrists free from my grasp.
I did as she asked. She snatched another champagne flute off the stunned waiter's tray. Prepared to side step a repeat performance, I let out a disinterested sigh. She chugged its contents instead. Fire burned in her eyes as she contemplated her next move.
So much fucking drama, every damn time and yet I went back over and over. I had spent countless hours wondering why. It seemed painfully obvious now. Clearly I had a type. Her little tantrum reminded me of Olivia. She was probably right. Macy was Olivia's placeholder. I settled for a pale imitation of the real thing.
The realization made me grin.
Dumb fuck. I admonished myself.
"Time to go, Mace," Will said, hands in his pockets.
In the end, security still had to drag my kicking and screaming ex out of the banquet hall. I risked a glance in Olivia's direction as Will became preoccupied with cleaning up my mess.
She was staring straight at me, as shocked as everyone else. I gave her a shrug and she broke out into a heartstopping smile.
Baby girl, this shouldn't make you happy. I'm a walking red flag. Destruction. A fucking disaster.
"Not bussin', daddy," she mouthed and I gave up on lecturing myself as we shared a laugh.
One more time, the whole world fell away as we stood there, eye fucking each other from across the room.
"I hope the Asian pop princess was worth it, you dick. Bianca won't want you near the house for a while," said Will, returning to my side with two glasses of bourbon in hand.
I dropped my gaze instantly, but accepted the glass he handed me, still painfully aware of Olivia's gaze on me.
"The Asian pop princess has nothing on my special baby girl," I said, clinking glasses with him.
I was jumping the gun. I couldn't give Olivia everything she deserved yet. Maybe I never could.
"You really think now is the time to start something new?" Will asked. "Olivia's scared shitless. You should be focused on making nice with at least one woman you say you love tonight. Not some random chick you just met."
I almost chuckled as my eyes met Will's. Did he really not know or was my best friend playing dumb to smoke me out?
"It's early days, but I'll be damned if I let my angel think she has competition," I said, playing along, risking another look at Olivia as Will watched her with affection in his eyes.
Olivia's cheeks blushed crimson when I winked at her while standing right next to her brother. Johnny had fallen back. Apparently he was a part of her personal security detail tonight. Was that Liam's fucked up way of saying he didn't approve of what happened last night?
Well neither did I. Whatever the fuck we were doing, Olivia Hunter was never competing with anyone for my attention ever again. No matter how many Johnnys and JRs surrounded her.
"I'll fix Olivia and I, Will. Just let her have her moment first. She's a real boss bitch tonight," I said, hoping I wasn't gushing too much.
"You better be worth a billion dollars, Mr. Inconsequential," Will said smugly, bursting my bubble as he showed me the text from Jack.
Marino accepts your proposal. You have one week to fulfill your end of the deal.
It was too simple. Too clean. Too easy.
"Nope. Something is wrong with this picture, Will," I said firmly.
"I know. We have one week to find out what it is. So go. No more waiting. Make nice with Olivia. I don't need your stupid feud distracting you," Will insisted, ushering me towards his sister.
Morbid amusement took hold of me as I let him guide me towards her. If Will didn't already know, how would I break it to him gently that I was fucking his sister? That he was setting me on the course to having my dick inside her tonight?
"We already had a scene made here tonight. Try not to make another. I'll take it from here," said Will, liberating Olivia of her headset and clipboard.
He was gone before she could protest. I couldn't stop myself from pulling her into my arms.
"You can't do that here. Billy is watching," she whispered under her breath, but her arms were already around my waist.
"We'll call it dancing then," I whispered back into her ear, leading her out onto the dancefloor slowly, arms still wrapped around her waist.
"I'm not going to be your rebound fuck, Harmon," she said sharply, refusing to meet my eye.
"I've been on rebound from you for the last four years, baby girl. Tonight will be more like our make up sex," I said, flirting freely as I twirled her around by both of her hands.
Still too soon to be celebrating. To be hoping. To be making a play for her. But my heart, my dick, my mind. They were all finally on the same page as I lost myself to the sound of her laugh. Feel of her body in my arms. Sight of her smile. I could almost taste her lips already. All of me was stupidly hoping she could be mine after all.