Page 110 of The Recovery Coach
“I’m in love with you,” Connor said after endless minutes.
Olivia’s hand stilled for a fraction of a second before she continued twisting her fingers through his hair.
“No, you aren’t,” she said.
Connor wrapped a hand around her thigh and squeezed.“I am.I think I have been for a long time.”
“You can’t be in love with me.That doesn’t make sense.”
His hand tightened on her thigh, a warning.“It makes perfect sense.You’re in love with me.Why wouldn’t I be in love with you?”
“Who said I’m in love with you?”Olivia asked, her voice shaky with a question so close to a lie.
“Um, you did.Remember?In the original performance of whatever the fuck that was in the treehouse tonight.”
“That was eight years ago.”
“So?”
“A lot can change in eight years.”
A lot hadn’t changed in those eight years, but now didn’t seem like an appropriate time to mention that.Olivia wasn’t certain she was capable of rational thinking.
“You still love me,” Connor said.He grimaced.“I also overheard you talking to my mom at Christmas.I was planning to talk to you, but didn’t get a chance to before you started seeing Lover.”
Anxiety set her heart racing.She couldn’t explain away the conversation with Christina so easily.
“That was private.”
“I shouldn’t have intruded.But I know you still love me because of it, so I don’t feel too bad.”
“I do…” Olivia said.
“But?”
Olivia tapped Connor’s shoulder, and he sat up.She needed to see him for this conversation.
“But three months ago you were telling everyone I’m basically your sister.At Christmas you were talking to your grandparents about how there’s nobody special in your life.Less than one month ago you were hyping me up for my date with another guy.We skipped a few crucial steps.We can’t go from platonic best friends to husband and wife on a whim.”
“It’s not a whim.”Connor stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out the little blue box Olivia hadn’t dared to open.He held it out to her.
With the shock worn off, and Connor willing to have a conversation about his feelings, she allowed herself to accept the box.She wouldn’t keep it.But she could look.
The perfect, dainty engagement ring could have been plucked straight off her Pinterest board.Knowing Connor, he’d ordered directly from one of her pins.
“It’s beautiful,” Olivia whispered, tears spilling again.
“You like it?”he asked.
She closed the box.When she offered it to him, he shoved her hand away.
“I can’t keep this, Connor,” she said.
“I’m not taking it.”He wiped a tear from her cheek and lifted her chin so she had to look him in the eyes.“Here’s what we’re going to do, okay?”
Olivia sniffled and wrapped her hand around his wrist.She nodded again.
“You’re right.We did skip some steps.We’re going to do them.All of them.You’re going to pretend like this night never happened.Got it?”
