Page 164 of The Temporary Fiancée
With a sigh, I lean back on the couch, smiling. After a few moments, Olivia reappears, grinning from ear to ear, with a flat, beige box in her hands.
“For you,” she says, handing it to me. “A belated Christmas gift.”
I take the box, raising an eyebrow at her as I pry the lid off. Inside, folded expertly, is a thick, beautifully-knit black aran sweater. The yarn is woven together into braided patterns throughout. It’s classy enough that I could probably wear it to work, but simple enough that I could wear it anywhere.
“Didyoumake this?” I say, stunned. I hold up the sweater, marveling at it.
“Of course!”
“It’s incredible.”
And it really is. It’s so well made that I can only describe the work as professional. There are no visible mistakes, no loose threads.
“Try it on,” she says eagerly. “I want to make sure it fits.”
I’m more than happy to oblige. I slip it over my shoulders. It fits like a glove; I’m blown away by how perfect it is.
How did she manage this? It’s unreal.
“Oh, you definitely have to start a business,” I tell her. “I’m glad I bought you that storefront. That was a good investment, because the world needs these sweaters.”
She beams, her face reddening with pleasure at the compliment. “You think so?”
“You’re gonna blow up. Mark my words.”
She laughs, waving a hand. “You’re gonna make me blush.”
“I’m serious,” I say. “This is amazing.”
She wiggles her shoulders in a little victory dance, a goofy gesture that makes my heart swell.
And suddenly, before I can think about it, the words roll off my tongue. “I love you.”
She freezes midway through her dance, her eyes flying wide. “What did you say?” she whispers, stunned.
“I love you,” I repeat, on purpose this time. Emboldened by the way her eyes start to shine, I continue, “I love you more than I could’ve ever imagined loving someone. You’re the only woman I want to wake up next to, and the only one I want to fall asleep with at night.”
She lifts her hand to her mouth, but I keep going.
“I love absolutely everything about you,” I say. “I wouldn’t change a single thing.”
For a few seconds, she’s motionless. Then she steps closer to me, pressing herself against the soft, woolen sweater. She wraps her arms around me.
“I love you, too,” she says, her voice small.
I twine my fingers into her hair, holding her close. I feel like my heart might explode, or like the warmth inside me will come spilling out of my chest.
I sink back down onto the couch, pulling her with me, and let my lips do the rest of the talking. I kiss her neck, her jawbone, her cheeks. I can feel her breath close to my ear.
Right now, in this apartment with Olivia, wearing my new sweater and kissing the fuck out of my fake-almost-real fiancé, I feel like I’m on top of the world.
Like I have absolutely everything.
Chapter 38
Olivia
ME:Oh my god. This is a total mess.
