Page 46 of The One Where They Fall in Love

“Will you tell me what happened with Henry?” he asks, and I’m so caught off guard that my stomach drops a bit, like I’ve been caught doing something wrong. I had almost forgotten about Henry. “He said things didn’t work out.”

I’m not really sure what to say. My conversation with Lucy from the other night is screaming at the forefront of my mind. But what is the point? It doesn’t matter if I feel…whateverfor him. Oliver doesn’t want what I want, right?

“There’s not really much to say,” I finally admit. “He’s great. Literally everything I want on paper, but—”

“But?” Oliver prods.

“Something didn’t feel right, I guess,” I say, barely above a whisper. Oliver inhales sharply. He nods, swallowing audibly. There’s more words hanging in the air between us, but they float away as Oliver adjusts himself in the bed and lays his head down.

“Goodnight, Elle. Get some sleep.”

I sigh, resting my head on the pillow, knowing it won’t be that easy to fall asleep now. “Goodnight, Oliver.”

*

As it turns out, living with Oliver doesn’t change a whole lot about our established dynamics. When I wake up in the morning, he’s still sleeping, so I sneak into the bathroom and get dressed quickly, opting to grab breakfast on my way to work. I can’t help but take in the sight of him as I tiptoe past him. He is asleep on his stomach, an arm thrown across a pillow and his face mashed into another. Thor migrated to his bed during the night, and is curled in a ball next to Oliver. I smile, thinking of when Oliver insisted Thor wasn’t allowed to sleep in the bed.

Oliver’s hair looks long, strewn across his face and hiding his eyes. I’m transfixed by the outline of his shoulder blades and the defined muscles that sculpt his neck. I imagine running my fingers along them, feeling the soft, sensitive skin of his back. The very idea makes me shiver, and I scurry away.

Monday and Tuesday pass quickly, since I only see Oliver for the brief period between when I come home from work and he leaves for his night shifts. I also schedule myself for yoga classes those nights, to keep our time together in the apartment to a minimum.

When Thursday rolls around and Mikey tells me that it’s going to be at least a week to fix the window and patch some floors in my apartment, I know I have to do something.

I can’t afford to live in a hotel for a week. I’m going to have to go home and commute for the time being. In the meantime, I’ve decided I have to do something to thankOliver for letting me sleep on his couch. I’ve just returned to my desk after our weekly editorial meeting when I take out my phone to text him.

Elle

I’m cooking tonight. Don’t make plans.

Oliver

You could simply say Oliver, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?

Elle

That’s what I said.

Oliver

No, you told me not to make plans. Telling not asking.

Elle

I’m offering to make you dinner because you’ve been letting me sleep on your couch for three days!!

Oliver

It’s not what you said, it’s how you said it.

Elle

Did you just quote Friends at me?

Oliver

Do you think you’re the only one who watches that show?

I don’t notice I’m grinning until my cheeks start to hurt.I quickly put my phone down and cover my mouth with the back of my hand, trying to focus on my computer. But I just look past the document on the screen, seeing my reflection. It’s not lost on me that my mood has been uncharacteristically upbeat over the last few days, and I wish I could say it wasn’t because of Oliver.