Page 120 of Scoring Lessons

“No,” I said. “I was only a tool to help you find yourself.” I tightened my hold on her. “You’re brave, Olivia. Always have been.”

“You are too nice to me,” she replied through a choked-up laugh.

My heart turned molten. “What can I say? You’ve won me over.”

“Have I, now?” she replied, her tone filled with levity.

I sighed then swiped a strand of hair off her face. “More than you could ever know.”

She gave me one of her blinding smiles. “We should probably talk about what happened today.”

My chest tightened once again, this time with unknown fear.

“I don’t want to lose you,” she blurted, and I frowned. “I know it was a one-time thing, and⁠—”

“Do you regret it?” I braced myself for impact as I said the words out loud. I didn’t want to know if she did.

But I was also done tiptoeing around this situation.

“No.” Her tone was controlled as ever. “Do you?”

I shook my head. “I⁠—”

Her whole body tensed. “I know you said some things in the heat of the moment, so I understand if you do.”

“Livvie—”

“And this is so messy, and fucked, and you’re risking your friendship with my brother as it is because of the list⁠—”

“Olivia.”

She looked at me expectantly. Her blue irises shone with something close to fear, and I hated that. I hated the fact that she thought she didn’t deserve good things. I hated the fact that someone made her feel like doing anything for her—risking anything for her—wasn’t worth it.

“I don’t want to play these games anymore. Not with you.” I squeezed her jaw reassuringly, making sure her gaze remained steady on me. “I meant everything I said.”

“What does this mean for us?” she asked, her words barely a whisper.

I remained quiet as I tried to figure out what to say.

Hey, yeah, so I know you just told me your boyfriend of seven years was a total piece of shit and ruined your confidence, but I’d love to be your boyfriend!

Yeah, that wouldn’t work.

But I didn’t want something temporary with her, either. The word casual had been thrown out the window the moment I realized Olivia was the woman I wanted to keep for the rest of my life, if she’d allow me.

I also knew she was still trying to recover parts of herself she never thought she’d lose in the first place. And that was, in the end, what mattered the most.

“Let’s take it slow,” were the words I settled on, even if they were against my will. “One day at a time.”

“Wesley Hayes,” Olivia replied, her tone filled with glee. “Are you asking me to date you for real?

“Yeah, Livvie girl.” I grinned, my thumb running across her jaw. “What do you say?”

She smiled then shoved a finger against my chest playfully. “You are so obsessed with me, aren’t you?”

I stifled a laugh. “I see my humble ways have rubbed off on you.”

She got on her tiptoes, her smile still in full display, and kissed me. It was brief, and maddeningly soft, and I felt it everywhere. “I don’t hear you denying it, though.”