“I want to stay for the night.”
“Go home, Liv,” Dan says, as he enters the room. “You can be here tomorrow morning. The surgery is scheduled at nine. They’re taking him at eight to prep him. There’s no point in being here.”
“They are right. Why don’t I take you home?”
She stares at her dad. Olivia’s shoulders slump slightly. “Fine, but you guys promise to call me if you need me?”
As we’re heading toward the exit, she says, “I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
“Why don’t you come with me to pick up my things? I need my suit for tomorrow’s interview,” I suggest.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to do it, Liv,” I insist. “Unless you’re the San Francisco cutie serial killer.”
She snorts. “I can’t believe you still remember that.”
“It’s not every day that you come across a woman who might be attacked by a yeti, accuses you of being the hottie serial killer, and cooks you a delicious grilled cheese sandwich. All in the same night.”
“She sounds like fun.”
“She’s the best,” I agree, guiding her hand to my mouth and placing a kiss on the back of it.
Chapter Twelve
Eros
Liv’s apartment is like her. Small, cute, and welcoming.
“Everything you own is tiny,” I joke.
She glares at me. “Are you telling me you drive a big truck, own a mansion, and your furniture is for people over six feet tall?”
I roll my eyes. “I own a small SUV—which is a hybrid. My house isn’t that big, and I’m sure there’s no such thing as furniture for tall people.” I pick up a frame that’s on a bookshelf. “I love this picture of the three of you.”
She stands between Dan and Otto. “The ears are very mousy,” I joke.
She nods. “That’s the day they took me to Disneyland before I left for Canada to stay with Mom.”
“It must’ve been hard.”
Olivia shrugs. “I got used to it. We talked every night. One thing I wish we had back then was video calls.” She studies me for a couple of seconds before she says, “Well, it’s not much different from your childhood. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to grow up jumping from one country to another. For you, it was perfectly normal.”
“Adaptation,” I answer. “We didn’t know any different. I get it.”
She walks me to a bedroom. “This is where you’re staying.” Then she points to the room at the end of the small hallway. “If you need anything, I’ll be there.”
“Do you have to be in bed before eight?” I joke. “I thought we were going to hang out at least until midnight.”
“No, I’m just giving you a tour of the place. I’m hopping in the shower. It’s been a long day.” She wrinkles her nose. “I still smell like a plane.”
“Planes don’t smell.”
“They do. It’s a kerosene and dirty-bathroom scent,” she says with conviction and heads to her room. “The next time you fly, pay attention.”
“Maybe the planes I take don’t smell,” I dispute.
“Or your sense of smell is terrible,” she suggests, giving me a face that says, I can’t help you, buddy. “So, when are you heading back home?”
“Thursday afternoon,” I answer, placing my things in the empty closet.
“Well, if you get the job and end up moving to San Fran, I can sublease you this room,” she offers and claps excitedly. “We could be roomies.”
“It’s very kind of you to offer, roomie.”
She comes out of her room holding some clothes and a towel. “It’s the least I could do for you. Though, I still think that you should start your business.”
“Your business, so you can buy it from me when you’re ready?”
“I’d only buy half of it.” She touches the handle of the door that’s across from my room. “This is the bathroom. The clean towels are under the sink. I don’t have cute toiletries like a hotel, but feel free to use mine.”
“So, I can smell like flowers and sunshine?”
She bites her bottom lip, hiding a smile. “It’s a lot better than airplane fuel.”
“Somehow, I think you’re telling me that I stink.” I smell my arms and my armpits. “Thank you for making me feel self-conscious.”
“In all seriousness, thank you for staying with me tonight. I couldn’t handle being alone.”
I step closer to her, lift her chin, and kiss her nose. “You don’t need to thank me. I’m just glad I’m here for you.”
“It’s like you appear from nowhere to save the day.”
“I’d like to differ. I’m just keeping you company. Something tells me that you’re not the kind of woman who needs a knight.” I give her a peck on the lips.
Her bright eyes stare at me for a couple of beats, then she enters the bathroom, shutting the door right away.
I don’t own pajamas. I sleep naked unless I’m at someone else’s home. It never occurred to me that I’d end up staying at Liv’s house during this trip. Sure, I thought about her when I realized I’d be traveling to San Francisco. That doesn’t mean I planned on seeing her. Though, I’m glad we crossed paths. It’s always fun to catch up with her. More importantly, I would hate to know that she had to be alone tonight.
The whole idea of not having anything to wear around the house but jeans and a couple of suits is uncomfortable. Thankfully, I find a pair of gym shorts shoved in a pocket. They don’t smell bad—or at all. I guess this will have to do for the night.
After Olivia comes out of the bathroom, I head inside to shower. The bathroom reminds me a lot of my sisters’ who leave their cosmetics on the counter. Persy is living with Nyx for a few months, and I’ve been avoiding visiting them. Unlike the fruity shit my sisters use to bathe, Olivia’s smells fresh. Citrus, ginger, and ocean. I can live with that.
When I come out, Liv is setting a couple of mugs on the coffee table. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want some hot cocoa, but I prepared one for you just in case.”
“Does it have enough marshmallows?” I study the mugs.
“Sorry, I don’t have any.”
I stare at her with eyes wide open. “Blasphemy. How can you drink hot cocoa without marshmallows?”
She grins. “What can I say? Every time I buy a marshmallow bag, I finish them all in one sitting while binge-watching a show. When I have chocolates, I combine them.”
The face she makes reminds me of her sex face. Damn, it’s been so long, and I can still remember that day. I shake my head. This isn’t the time to bring up old memories or jump in bed with her. She’s in a vulnerable state.
Use your big head, Eros.
“Let’s talk about this business idea you have, but you want me to start. I hope you know that doesn’t make any sense,” I say, redirecting the conversation to a safe subject.