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Thinking of her empty house, Olivia nodded. “I’ll just go pick up Everett first, okay?”

“For sure,” Dana approved. “The more dogs, the merrier, as I always say.”

It was nice to relax with her friends, though watching Dana and her wife of almost ten years interact together made Olivia think of Grace, and how much she missed her. With Grace, she had experienced the deep connection that she observed between the two women. Their love was reflected in every gesture, it shone in every smile. Olivia had felt the same vibe with Grace, and she did not believe it was one-sided. Upon going to bed thatnight, she took her phone with her and started to call. But then, hesitated. If she started a conversation, she had to be prepared for the fact that it might not go the way she wanted. Olivia might not have risked it tonight if the choice had not been taken out of her hands. Right on cue, Grace’s number flashed on the screen. Of course, she answered.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Liv. It’s me.”

“Hi…” Olivia melted. The sound of that warm, husky voice and the nickname that only her lover used elicited a flurry of tingles down her spine. “How are you, Grace?”

“Okay. You?”

“Yes, I just had dinner with friends. Rescued a lost dog this afternoon.”

“Ah. Good.”

“Work is good as well. Grace… I miss you so much!”

Oh, shit!She had not meant to say it… Or at least, not blurt it out with so much emotion. A silence followed, during which Olivia mentally screamed at the wall.

“Grace?” she prompted. “Are you still there?”

“Yes.”

“Are you at home?”

“No. In my office.”

“After ten o’clock? Working really late again.”

“Yeah.” She sounded impatient. Cool and reluctant. But no less determined, apparently. “Look, there’s something I have to say to you. Olivia, I’m really sorry…”

Olivia steeled herself for what she feared would be coming next.

chapter 29

Though it was not good news, it did not immediately hit home for Olivia, and she actually maintained a surprising, staggering amount of optimism. Some may have called it denial.Whatever. Grace let her down so gently that it was easy to fool herself. Her lover was so careful with her, in fact, that Olivia woke up after a short and mostly sleepless night, convinced there was still hope for the relationship. Again, she would give her time and space. Grace would come to her senses. She would change her mind. Simply had to, right? A full week passed. Then, another. Grace did not call again. When Olivia bumped into her sister in town and learned from Chloe that she had flown in and out for a crucial meeting with the resort team, the bubble finally burst as all her hopes were crushed.She was right here?Grace had come to Burlington to see her people, but she had not told her. Had she intentionally not driven the short distance over to Red Falls? Maybe she had, Olivia figured, to visit her aunt.But not me. Not me...It was like a giant hand squeezing her heart. As reality sank in, inescapable, it hurt enough to make her want to sob. Olivia did manage to keep a straight face in front of Chloe, but she decided that a workout and a trip to the supermarket were more than she could handle. She drove home.

“I didn’t think she meant it. I thought she’d just… God, this can’t be happening again!” She vented to her puppy as he licked her face in sympathy. “I don’t want to lose her.” Now, a spark of anger flared. “Especially because she’s so damn wrong!”

Looking up, Olivia was startled to spot the last person on the planet she wanted to speak to at the moment, getting out of her car in front of the house. She considered running out the back door to avoid her, but it would be stupid. Knowing Charlie as well as she did, the older woman would just chase her into the yard and all around the block if she had to.Ridiculous.So, Olivia swallowed her tears. She put any further breaking of her heart into a million pieces on hold for the time being and went to let her friend in.

“Hello, darling.” Charlie hugged her tight, kissed her on the cheek, then beamed a smile and penetrating glance at her. X-ray eyes that missed very little. “I thought you might be up for a cup of tea.”

“Um, you know, not really. I was just—”

“I brought you some,” Charlie informed as if she had not spoken. She took off her coat and hat and threw them on the back of the couch. “Pukka. Soothing chamomile. Yes?”

Olivia sighed, figuring resistance would be futile as she was already heading to the kitchen. “Fine.”

“I just spoke to Grace,” Charlie announced.

“Yeah?” Though she would have loved to be able to shrug it off, tell Charlie it was all the same to her, and actually feel that she did not care, Olivia’s wounded heart rallied well enough to produce a jolt. “Hmm… How is she?”

“In a hell of a mood.”

“Well, what else is new?”