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Story: The Unseen

“Boyfriend?” he splutters. “What happened to you focusing on your career and not having time for a relationship?”

I hesitate a second, allowing Olivia to answer if she wants to. She remains stony-faced, so I jump back in.

“I guess people find the time for the right person. But as I’ve already said, we really must get going. Lots of people to talk to.”

I quickly spin back to the stall, where the brunette is gaping at our interaction. The tall, dark-haired man standing protectively at her side gives me a small nod. I return the gesture, tuck Olivia in closer, and shield her from standingclose to them as we walk away. Once we’re out of the hearing zone of those two goblins, I pull her between two stalls. “Are you okay?”

Now that Travis and Millie can’t see us, I allow myself to take note of her. She’s rattled, practically shaking. It’s incredible what people have the power to make us feel. My poor Olivia is terrified of them, and no doubt it’s not just physically confronting; they threaten her whole business, too.

A small whimper escapes her.

I pull her into my chest. “Not here, Killer. Let’s go up to the room, and you can tell me what happened with Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dickface. But don’t let them see you cry. They don’t get to have that.”

She pulls back and nods, taking a deep breath.

“Hey man, can I buy one of those?” I ask the stall next to us for one of their bottles of water.

“They’re free.” The guy says, handing me the bottle.

“You’re a champ.” I wink at him before handing it to Olivia. “Drink this. I have it on good authority that you can’t drink and cry at the same time. Physically impossible.”

“What?” she turns, perplexed.

“I stayed with my younger cousins in the summers growing up. The best way to get them to stop crying was to give them a glass of water. Worked every time. Although, it did end up meaning they would all run around with cups of water anytime one of them started crying. Honestly, I slipped on my ass so much that summer.”

I peer up to the ceiling, remembering that it was truly one of the best summers of my life.

“We went to stay with my aunt in Austin, Texas. Her kids thought it was the funniest shit ever that my name was Austin.”

“Austin in Austin, huh?”

“I know, right? That joke went on for weeks.”

She smiles softly. “You’re really not what I thought you would be, you know?”

“You aren’t either, Killer.” I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Now, do you want to go to the room for a moment, or do you want to walk around?”

“I actually have my talk in...” She glances at her watch. “One hour. I’ve got to get ready. Is my makeup okay?”

“You look perfect, Olivia.”

She rolls her eyes but smiles. All traces of tears have vanished.

“Umm, quick question: why did you say the bit about roleplay to Millie?”

We jostle through the crowds, heading to the main stage where they’re finishing up another talk.

“It’s not totally off the mark.”

“What do you mean?”

“Abductor and the abducted...I mean, usually, it’s the other way round in traditional tropes, but I’m glad we gave it a fresh face.”

She spins her face to mine like I’ve gone absolutely bat-shit crazy. Well, that's true, too.Crazy for you, baby.

“That was not roleplay . . . I actually kidnapped you.”

“Olivia, you might not be ready to hear this, but I could have whipped that little taser off you in point five of a second if I wanted to. I liked you. Thought you were a fucking angel sent down here to punish me for two years. And then when you waltzed up to me all sweetness and light, you had me hooked. When I realized what you were doing, I wanted to know why. So I did what anyone would do.”