Page 36

Olivia

“O livia.”

Someone’s voice curls around me like a sweet embrace. Faintly, I feel something warm against my skin, drawing away the rough edges of sleep.

“We’re almost there.”

My eyes flutter open, and when I see a face in front of mine, I jump.

Crew’s hands hold me steady. “It’s just me,” he says, thumb brushing my neck as I wake fully.

I realize that I’m in the front seat of his car, the door open. He's standing outside. I must’ve fallen asleep on the drive because the last thing I remember are the windswept trees outside Sutton. Now the air is frigid. But his touch is warm.

Safe.

He draws back as I sit upright, stirring a sleeping Chesna in my lap. She mewls softly before resettling. He props the car door open fully, leaning against the hood as he pumps gas into the car.

“Where are we?” I ask, stretching my arms over my head as I unbuckle to stretch my legs.

“About thirty minutes out,” he answers, casually glancing at me as I shiver. He rounds the car, reaching inside and pulling out a jacket. “Throw that on. It will only get colder.”

I slip into it easily, aware of his faint masculine scent as I draw the oversized hood over my head. A blinking OPEN sign flashes inside the dirty windows of the convenience store. Across the street, a single blinking stop light separates the winding two-way road that disappears into sprawling evergreens in either direction. Other than that, there’s nothing for miles.

“Is there anything I should know before we get there?” I ask, and although it’s meant to be teasing, I can’t help but notice how tense he is. Arms crossed over his chest, eyes locked somewhere in the distance.

“I called my mom while you were asleep. She knows we’ll be there soon.”

“Theresa and Jimmy, right?” He hums in confirmation, and I smile. “You’re sure it’s okay that I’m coming? I don’t want to… intrude.”

He smirks from under his baseball cap, lifting his gaze to mine. “You’re not intruding. Thank you for coming.”

For the first time since a few days ago, it feels like we’re alone again.

With the way he’s looking at me…

I clear my throat, forcing myself to focus. “I think, uh… I think the break will be good.”

He eyes me carefully, motioning toward my hand. “What happened?”

I nearly forgot about it. The burn still stings, the pain a distant throbbing ache. “A doorknob,” I say with a laugh, absently fiddling with the gauze. “I grabbed it without thinking when we tried to leave the building.”

“Does it hurt?” he murmurs.

I shake my head. “I’m okay.”

He nods, not quite believing me. “That phone call back home. It was about last night?”

“Yeah.”

Just the memory makes me feel queasy.

The fire wasn’t an accident. I’m not foolish enough to think that it was.

“I can’t help but feel like it was my fault,” I say, my voice hoarse. When he looks like he’s going to object, I add, “I know- logically- it isn’t. I didn’t start that fire. But they left that note for me.”

Understanding passes over his face. “Did you talk to Harvey about it more?”

Not exactly... But that’s not a wound I want to poke at right now.

“We talked,” I say, clearing my throat. “Had a bit of a fight actually. I’ll call him sometime this week. You shouldn’t worry about that right now.”

“I will though.” His arms drop, shoulders still tight.

I want nothing more than to touch him, to soothe the tension away.

But we still haven’t acknowledged things since the night we last…

“I know…” I say, tucking my arms into the jacket he lent me. “Maybe we can both just agree to worry about it later?”

He doesn’t nod, but I know when he blows out a breath that he’s letting it go.

For now.

I watch as he reaches for the gun at his thigh. He adjusts, and I see him reach beneath his jacket to hide the pistol in a holster against his side instead. I don't comment on it, but part of me wonders whether he's hiding it to keep his parents at ease.

I smile, turning to watching those brown eyes assess me from under his cap. “You know I’m gonna tease you about Mama Warden forever, right?”

He huffs, finally cracking a smile. “It’s just something the guys call her. I’ve never called her that.”

“Should I?”

“No.” He shakes his head with a laugh. “Theresa’s fine.”

“Do you know if your Dad is still in the hospital?”

“They released him this afternoon.” The gas tank clicks, indicating the tank is full, and I nod before hopping back in the car. “Olivia.” The sound of my name on his lips halts me. “Things might be tense. I haven’t been home in-“ He rubs the back of his neck. “Too long.”

There’s a reason for that, I’m sure, but I don’t press him.

I just smile. “Don’t poke any proverbial bears. Got it.”

The rest of the drive is quiet. I try my best to focus on Chesna who’s curled in my lap, gently pawing at my sweater.

Ultimately, my thoughts wander to other things. To work and the burning hell-hole I feel I’ve left behind. To the fire, the apartment, and the mystery stalker who has now threatened my father, my cat, and me. A year ago, I never would have dreamt things would turn out this way.

Yet here we are.

A few winding turns in the road reveals a humble estate, covered in greenery and pine. The house itself is two-stories of ivy and cobblestone, and as we pull into the driveway, I notice flowers and vines trailing every window ledge. A smaller house sits in the garden around the back, and as we step out of the car, I smell fresh paint.

Crew grabs our bags, and I carry Chesna, doing my best not to seem awkward as we climb the front steps and ring the doorbell. I know how it looks to bring a woman home- especially one his parents likely haven’t heard of before. I glance at him out of my peripheral, nudging him with my shoulder.

“You’re not breathing,” I tell him, and when I hear footsteps creak inside, he takes a heavy inhale.

The door opens, revealing a shorter woman with inky black hair that’s streaked with silver. When she sees us- sees me- her eyes blow wide. “Oh, dear god. You’re gorgeous too,” she whispers, and when Crew clears his throat, I blush furiously.

“Ma.”

“Sorry,” she shakes her head, eyes crinkling with a wide smile. “Sorry. You must be Olivia. I’m Theresa.”

“Hi. It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Warden.”

She chokes on a laugh, opening the door wider. “Please. I don’t think anyone’s called me Mrs in twenty years. Come ‘ere, girl.”

She opens her arms, and for a moment, I pause until I realize she’s talking to Chesna. I sheepishly hand her over, and Theresa softly pets her as we step inside. Chesna wanders out of her arms to sniff the place out, and when Theresa stands, her smile widens as she takes in her son.

“There’s my boy.”

Crew drops his bag and scoops her up, swinging her around in a big hug. My heart warms at the sight. “Hey, Mom.”

“You’ve somehow gotten taller since I last saw you.” She says into his neck as he sets her back on her feet. She gazes at him again. “Your hair hasn’t been this long since you were little.” She tugs at the strands peeking out from under his hat.

He smiles again. “Missed you too.”

She pats his face, something like tears filling her eyes before her attention swings back towards me. “Are you hungry? Want a coffee? I’m sure the drive was horrid.”

“Coffee sounds wonderful.”

She leads us further inside. The living room comes into view, complete with hand-stitched quilts and books I’m sure are just as old as I am. Or older.

“Tessa?” A deep voice calls from the stairs, and when I look up, I see a man standing at the top. His back is hunched, salt and pepper hair tousled from sleep. His eyes widen in shock when he sees us.

“Son,” he says, the word filled with relief and anguish. “It’s been a long time,” he says, and even I can feel the weight of the words. Jimmy Warden’s eyes find me, gaze hardening. Part of me wonders if he even knew I was coming.

Crew steps in front of me, drawing his father’s gaze. “We should unpack,” he says. “Then we’ll have a bite to eat.”

Theresa replies: “Of course.” She strolls up the steps, concern clear in her voice as she meets Jimmy halfway. “Honey, what are you doing out of bed?”

“The guest house is around back.” Crew directs me through the living room which opens to a patio. Just past that lies the smaller house we saw from upfront.

Upon stepping inside, the place is warm and airy, opening into a kitchen with marble counter tops and sleek silver appliances. The stairs lay beyond that, everything simple with robin blue paint dutifully carried throughout the space. Tarps cover almost every surface, and it’s clear that the house is under some type of construction.

Crew leads me upstairs, and the loft style bedroom comes into view. Complete with an attached bathroom and only one bed. Crew realizes when I connect the dots because he smirks.

“Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll take the couch.”

A cushioned couch is perched in the far corner, but that doesn’t exactly stop my mind from wondering how exactly we’ll get through an entire night together. Let alone an entire week.

Those are problems for later , I decide because as soon as Crew sets down our bags, he sighs.

“I should probably talk to my dad alone,” he surprises me by saying.

“Okay,” I say with a smile. “I might change and help your mom with food.”

His eyes flicker over me for a moment, tracing down my face, my body, before meeting my eyes again. He nods, clearing his throat and looking away. “I’ll meet you downstairs then.”