Page 20 of Devil in the Details

Olive

Several days later

I held the two bags in one hand as I walked down the busy city sidewalk. People were walking on either side of me, kids laughing, babies crying, their mothers trying to soothe them. The sounds of cars rushing past, of horns honking, was city life. I was used to it. I thrived off it.

I thought about the last few days, how things had been with Pope.

And all I could do was smile and feel giddy.

He shook my entire world, changed how I saw things, how I felt. He shifted the very foundation I was on, and all I could think about was how I was falling in love with him, how I loved him. And I did love him. So much.

I felt myself smile, but then again, when I thought about Pope, that was always my reaction.

I felt euphoric, as if everything were right in the world, that a light surrounded me.

And I’d never felt this way before, never been in love.

He was all I thought about, all I wanted.

I had butterflies in my stomach just thinking about him.

And when he touched me, when he whispered dirty things in my ear, told me I was his, that he didn’t want any other man to look at me, I felt this electricity take hold in the root of my body.

I was his world. I knew that without a doubt.

And then I felt myself blush as I thought about being with him tonight, about what I wanted, how I wanted him to touch me, make love to me... fuck me.

The sound of my cell vibrating had me reaching in my pocket to pull it out.

Michael: Want to get drinks tonight?

I stepped off to the side so I could type out a reply.

Me: Can’t. Have plans with Pope ;)

Michael: Like plan-plans? I mean, I should know with the winky face you put at the end lol

I smiled and shook my head as I responded.

Me: Yeah, like plan-plans.

I started laughing, not caring if anyone saw me.

Me: I think I’m in love.

I just went right ahead and told Michael. I wanted him to know. I wanted to be able to be open about how I felt, because it felt good to say it out loud.

Michael: Whoa. Well, I want details in person the next time we see each other. Telling me this bombshell through text is a no-go.

I smiled.

Me: Deal. Text you tomorrow

Michael: You better!

I tucked my phone back in my pocket and just stood there for a second, feeling my smile spread as I thought about Pope.

I turned, about to head back to my apartment, when I happened to glance inside the window of the little restaurant I’d stopped in front of.

It was this small Italian café, the decor consisting of grapevines and ancient-looking cobblestone walls with the cracks in place for authenticity.

I could practically smell the homemade marinara coming through the glass.

I was about to start walking, when I felt my heart race at the sight of Pope.

He’d told me he’d call me later, because he had a last-minute work meeting to attend, and although I knew corporate men did have meetings at restaurants, my heart started racing for other reasons.

My belly tightened, tingling moving through myentire body.

I didn’t know what I expected or what I’d see, but as I watched him focus on his phone, as I watched him and time seemed to stand still, I just knew something wasn’t right. Maybe it was the setup, the perfect storm, so to speak.

And then I saw her, this gorgeous woman in a tailored pantsuit heading right to Pope.

She had this smile on her face, and it was like her presence pulled him out of his cell phone focus.

He lifted his head and his eyes widened a moment before he stood, setting his phone down and holding his hands out, maybe to embrace her, maybe because he was surprised.

Either way, it was like the world completely stopped as they hugged, and he pulled back and started speaking to her, her smile wide.

I should have left right then and there, but it was like a sick feeling held me in place, this grotesque curiosity that had me waiting for him to kiss her. Because that’s usually how this went, right? That’s usually how things ended?

Pope

I couldn’t believe I was standing in front of Soraya. She might be my ex-girlfriend, but we’d parted mutually and on good terms. I hadn’t seen her since, so the initial shock was definitely there.

“Oh my God, Pope. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you.” She had me pulled in for a hug before I could stop her.

The truth was, it did feel a little strange giving her a hug. And although there was nothing sexual about it, I didn’t like it. It felt wrong, and so I pulled back immediately, wanting to keep that distance, because all I could think about was Olive and getting back to her.

Because Olive was the one thing, the only one I wanted.

“What are you doing here?” She pointed to a table off to the side. “I’m having some drinks with a friend. I happened to glance over and see you, and there was no way I wasn’t going to come say hi.” She looked me up and down, but it was sincere, not as if she were checking me out. “You look good.”

I smiled and nodded. “Thanks. You look happy.” I saw her cheeks turn pink and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I assume that happiness has something to do with a certain someone in your life?” She was nice and genuine and she deserved to be happy.

Just because it didn’t work out with us didn’t mean I had to be an asshole.

“Maybe. But he’s a complicated guy, so there’s that.

” I chuckled softly, not asking for more details or delving into it.

That was her business and not something I needed to know.

“So are you here for business or pleasure?” She glanced around, her focus landing on the table I’d been sitting at.

“I know you liked to take your work home with you, so to speak.”

“Business tonight.” I smiled. Just as I said those words, I saw Larry Schneider head toward me. Larry was a developmental art director in one of the companies Dexter and Klein was working with. “And speak of the devil, there he is.”

Soraya looked behind her and stepped to the side.

She glanced back at me once more, giving me a friendly smile.

“Well, it was really great seeing you again, Pope. You look like you’re doing well.

” She looked me up and down again. “In fact, you look really happy.” She looked at me in the eyes, and I couldn’t help but give her a sincere, genuine grin.

“Thanks. I am really happy.” I was about to tell her about Olive, how we were, what she meant to me, but I happened to glance to the side and felt my heart plummet. There, standing on the other side of the front window with wide eyes and this heartbroken expression on her face, was Olive.

My heart dropped to my stomach, just fucking sunk. I didn’t have to hear her say anything to know that what she saw—the hug from Soraya, the smiles—she probably mistook.

And I couldn’t blame her.

“Fuck,” I said under my breath as I saw her walk away, shaking her head.

Fuck .

“Hey, where are you going?” Larry said as I grabbed my phone quickly and made my way toward the front entrance.

“We can reschedule, Larry. I’m sorry, but an emergency has come up.”

Fuck this meeting. Fuck everything else that didn’t have to do with Olive and making this right.

Because there was no way in hell I was losing her.