Page 46 of The Incredible Kindness of Paper

Oliver

Unbelievable.

As Oliver rested his head on the window in the back seat of the town car, that was the only word he could think of to describe the evening.

Chloe, like a mirage, stepping into the ballroom in that blue gown. The rightness of being close to her when they danced. The touch of her skin beneath his hands.

And Zac throwing a punch at Oliver’s face.

Oliver groaned as he remembered that Julie had recorded the short-lived fight.

That would be all over the company Slack channel by the end of the night, and he could already imagine the staff starting betting pools for a future brawl, with people cheering on Team Zac or Team Oliver.

It was exactly the kind of break room gossip he loathed, and now Oliver would be at the center of it.

He didn’t even want to think about what Puja would say.

“Hey,” the driver said, looking in the rearview mirror. “Do I know you? I’m Ricky. I think I’ve driven you before.”

“Not in the mood, sorry,” Oliver said.

“Rough night?” Ricky asked.

“You can’t even imagine.” Oliver scrubbed his face with his hands.

From the moment Chloe walked into the gala, he should have left, or at least put up his guard and ensured that things stayed platonic.

He’d known she was there with a date, so he never should have asked her to dance.

He never should have invited her up to the rooftop, deceiving himself along the way that being alone up there was safer than dancing with her in a room full of other people.

He had wanted all of it, though. Chloe had been on his mind almost nonstop since he ran into her in Little Tokyo, and the dress shopping at Bergdorf’s had made it worse.

Then there was the fact that she knew who he was now. And that there were sixteen years of pain and longing left unaddressed.

Oliver’s stomach roiled. He moaned and rolled down the window.

“Are you feeling sick?” Ricky asked. “Do you want me to pull over?”

“I’ll be… fine. Just, please, get me home.”

Then Oliver looked away and focused on the flow of fresh air coming in from outside.

Safely on stable ground and in his apartment, Oliver suddenly felt an overwhelming need to call Chloe. He had to apologize—for the dance, for almost kissing her, for bringing the past back from the dead.

But he didn’t have her number.

Why had he tried so hard to keep distance between them? Why hadn’t he confessed to who he was from the start? Maybe if he’d been up front, none of this mess would have happened.

If only he could talk to her like they used to…

Oh.

What if Chloe’s number was the same as when they were teens, when they’d bought their first phones together?

Oliver had never met a number he didn’t remember. Especially the important ones.

He held his breath as he dialed the familiar 785 area code.

The phone rang. And rang some more.

But then the voicemail kicked in… and it was Chloe’s voice.

Oliver exhaled.

Their connection wasn’t severed after all; it had been there all this time. Perhaps in the back of his mind, he’d always known this but had blocked it out like he’d done to so much of the past.

Now, though, Oliver tried calling several more times, although with the same results.

Then he realized Chloe might not be able to answer if she was still with Zac—the thought of them together made him ill all over again—so Oliver stopped trying to call.

Still, he couldn’t leave the night where it had ended. So he texted.

Oliver: Clo, it’s me. Oliver… I’m sorry about everything. All of it.

A thought bubble appeared immediately, indicating Chloe typing. Did that mean she wasn’t with Zac? Hope rose in Oliver’s chest.

Chloe: I’m sorry that Zac attacked you. But tonight was a lot, and I need some space to think. OK?

He swallowed the lump in his throat. She hadn’t reacted with any kind of joy at receiving a message from him or having his number again. But then again, what had he expected? That sending eleven measly words would suddenly send her running back into his arms?

Oliver: Of course. I’ll be here when you’re ready.

And then he set down his phone and deflated. Because he had just gotten Chloe back, and now he might lose her again.