Page 39 of The Shift Between Us (Covewood #2)

Chapter Nineteen

Luke

I wake up from our nap to the sweet sound of Olivia singing.

I’m lying flat on my stomach, mouth covered in drool, and I open one eye to peer around the dark space.

The only light in the room is coming from the bathroom.

I lift up until I can see her hair bobbing as she sways her hips, singing along to the tune of a song.

I push myself into a seated position and fluff a few pillows before leaning back against them. I place my hands behind my head, cross my ankles together, and relax so I can enjoy the view. A smirk lifts my lips as Olivia twists around and catches me watching her.

“Someone woke up all holly jolly,” I say.

A smile breaks across her face as she continues to sing the lyrics to me.

She’s watching me from the mirror again, a slow grin appearing on her face as her eyes begin tracing over the contours of my body before holding my gaze.

I catch something behind her eyes, something I’ve only dreamt of seeing, and it has me pushing up from the bed and moving to her .

I stop just a few inches away, wanting to reach out and touch her but not knowing if I can or should. I decide to twist around so I can lean my backside against the counter and face her. I cross my arms, noticing how she eyes my biceps, and her grin transforms into a smirk.

If this is how I could wake up every day for the rest of my life, I would be a very lucky man. I’ve been an idiot to deny myself this truth, that I’m stupidly in love with Olivia Gray. All I want for Christmas is the chance to be with her. Really be with her.

“What?” she asks, the smile slowly dropping away from her face.

I shrug my shoulders, my smile growing.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” She quirks a brow, using the same words as yesterday, but this time her voice wavers ever so slightly.

I’ve never made her nervous before. I’m not sure what to do with this new discovery or the best way to act that won’t send her running, because now I’m wondering how I’m looking at her and what she might see written in my expression or hidden within my eyes.

What if one more glance might give everything away?

“Like what?” My voice is casual, but my thoughts are the complete opposite.

“I’m not sure,” she adds, returning her attention to the mirror to start applying lip gloss to her perfect full lips. Just the mere sight of them sends a shock of desire through me.

“Do you not like how I’m looking at you?” I decide to ask.

She holds her breath as she ponders for a moment. “I don’t mind it.” Her expression softens, like melting snow, as the confession drifts in the room.

I want to admit to her that I’ve always looked at her like this.

I’ve just tried to hide it when she notices.

I want to tell her that anytime she’s in the same room as me, my eyes always gravitate to her.

I told myself that I could handle this fake relationship because, over the years, I had mastered the art of pretending.

Every smile, every laugh, every time she tucks her hair behind her ear and looks at me like I am her whole world…it’s been slowly chipping away at my control. I crave more with her, but taking that next step with Olivia means risking everything.

I suspect that Olivia sees the truth behind my eyes when she says, “I need to finish getting ready, or we’ll be late.”

“Yeah, okay.” I keep the truth locked up behind my smile, not sure how much of my heart I should bare to her, and attempt to convince myself that being her fake boyfriend is enough. Even if it isn’t.

“Took you long enough. Where’s Olivia?” Jerrica complains while searching behind me as I enter the living room.

“We took a nap like everyone else did.” I shrug my shoulders. “She’s almost ready.”

“Nonni’s lasagna will put anyone into a coma,” Aunt Andy admits, patting her stomach, a smile tugging on her red lips.

Everyone is dressed in festive clothes, wearing different shades of red and green.

Joyful smiles fill everyone's face except Uncle Leo’s, who looks like he’s being held against his will right now.

It makes me chuckle. I find my dad amongst the crowd, being wheeled toward me, and the seasonal joy is sucked away instantly.

“You look nice,” he says, peering up at me happily, and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to act toward him.

My stomach clenches every time I’m around him, a reflex I haven’t outgrown since I was a child.

I can still hear the echo of slammed doors, still feel the silence that used to stretch for days between us.

Now, I have to pretend like none of that mattered, and there is still a part of me where it feels like a betrayal—to myself, to the kid who used to wait up for apologies that never came—but I’m trying.

Not for my dad, really, but for myself. I want to stop carrying the heavy weight from the past and let go of the bitterness, even just a little.

So, I smile, give him a nod, all while swallowing the heat that rises in my throat every time our eyes meet.

This isn’t quite forgiveness, but maybe it’s the start of something that can lead there. Eventually.

My dad parts his lips to say something, but my attention is stolen as I spot Olivia speed-walking toward us. She halts as she takes in my dad and me. Her brows furrow together, as if asking if I’m okay, although I’m anything but okay.

“You look beautiful,” I say without thinking, admiring her as she moves closer to me. She’s wearing a cream-colored sweater that looks as silky as her skin, a light-pink skirt, black leggings underneath, and brown booties. Her hair is down, the waves falling past her shoulders and down her back.

A blush creeps into her cheeks, acting as the perfect distraction from the turmoil I was experiencing before seeing her. I want to lean in and press my lips to them, to enjoy her warmth and memorize how it feels to know that I put it there. I reach for her hand.

“She does,” Dad agrees, and for a split second, I forgot that he was next to me. Olivia has that effect on me. Anytime she’s in the room, she’s all I can focus on.

“Davis, are you coming with us?” Olivia asks.

He’s bundled up like the rest of us, a thick blanket draped over his thin legs, and he’s pulling on a fuzzy pair of earmuffs. “Yeah, for as long as she will let me,” he says, pointing a thumb at his nurse.

She smiles softly at him. “You’ll thank me later for not letting you freeze out there.”

“All right. Is everyone ready to go?” Nonni announces at the front of our group .

Several ‘yeses’ fill the room, Emma’s being the loudest as she adds, “I want to see Santa!”

Nonni waves for us to follow her as she opens the front door, the chilled wind seeps through, and I hear my dad hiss. His nurse swats him on the shoulder playfully.

“See. I told you it was cold.”

“I believed you,” he adds, chuckling under his breath, and wraps the blanket tighter around himself. For the first time, I find pity filling my heart for him. I wonder how it must feel to be told that your life is almost over, to regret your life choices without enough time to fix them.

“Can we talk? When we get back?” I lean down and ask.

There’s surprise written on his face before he nods and reaches out to pat my arm. “Yes, of course. I’d appreciate it.”

I do my best to smile down at him before we’re shoved out the door. Olivia wraps her arms around mine, giving my bicep a gentle squeeze, and grins up at me proudly. I lean in to give her forehead a quick peck, relishing as her breath hitches, before leading us outside.

“Luke! Olivia! Look! Bernie moved!” we hear Emma squeal as she jumps from her father’s arms and rushes toward the snowman.

The snow has started melting away, revealing patches of green grass amongst the white powder, however Bernie stands proudly, still intact right where Olivia and I had left him. Olivia walks over to wrap Emma into a hug.

“I told you he liked to move when people weren’t around.”

“Don’t you wander off too far, Bernie. We’ll be back in a little bit,” Emma whispers to the snowman before rushing back to her parents.

“I’m going to have to move him again, aren’t I?” I say once Olivia is back at my side, her arm weaving around mine.

She gives me a pat, laughing as she replies, “Yup. Let’s hang in the back and move him once Emma is out of sight.”

We quickly see an opportunity as Emma runs off, and together we push Bernie forward toward the sidewalk where more snow is.

His head almost falls off, but luckily, Olivia catches it to keep it in place.

We fix his hat and scarf before moving his arms to appear like he’s waving.

Once we’re satisfied, we hold hands and sprint back to the family.

Olivia begins singing, ‘ It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, ’ and eventually, everyone joins in as we walk through the neighborhood and admire all the lights.

Every house is decked out with different themes.

One house has a moving light display of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.

Another has Frosty the Snowman and his buddies.

“I counted fifty-six Santas at this house,” Olivia announces before she recounts to make sure she’s right. Sure enough, this home has every type of Santa display you could think of on their house and lawn.

“How much do you think their electric bill costs during this time of year?” I ask and point to the next house, which is completely covered in Christmas lights—the kind of display that flashes to the beat of a song.

“Probably more than we could even imagine.”

She stops walking to appreciate the lights for a moment, and all I can do is admire her.

The way the lights brighten her already sparkling smile.

How they twinkle in the reflection in her eyes.

How she crinkles her nose when she notices me staring at her.

She takes my hand and tugs me toward my family.