the memory of the sucker I used to be. “God, I was such a fool.” Corey’s thumb rubbed away the other stray tears that fell and covered my mouth with his. It wasn’t a hungry kiss like the one we shared in the bedroom. This one was slow and sensual—I immediately felt the difference between this kiss and any I’ve shared with other men.
“That guy is scum, Danielle. He is fucking moron and sure as shit screwed up an amazing thing. Don’t waste one moment thinking about him.”
“I try not to.” Corey’s arms pulled me into him and kept me tight against his chest, while I fought back the burning tears I wasn’t ready to expel.
“Are you going to be okay? I’m not leaving here until I know you’ll be fine,” Corey said after a few more minutes of silence.
“Yes, I’ll be fine. Once you leave I’m just going to go to sleep. It’s been a long day.”
“You’ll call me if you need me?”
I nodded and he placed another kiss against my lips. I looked into his eyes and could see him struggling over whether he should leave me or not. All I had to do was say the word and he’d stay by my side and take away all the pain. But I stood by my decision—it just wasn’t the right time.
I locked up after Corey left and crawled under my covers to sleep the memories away.
* * * *
At five o’clock that next evening, I decided I was going to cut out a little early. Maybe catch a movie or go out to dinner. No harm in asking Corey if he wanted to join. Well, I could always grab dinner at his bar—I could tell him I was just in the neighborhood. Right—like he would believe that lie.
My mind was elsewhere, which explains why I didn’t see them until it was too late. With my eyes focused on my cell phone—not where I was going—I ran directly into a hard body. A pair of strong arms caught me before I made an embarrassing tumble to the floor. A familiar laugh rang through my ears and I looked up into Oliver’s beaming face. There he stood looking absolutely perfect in fitted jeans, a blue button-up shirt that nicely accentuated his toned muscles, and then there was that to die for smile. Oh yeah—he was very swoon worthy.
“Well, well I wasn’t expecting to run into you.” He righted me on my feet, as he continued a deep throated chuckle.
“Ollie, what are you doing here?” I smoothed down my suit coat in an attempt to regain my business-like composure, that I had been lacking all day.
“Having dinner here with my Grandparents.” Ollie pointed over his shoulder at the elder couple I knew very well. Oliver’s Grandparents and mine were in the same circle of friends, and greatly enjoyed the same activities. The men golfed, the women gossiped. Growing up, there were a few times when Ollie and I would be “forced” to play with one another while our families did their own thing. For Ollie, it was an annoyance to spend time with me, when he had tons of other friends waiting to hang with him. I was ecstatic to spend alone time with Oliver Garrison. Sure, I knew how to pretend as though I was just there because I was told to be. It was exactly those moments that started my unhealthy obsession with him.
His Grandparents, Lillian and George, finished their conversation with another guest and came our way. The recognition was almost instantaneous, Lillian’s arms spread out wide to me. She was a lot like my Gram—looked great for her age, knew everyone’s business and always dressed to be seen. George on the other hand always looked like he should have a cigar in one hand and a whiskey on the rocks in the other. He seemed to be shrinking with age but that didn’t contain his bursting energy, closely matching that of his wife’s.
Lillian hugged me close; a slow inhale confirmed she still smelt like a rose field. George gave my shoulder a squeeze and both beamed at me, as if I was one of their own.
“Danielle darling, you look fabulous! George dear, doesn’t she look wonderful?” Lillian cooed.
“Yes, very nice. Very pretty and filled out—men like that in their women.” It was moments like this I was thankful I mastered the constant smile. It didn’t falter as George summed me up the same way his grandson had—chubby.
“Thank