to pack up my stuff, and then I’m moving back.” Olivia reaches over and hugs me, putting her head on my shoulder.
“I see,” Meryl says.
“I love my job, I really do, but I love my life here even more. And now that I’m back, I can’t think about leaving.”
“What if I said you can do both?” Meryl says right away, and I look at Olivia, who looks at me with her eyes wide.
“I would say what do you mean?” And then Olivia chimes in.
“Actually, she would say hush your mouth.” She looks at me and whispers, “That was good, right?” and I nod, smiling.
“Oh, Jesus, do not tell me that you are turning country,” Meryl says, and Olivia laughs out loud.
“Heavens to bitsy, no!” Olivia shrieks, and I laugh.
“It’s heavens to Betsy,” I say, and she just shrugs.
“Anyway, as I was saying, what if you worked from home and then flew in a couple of times a year? You can skype from wherever you are during meetings,” she says, and I clap my hands quietly. “That way I’m not losing my favorite graphic goddess, and you still do what you love.”
“Oh my gosh,” I say, overjoyed.
“I reckon she’s happy,” Olivia says, and we all laugh now.
“I’ll send you a new contract, and you can look it over,” Meryl says, “and, Olivia, don’t go falling in love with any cowboys.”
“The saying is save a horse and ride a cowboy.” She winks at me, and my face goes into a grimace.
“Gross,” I whisper, and she just shrugs. I see a little mark on the top of her breast when her shirt dips low. “That’s even grosser.” I point at the mark, and she pulls up her shirt.
“He’s your brother. Apparently, branding me turns him on,” she says, and I fake vomit.
“I will keep an eye out for your email,” I tell Meryl and hang up the phone. “Holy shit.”
“That’s amazing. We are still going to work together,” Olivia says. “Just not live with each other.” She pouts. “I’m going to have to get a new roommate.” She puts her hand up and her thumb down. I push away from the island and walk over to the fridge.
“We should have a piece of pie to celebrate.” I pull out the homemade cherry cake that my mother made yesterday. “Do you want a piece?” I ask, and she shakes her head.
“I’m full as a tick.” She puts her hand on her stomach, and I just look at her. “It’s not my fault, it’s Casey’s. He walks around all the time with all these sayings.”
“You know I love you,” I say, “but I just want to make sure that neither of you get hurt.” She looks at me.
“We both know this is temporary,” she says. “We’re just having fun.”
“Okay, but …” I start to say, and she puts up her hand to stop me.
“As soon as everything dies down and it’s safe for me to go home, I’m leaving,” Olivia says, and I don’t discuss it anymore since she changes the subject with work.
We work side by side for the next five hours, only stopping to use the bathroom and drink, and when my phone rings, I pick it up without looking at the name. “Hey, baby.” His voice comes out soft. “Whatcha doing?”
“Working.” I stop what I’m doing to answer him, the smile on my face is automatic when he’s around or talking to me.
“I’m done for the day, and I was going to swing by and get you,” he says, and I’m about to make an excuse when the doorbell rings. “Answer the door.”
I walk to the door, and when I open it, he’s standing there with a bouquet of wildflowers. “For you.” He hands them to me, and my hand drops from my ear with the phone in it. He comes in and kisses me right away, crushing the flowers between us. “Missed you,” he says when he finally lets me go. “You ready?”
“She is,” Olivia says, and I look behind me, and she stands there with her feet crossed, watching us with a huge smile on her face. “Have fun.” She hands me my bag.
“What time are you getting Ethan?” I ask, and he looks at me, opening the truck door.
“As soon as you get in the truck.” He smiles and ushers me into the truck, and before I know what is going on, he pulls up to his house. “Savannah will be here in ten minutes.”
I look over at him.