Page 57 of Rivals Next Door

I watched her with mild amusement. That smug smile of hers would be wiped off soon… “Meeting someone here?” I asked.

“So what if I am?” She turned to me with raised eyebrows and that goddamn smirk still on her face.

Just then, a waiter appeared at her table. “Hi, I’m Warren, your waiter for the night. Will anyone be joining you? Or are you ready to order?”

Olivia’s face flushed as she side-eyed me. “It’s just me,” she muttered. “Sure, I’m ready.”

I pursed my lips to hold back my chuckle. Even when she was embarrassed, she was adorable, and I was a little annoyed with myself for still thinking so.

When the waiter disappeared, she glared at me. “Shut up, Alex.”

“I didn’t say a word.”

“I can practically hear you laughing at me in your mind. There’s nothing wrong with dining alone.”

I chuckled. “No, there isn’t. I’m dining alone too, but I sure as hell won’t be going home alone.”

“Yeah. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time with Jessica later.”

“Jealous?”

She rolled her eyes. “You wish.”

Smiling, I shook my head. It was just hard not to mess with her. “Since we’re both alone for now, do you want to just?—?”

“No.”

I lifted my eyebrows at her vehement turndown.

“I’m fine eating alone,” she said.

“Suit yourself.”

I tried to ignore her, but it was hard to keep my gaze from straying to her every now and then. I was also surprised she hadn’t switched tables to get away from me. The longer I subtly assessed her, the more I could see the air of loneliness that seemed to envelop her.

It wasn’t just because she dined solo. There was also a melancholy about the way her shoulders dropped sometimes and her distant gaze. Whenever the waiter came, she smiled but when he was gone, that smile faltered and she looked sad. She quickly masked it when she glanced my way and saw me looking.

As dinner progressed, I found myself watching her, not out of amusement or a desire to provoke her, but out of a genuine concern that had crept up on me unexpectedly. I released a soft sigh because I knew this would happen if I was in proximity to her for too long. Olivia Brentwood would likely stay burrowed under my skin forever, whether we were in love or in hate…

I lingered at the restaurant for a few minutes after Olivia left, and I didn’t bother to pursue anything further with the flirtatious hostess. After seeing Olivia and sitting through three courses right beside her, the desire for anything with another woman was completely dead. There she went… still unwittingly ruining my sex life.

Slightly annoyed, I stepped into the lobby of my apartment building, told the doorman goodnight, and aimed for the elevator. Olivia was inside, and I paused for a moment when our gazes locked. What the fuck was she doing here?

She looked just as shocked and irritated to see me. As I made a beeline for the elevator, her eyes widened and she frantically jabbed at something—the close door button, I presumed. Unfortunately for her, I made it just in time before the doors began to slide shut.

I stepped inside and turned to face her with a scowl. “Seriously?”

She shuffled her feet as her eyes darted to the floor. “Sorry, didn’t see you.”

“Yeah, right.” My eyes narrowed suspiciously when the slightest smirk lifted her lips. I snorted and shook my head.

There was a brief silence before she said, “You just keep popping up everywhere. It's very irritating.”

“Right back at you, Liv.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I live here.”

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