Page 84 of Rivals Next Door

“He is.” I stared at Olivia, my mind going a hundred miles a second. Maybe I could be as lucky as my friend if I got over my emotional shit and gave Olivia and me another chance. It was crazy thinking, considering the first time she ripped my heart to shreds, but in nine years, I’d never felt for another woman what I felt for her.

“Do you want to come in?” I nodded to my door. “We could talk.”

“About how you helped get an innocent man out of prison? Thanks again. Are you sure you don’t want me to let Raymond Walters know who his real hero is?”

“I’m sure. I prefer to remain anonymous.”

Her eyes narrowed on me, and I knew she was back to being suspicious about the rumors that I worked with the government.

“Stop thinking about it,” I warned.

“How do you know what I’m thinking?”

“I know you, Liv.”

Her eyelashes fluttered down to hide her eyes, confirming that I was right. “Will you ever tell me the truth?—?”

I placed a finger over her lips. “Hush, woman. Come, we’re going inside.”

The tiniest smile lifted her lips, and I turned to open my door. When I gestured for her to go in, she asked, “So, what are we going to talk about? Weaver? His days are numbered. We’re winning, Alex. With all the information you’ve anonymously leaked to the authorities, he’s been grappling to hang on to his reputation...”

I gaped at Olivia as she went on about our secret mission because I wasn’t sure how to tell her what I wanted to tell her. Where did I even start after everything that happened between us? She hurt me, and I supposed I hurt her too by declaring war for her company. Things had gotten beyond complicated. I zoned back in to catch the rest of her chatter.

“Since he hasn’t figured out that I’m behind it, I’m still in the inner sanctum. I’m hearing that he’s losing business, associates, and money left and right.” She snorted. “Serves the bastard right. Do you know that the ass still thinks he’s going to sucker me into partnering with him? I can’t wait until we drive the final nail in his?—”

I put a finger over her mouth again, and she gazed up at me with wide eyes. Pulling my finger away, I frowned. “You’re nervous.”

“I’m not,” she denied even as her gaze slid away from mine.

“Your excessive chatter says you are.”

She huffed and threw her purse into a chair. “Alright, fine. I’m nervous but only because you said you want to talk and you’ve been acting weird all evening.”

Feeling a little self-conscious, I folded my arms over my chest and asked, “Weird… how?”

“Quiet.” She pointed a finger at me. “I know how that freakishly smart brain of yours operates, Alex. When you’re quiet, you’re most likely cooking up some elaborate plan to take over the world or… or to destroy me.” Her eyes narrowed to suspicious slits. “You found a way to swipe BioTech, haven’t you? I’ve been distracted by this whole Weaver debacle, and you found a way to ensure your victory.”

Her voice had risen to a higher pitch which meant she was on edge… and about to fall over.

“Actually, I haven't thought about our little battle in a while.”

“It’s not little,” she muttered.

I sighed as remorse socked me in the chest. I shouldn’t have set out on my stupid revenge mission. However, when I started, I didn’t imagine I’d tumble back into love with her and be willing to forgive and forget the past.

“Either way, I haven’t been plotting as of late, so you can relax.”

She still eyed me with skepticism. “Oh… Well, what do you want to talk about if not Don Weaver?”

I looked skyward. “Jeezus, Liv, can you just forget about him and our battle for BioTech for a minute? I want to talk about…”

Come on, man. Just say it. I wanted to talk about us.

Olivia tilted her head and smirked. “Wait a minute, are you trying to be a gentleman because your mother reprimanded you about your rakish ways at the party? It was great to see her again, by the way.”

Heat infused my entire face as I recalled the conversation Olivia overheard between my mother and me.

Of course, Mom wouldn’t miss Jamie’s engagement party. My friends were like sons to her. When I’d burst her bubble and told her that Olivia and I weren't back together as she thought, she’d chastised me about my playboy reputation. She told me it was time to settle down like Jamie and to “stop being for the streets.” Where had she even learned that phrase? Olivia had laughed uproariously at that.

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