Page 41 of Forbidden Obsessions

“I give up. Just know you’re going to pay when you least expect it.”

“Deal,” she agrees nonplussed. I nod off sometime after she turns on a soft playlist, full of soft folk and dreamy vibes. The movement and the guitar lulls me to sleep.

“Get up, sleepyhead,” Olivia says, gently taking off the blindfold. Bleary-eyed, I adjust to the waning sunlight. It’s golden hour; vibrant streaks of orange, yellow, pink, and red paint the sky.

I expect the cabin, but the air is salty, and there are far too many seagulls to be New Hampshire. “Wow, this is definitely a pleasant surprise,” I say, basking in the sounds of the ocean.

“This isn’t even the surprise yet,” she says, beaming. She pulls me along the beach. The air is cold, but not unbearable. It’s nice to be out doing something, instead of being home in the doom and gloom that has very much plagued us, specifically Olivia, over the last month.

White-capped waves pummel over the deep blue water of the Atlantic. I remember us here on a whim, months and months ago, watching entranced as she decided to go skinny-dipping in waters that could induce hypothermia. Hell, I probably fell in love with her that night—what was supposed to be the end ofour reckless, forbidden one night stand that failed gloriously. Even through Nathan and the shit that transpired, we’ve been extremely lucky since.

She pulls me further along the rocky shores until we get to a picnic table, further back, along the grass. “Take a quick walk,” she demands, pushing me back as she sets down her bag.

I quip a brow, then obey, walking along the shore and watching the sunset. Usually, I’m not one for surprises, but I can feel it in my bones that this is going to be a good one. It makes me excited to see her putting attention into something that isn’t her mom.

Ever since the news broke two weeks ago, she’s been with her mom almost daily. Maura has stopped treatment, like she said she would. With her cancer this widespread, she’s not a candidate for surgery. I haven’t seen her since the infamous masquerade night, but Olivia says she’s doing well and in good spirits.

Olivia jogs within my line of sight. “Okay, come back,” she calls. Nerves bubble in my stomach as I make my way back to her.

“You had time to set all of this up in five minutes? It looks like you worked on it for hours,” I marvel. Olivia has transformed the table and surrounding space into a romantic picnic. Votive tea lights line the tabletop next to an impressive spread: salads, fruits, vegetables, charcuterie, and… my nonna’s pasta salad?

“Is that what I think it is?” I ask, nodding to the bowl.

“Mmmhmm.” Olivia smiles proudly. I made it for her once, and we were obsessed for almost a week straight. She pulls a small bottle of champagne from the cooler and pours it into disposable flutes.

“To us,” she toasts.

“To us,” I repeat, watching the sun sink behind the horizon.

“I wouldn’t have made it through this without you, Tomas—my mom’s diagnosis, Nathan, Vanessa.” I see the grief in her eyes as she says her name.

“Shit, I forgot to tell you that I saw Vanessa,” I say cautiously, waiting for Olivia to blow up.

“What happened? Is Nathan dead?” she asks softly. It feels macabre to talk about it over pasta salad.

“Yeah, she’s doing what she said she was going to. Heading to Wyoming to start a new life,” I tell her.

“Here, here,” Olivia says, toasting her. I never thought I would be celebrating anything positive in Vanessa’s life, but I hope she finds whatever she’s looking for. We eat in companionable silence, moaning through bites, and enjoying the salt art.

“I can’t eat another bite, Olivia,” I say as her eyes sparkle mischievously.

“I guess you won’t want this, then.” She dips into her oversized bag, that seemingly holds the entire universe, and emerges with a chocolate cake.

“You sinful wench,” I groan. “I’m so fucking full.”

“I’m hoping to be pretty full myself later,” she mumbles under her breath.

“I heard that,” I say through a mouthful of cake. We eat, clean, then watch the sunset until it has almost completely faded behind the horizon.

Olivia’s face turns serious. “What’s up?” I ask.

“I, uh, have a question for you.” She sucks in a breath, but her hands tremble all the same.

“Before my world fell apart, you asked me if I would marry you. In hindsight, I think you knew what was coming and that it would rock me to my core, and you wanted to show you would be there for me. I was terrified. I’m still terrified, Tomas, but I realized that I would rather be terrified and experience life with you by my side than without you for the rest of our lives.”

The gravity of her words knocks the air from my lungs. She takes a deep breath and steals a cautious glance at me before she kneels.

“Don’t,” I say suddenly. Her eyes widen in surprise. Olivia stares at the ground awkwardly, unsure of how to proceed.

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