Page 75 of Until Bax

“That’s what they are.”

“Yeah, when you’re fifty.” She laughs, and I’m relieved to hear that sound, especially after last night. Not that it surprises me that she’s taking this in stride. In every situation we’ve been in, she’s stood strong. In fact, the only time I’ve seen her cry is when we had our fight and I was walking away from her.

“Are you calling me old?”

“Youareold.”

“Take it back.” I nip her neck while I dig my fingers into her sides.

She shrieks with laughter. “Fine, you’re not old!”

I chuckle, pulling my mouth away from her skin.

“You’re evil.”

“Yeah.” I slide my hand around the side of her neck, use my hold on her to drag her forward for a kiss, and then help her back onto her stool.

“Have you spoken to Liam?” she asks, picking her bagel back up.

“No, but I’ll call him this afternoon,” I say as my phone rings on the counter between us.

“Speak of the devil,” she mumbles around a bite of bagel.

Sliding my finger across the screen, I put the call on speaker.

“Hey, Olivia is here with me, and you’re on speaker,” I say in greeting.

“Someone broke into your house?” he questions, sounding pissed, and Olivia pauses with her bagel an inch from her mouth.

“Technically, they broke intoKourtney’shouse,” she answers, and he curses.

“Who was it?”

“If I knew, I would tell you, but I have no idea,” she says, then continues. “Also, thanks for getting back to me last night with Rebecca’s number.”

“I was busy,” he clips.

“Whatever.” She sighs as Gemma starts to bark right before there’s a knock on the door. “I’ll get it.” She starts to slide off her stool, but I grab her wrist.

“I’ve got it.” I pick up my phone, taking it off speaker as I get off my stool.

“It’s probably just Kourtney.” She frowns at me.

“Probably,” I agree, heading to the living room.

“Do you have any idea who could be fucking with Olivia?” Liam asks in my ear.

“If I did, they’d be in jail.”Or six feet under.

“Okay, then what woman did you piss off?”

“Don’t go there,” I growl, opening the door to Kourtney, who looks startled to see me answering my own door. “Olivia’s in the kitchen,” I tell her gently, and she ducks her head as she scoots past me into the house.

“I want Olivia to come stay with me,” Liam says.

“Get in line.”

“What’s that mean?” he snaps.

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