Page 66 of Wild Nights

"I want one more night with you."

My forehead wrinkled. "It's not the same."

"It's different, but that's okay." Then Oliver kissed me softly before turning to leave. “You have time to take a bath too."

"That sounds wonderful." I headed to my room, my heart floating in my chest. I couldn't believe Oliver wanted me to join him and Joey tonight. Did that mean he wanted something more too? I had to keep my heart in check. Until he saidsomething, I wouldn't assume anything. I'd been disappointed enough in this lifetime. The people I loved never did what I expected. I couldn't control other people. Now I wanted Oliver and Joey, and I wasn't sure I was going to get them.

Their lives were far more complicated than mine. I'd respect whatever Oliver decided. I took my time in the bath until I started getting images via text from Oliver, but I assumed it was Joey. Because they were all silly GIFs asking where I was. I dried off and dressed in sweats before slipping on cozy boots and heading upstairs to the penthouse level.

The keycard worked, and I was whisked to the mystery floor. I easily found the door number he'd texted, and knocked. My heart had picked up on the way here. Had he changed his mind? Would he think this was a mistake?

The door opened before I could turn back. It was Joey. "Miss Caro's here!"

"Not so loud. I'm right here," Oliver said from the kitchen where he was popping popcorn.

Joey grabbed my hand and dragged me into the living room. "We didn't start yet. Daddy said you were the fort expert."

"I used to build them for my sister." That was after Dad left and she was too scared to sleep at night, and Mom was crying herself to sleep in her room.

The condo was an open concept space with blown-up pictures of various snowboarders and skiers on the walls.

"Those are my brothers and my sister." He pointed each one out. "This is our family all together."

They were gathered around an outdoor tree that was decorated for Christmas. Everyone had a huge smile on their face.

"This is amazing. You should have these downstairs where everyone can see them. You could blow them up and put them in the great room."

"Yeah, maybe," Oliver said thoughtfully.

You couldn't tell who they were with helmets and goggles on, but with a little plaque they could indicate they were Wilde pictures. It would personalize them to the guests.

Joey had been going back and forth to the bedrooms bringing out blankets and pillows. Then he dumped them in front of us. "Now what?"

"We need to figure out where we can hang the blankets so that the fort has more height. And we want to be able see the TV."

Joey picked up a blanket and climbed onto the couch. When he rested the blanket on the back of the cushion it just fell limply.

I tapped my chin. "We need chairs."

"Oh. Good idea." Joey scrambled off the couch and ran toward the kitchen.

"You're going to help me put all of this back, right?" Oliver teased.

"Of course." I rushed to help Joey with the chairs, and Oliver grabbed chip clips to keep the blankets fixed to the back of the chairs. In no time, we had a tent made out of blankets, and then Joey began arranging the cushions from the couch and pillows on the floor. Lastly, he threw the blankets inside.

I clasped my hands together as I walked around it. "It's perfect. Now what kind of munchies do you have?"

Joey's eyes lit up.

"Is it okay if we have something to snack on?" I asked Oliver, wondering if I'd overstepped.

"I made popcorn and we have chips. I even snagged cookies."

"Perfect. Thanks for thinking of that." Warmth filled my chest as we continued to stare at each other.

When Joey walked back in with a bowl of popcorn and a bag of chips tucked under his arm, I rushed to help him. "Would you mind grabbing drinks?" I asked Oliver.

Oliver headed into the kitchen while I assisted Joey in the fort. He was cozy, leaning against a pillow with his bowl of popcorn and bag of chips.

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