Page 92 of Misdirection

But being away from him was the safer choice.

Olive hesitated a moment.

“I can wait.” Tevin peered at Olive as if trying to send a silent message that he’d be her wingman.

Olive smiled but shook her head. The situation with Jason wasn’t Tevin’s issue, and she had no intention of letting someone handle her problems. “Jason can walk me up. I’ll be fine.”

She told Tevin goodbye, and then she and Jason climbed out.

“Where’d you park?” she asked. “Will you need a ride to your vehicle?”

“It’s not necessary.” He nodded to the north. “I parked on the street just a couple of blocks down.”

Tension crackled between them as the two of them strode silently into her building, took the elevator to her floor, and walked beside each other down the empty hallway.

She reached her door and unlocked it before turning toward Jason. “Do you want to come in a minute?”

She knew better than to think she’d simply tell him goodbye and that he’d leave.

He nodded, his gaze still hard. “You know I do.”

She led the way inside, went into the kitchen, and began fixing them some drinks. She didn’t bother to ask him what he wanted. Tonight would be merlot night.

She handed him his wine glass, and he took a long sip before placing the glass on the table.

She nudged her hip against the countertop and leaned there. “Want to talk through things?”

“I don’t even know where to start.” His jaw hardened again as he stood across from her, mirroring her own lean against the counter. “I feel like everything I’ve known and thought to be true has been turned upside down.”

Guilt pounded at Olive. She was part of the reason he felt that way, and she hated herself for that.

“I’m really sorry, Jason. I think Adriana will be okay.”

“Part of me doesn’t even care if she’s okay.” He shook his head and closed his eyes. “No, I take that back. I don’t wish any harm to her. But Idowant the truth.”

“What are you going to do?” His possible reactions made her nervous. Olive didn’t want him to blow this whole operation.

He shrugged. “I’m going to act clueless, like I didn’t know any of this happened. I’ll wait for Adriana to make the next move.See if she calls me and what she says. Then I’ll take it from there.”

“I think that’s the smart choice.”

He nodded slowly, his gaze still hard with the hurt of betrayal.

“Do you want to sit?” Olive nodded at her couch.

“Sure.”

She refilled their glasses.

Then they walked over to the living room and sat together on the beige leather couch.

Olive sat a respectable distance away and curled her legs beneath her. She sensed his need to talk and waited for him to continue.

His gaze met hers, some of the hurt fading and replaced with confusion. “I feel like there’s so much I don’t know about you, Ollie.”

Her throat burned. “My life has been . . .” How did she say it? Hard? Complicated? She was so tired of throwing around that word. Finally, she said, “A mess.”

“Why did your family leave Texas so suddenly? I’ve never understood it.” He set his glass on the coffee table and leaned forward with his elbows propped on his knees.

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