Page 73 of Faking the Face Off

“I gave Ben and Molly my two weeks, and it’s not because I’m taking the job with Sutton. I’m not doing that, either.” When Ollie’s eyes grow wide, I hold up a finger. “I needed time last week for me. I’ve felt like I was phoning life in until this whole fake-dating thing happened.”

Ollie cocks his head to the side, his eyes squinting quizzically. “But, I thought you loved your job?”

“I do, I did, but it was a Band-Aid.” I cross one leg over the other and stare at the ground. “Here I was with a business degree and I didn’t know what I wanted in life. I couldn’t afford to live on my own, so I moved home with my dad. He’s the one who helped me get that job.”

“It’s not that bad living at home,” Ollie says, teasing me with that easy, sexy grin of his.

“Well, I don’t want that for me. Which is why I’m moving out.” Ollie’s eyes grow wider still. “I’m not done.”

“You’ve been busy. How are you not done?”

“Because I know what I want to do now.” I clasp my hands together in my lap. “The one thing I noticed through this whole process is that I like helping people, and I also specifically know a lot about hockey from growing up around the arena. So, I’m going to start working for Travis Richards.”

“Travis? The agent?”

I nod, proud of myself. “He’s going to take me on and teach me how to be an agent. I’ll start working for him in a few weeks.”

Ollie stands still, staring at me for only a moment before he jumps off the back of the gate and grabs me, spinning me around in the air and cheering.

“That’s amazing!” he shouts as he sets me back down on the pavement, laughing. “You’ll be great at it. Actually, you’ll be the best…and Travis knows it or he wouldn’t be bringing you on.”

“That’s what Sutton said when I talked to her about it earlier. I had her help me negotiate.”

“I didn’t know he was hiring,” Ollie muses.

“He wasn’t,” I point out. “I talked him into it.”

“You’re incredible.” Ollie’s hands fly up to my cheeks, and he holds my face delicately. But even as I recount how I got my new job, there’s a rush of adrenaline through my body. I’ve missed this man. He’s part of me, and not being with him for this chunk of time made me see how much he means to me.

While Ollie’s energy is moving in chill mode, I can’t take our proximity any longer. Being this close is killing me, so I ramp it up to ten. Snaking my arm around his neck, I stand on my tiptoes and let my lips slide onto his so I can kiss Ollie Decker right on his mouth.

My sudden move takes him by surprise, but all I can think is—good. This whole #OllieAnna thing has taken me by surprise,too, so time for a little yin to his yang. My body presses against his as his fingers lightly stroke my cheek, sending a sensation of shivers and goosebumps dancing across my skin.

There’s a rush of blood inside me, a hurriedness in that push-pull of making out that feels absolutely amazing and also ridiculously scary all at once. Ollie’s hands are suddenly wrapped around my waist, giant arms bearing my weight as he easily picks me up, while I sling my legs around him, wrapping them around his middle.

I could do this all DAY. But this is the moment where the pace changes and Ollie takes control. My hands are busy exploring his biceps and sliding underneath his jacket so I can feel more, touch his smooth skin more, his low groan telling me he’s enjoying my touch as much as I’m hypnotized by his.

Then, the sound of something popping near us makes me stop, pulling away from our embrace suddenly. I freeze, thinking I’m hearing things when it sounds off again. Like popcorn in a microwave. “What is that?”

Ollie grins and shrugs, his gaze aimed at the night sky. More popping. When I tilt my head back and look up, I’m floored to see the most beautiful fireworks display beginning in the air above us.

“What is that?” I cry out, clapping my hands together. “I didn’t know there were fireworks tonight!”

“Well,” Ollie begins, “Mia insisted.”

“What?” I say, cracking up as I spin around and plant a hand on my hip as Ollie tells me about him, Mia, and the quest for the “grand gesture.” I take his hands and listen to every word, completely flabbergasted that this man had gone to so much trouble, and with the help of his sister, for me.

For. Me.

“So, I planned the truck,” Ollie finishes, waving his hand with a flourish at the scene behind him, “and she took care of somefireworks. Grand gesture moment activated.” He leans in and kisses my nose. “Did it work?”

“And then some.” I chuckle, wrapping my arms around his neck as we both look up at the show.

“Good.” Ollie tugs on my waist, pulling me tight, pressing his hard body against mine. “It was the best way I knew to tell you I love you.”

When I open my mouth to speak, Ollie pinches my lips closed. “My turn to tell you that I not only love you because of our history and all of the years we have together and because of all of the memories, but I am also very muchinlove with you. I think I have been since we were in high school.”

“Ollie.” I lean in and kiss his cheek. “I’m in love with you, too. And I have no idea when it began, I just know that if I’m awake, I want to be with you. There is something so miraculous about falling in love with your best friend.”

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