Page 54 of Shea's Hero

I look at Oliver, searching his gaze. There’s affection. Hope. Fierce protectiveness. “Are you sure, Oll?”

“Absolutely.” Emotion darkens his gaze. “If you come to stay with me, I will do anything to make sure you’re safe. Not just safe, but happy. Whatever you need, I’ll do it.”

Oh.

Maybe it’s too soon.

Maybe I’m letting my heart lead instead of my brain.

But I don’t think so. To either of them.

Staying with Oliver feels right.

As the pressure lifts off my chest, I smile at Oliver. “Yes. I want to come stay with you.”

CHAPTER 12

OLIVER

“I know it’s not like those houses on HGTV.”

As Shea takes in my barren living room, I curse myself for not following Maya’s suggestions and actually getting some decorations for it.

Every time Maya comes over, she tells me I need more color in here. More decorations. More personality, whatever that means.

Although, I guess if I compare my place to Shea’s, I get it.

Everywhere I look in Shea’s house—at least the rooms I’ve seen so far—reminds me of her. The photos in her living room. The dozens of books on her shelves. The splashes of blue all over, since it’s her favorite color. And all the little mementos she’s picked up over the years, the gifts from me and Niall and Jade. Plus all the things she still has from her parents, the blankets from her mom and the carved wooden boxes her dad used to make.

My place, on the other hand, looks like I moved in two weeks ago instead of two years.

The only photos on display are on the dresser in my bedroom—one a portrait of Maya, Cole, and Clara, the other an oldpicture from my parents’ wedding. In my office, I have my college diploma from UVA on the wall, but that’s the only thing that could be considered a decoration.

Maya refers to my living room as adult-dorm-room style, which I think is a little unfair. Yes, there’s a very large TV with a surround sound system and perhaps an overabundance of metal and glass, but it’s not like I have a futon or a tapestry or something.

At least, that’s what I had in my dorm room in college. Maybe dorm rooms are nicer now.

Still, whatever style of decorating you’d call it, it’s definitely not warm and inviting, like Shea’s place. And now I feel kind of foolish, inviting Shea to stay here, going on about how it would be so great, and now she’s faced with this.

A thirty-six-year-old bachelor’s house—no,formerbachelor—that worked for my simple needs, but isn’t going to come close to making Shea feel at home.

“We can order new furniture,” I offer before Shea has a chance to respond. “And decorations. Lots of blue.” Pausing, I scan the room, trying to think of what else to add. “Those candles you like. The aromatherapy kind. And Maya keeps going on about wall art. I could see if Hanna has any extra photos I could frame.”

Shea releases my hand and walks over to the TV, stretching her arms out to measure the width of it. Then she turns around and giggles. “Oll. This TV is wider than I am tall. Are you sure you couldn’t find one bigger?”

If it makes her laugh after the last two days she’s had, then yes. Absolutely.

But I keep my expression neutral as I ask, “Why? Do you think I should? That one is only seventy-five inches. I could buy one that’s eighty-five if you like.”

A wide grin stretches across her face. “Are you sure there isn’t something bigger? Ninety? One hundred inches?”

I smile back at her. “Hang on.” Sliding my phone from my pocket, I pull up the Best Buy website. After a quick search, I tell her, “Well. There’s one that’s one hundred and fifteen inches. It’s only twenty thousand dollars. What do you think? Should I get it?”

With another giggle, she comes back over and slips her arm around my waist. Her eyes remind me of an Adirondack lake in the summer, sparkling blue with glitters of silver and gold. “I think that sounds crazy. Twenty thousand for a TV? Are you serious?”

“I am.” Holding out the phone, I show her the screen. “See?” After a beat, I add thoughtfully, “Maybe if I wait for a sale…”

“Oliver.” She whacks my arm. “I’m sorry I made fun of your gigantic TV. It’s perfect. You don’t need a bigger one.”

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