Page 59 of Shea's Hero

Then he frames my face with his hands and brushes a soft kiss across my lips. When he pulls away, there’s this look in hiseyes—something deeper than desire or friendship or affection, something I used to see there all those years ago.

Maybe he still loves me, too.

I haven’t said it, not when things are still so new. But it’s there. This feeling in my heart that’s almost too big to contain. This certainty that Oliver is theone.

“Hey, guys!” The door swings open to reveal a beaming Maya. “I’m so glad you’re here!”

She hugs Oliver first, squeezing him hard enough that his back cracks. He lets out a littleoofbefore laughing. “Shrimp. Have you been working out?”

“Hardly.” She grins at him. “It’s all from lifting Clara. She’s getting heavy!”

Then she turns to me and darts forward, giving me a hug as well. Once she steps back, she says earnestly, “Shea. I’m extra glad you’re here. Oliver is fine and all—” She makes a little face at him. “But you’re the reason I asked about dinner.”

“Oh.” My cheeks warm. “Well, thanks for inviting me. I’m really glad to be here, too.”

Maya grabs my hand and tugs me away from Oliver. “Now, first thing. I’ll take you on a tour so you can get your bearings.” She pauses, her smile fading to something more serious. “I remember how it was for me. After… everything. I was nervous going to new places, but it helped to know where everything was. The exits. What kind of security there was.”

The smile I give her is genuine. “Thanks. That would make me feel better.”

And after a ten-minute tour of the property, complete with a full explanation of the security system, Iamfeeling better. Definitely less intimidated than the first time I was here, helped by the cheerful greetings from Nora and Jackson when we ran into them in the gym.

Another thing that helped was how darn nice Maya was. As she towed me around the large building, she kept up a steady chatter about everyone who lived there, and she managed to slip in some funny stories about Oliver, too. Stories I hadn’t heard before, like how he tried to install his own home-made security system at their childhood home out of fishing line and glue.

“My poor dad tripped right over the fishing line strung across the front doorway,” she recalled with a laugh. “Coming home from work, tired,andhe had pizza in his hands. It went all over.”

“Well,” Oliver humphed, but his lips are twitching. “That should show that my system worked.”

“It worked alright,” Maya retorted. “Our pizza ended up all over the floor.”

So, thanks to Maya, by the time we make it to her apartment, I’m giggling, Oliver has a huge smile, and most of the butterflies in my stomach have settled. I even get a pang of hunger when we walk inside and the savory scent of garlic and cheese hits me.

Oliver takes a deep inhale. “That smells great. What are you making?”

As Maya closes the door behind us, she says, “Nothing fancy, just pasta with a Bolognese sauce and garlic bread with cheese. Plus a salad to be healthy.”

“It smells amazing,” I agree. “Nothing I make smells that good.”

“Oh, it’s an easy recipe. I’ll give it to you. My best friend Scarlett is the one who gave it to me. She’s an incredible cook. I’m just good at following instructions.”

“That’s not true.” Cole walks into the living room with Clara in his arms. “You’re agreatcook.” Then he turns his attention to me and Oliver. “Hey, guys. Glad you could make it. And—” He chuckles. “I’m relieved I’ll actually get to eat. I’m starving.”

Clara—who is even cuter in person—starts to squirm, waving her arms and legs in an attempt to get down. “Unc Ol. Unc Ol.”

Oh. How freaking cute is that?

Oliver drops to his knees and holds out his arms. “Come here, little squirt.”

The second Cole puts her down, she practically sprints to her uncle and launches herself into his arms. He picks her up and stands, spinning her around before kissing her cheeks. “Squirt, have you grown since I saw you?”

And there go my ovaries, jumping to attention.

It was a vague thought when we were together before, but something that was in the distant future. Now? Seeing Oliver holding Clara and looking so sweet and handsome I can barely stand it? It doesn’t feel like such a distant idea after all.

“Shea.” Maya looks at me. “I was wondering if you’d help me for a minute? In the kitchen? If you don’t mind?”

My stomach lurches.

There it is. The inquisition.

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