Page 100 of Misfortune and Mr. Right

Charlie leansacross the table toward us. “You two are pretty cute together.”

I glance at Olivia, planning to tweak my response based on whatever she needs me to say or do.

She’s blushing but still smiling at Charlie.

“Thanks,” I say, not adding anything to my simple acknowledgement.

Olivia smiles at me and takes a bite of her salad.

Our main dishes arrive, and no one else mentions the obviously new connection between Olivia and me. She seems to ease up the longer we’re immersed in conversation about the Untethered account.

We’re about halfway through the main course when Rick stands and pings his water glass with his fork.

“I’ve got an announcement.” He looks around at all of us. “My family and I have loved our time on the east coast, but we’re ready to escape the winters here. I have accepted a position in Los Angeles and will be leaving in three weeks. I just want to say I’ve enjoyed working with each one of you. I’m proud to be leaving on the high note of what we’ve accomplished with Untethered. And if any of you are ever in California, feel free to look me up.”

Everyone claps and a few make comments like, “Oh my gosh!” and “We’ll miss you.”

I’m quiet. Darwin already told me Rick was potentially moving on. I’m not shocked. I’m actually prepared—eager to shoot my shot for Rick’s vacancy.

Darwin doesn’t stand. He glances around the table and his eyes land on me, then Olivia, then back to me.

“I’ll be promoting a new manager in Rick’s place,” Darwin announces. “I’m giving a lot of consideration to this promotion. We have some strong candidates. I’ll be looking at past projects, considering initiative and creativity, and I’ll be evaluating each prospective manager for strong leadership skills as well as the ability to think on your feet.”

Olivia looks over at me and smiles.

Maybe she sees what I see. I’m the obvious choice for the manager position. Had I stayed on in Boston, I might have been in line to move into a management spot in the next few years. I didn’t have those years to wait. And the tug to return to Serendipity Springs was nearly relentless. Now, I’m certain Olivia was the source of that tug, pulling me back here, even though I didn’t realize it at the time.

On our drive back to Olivia’s car, I ask her, “Do you have plans Friday? I’d love to take you out.”

“On a real date?”

“Yes. One not sponsored by Barnes and definitely not accompanied by all our coworkers.”

She laughs softly. “I’d love to, but I already told Lynette I’d babysit Cassidy on Friday at my place. But I’m free Saturday.”

“Well, I have plans to go to Gil’s for dinner on Saturday. Maisy’s always secretly behind these invitations Gil extends my way. She seems to come up with something at least once a week to ensure I’m not home alone seven nights straight.” I glance at Olivia then back at the road. “Why don’t you come with me?” I pause and add, “And I can come over Friday with some pizza dough and toppings so we can make dinner with Cassidy … unless that would be me intruding on your time with her.”

“I’d love that. She’ll be so excited to make pizza, too.”

“I don’t like going too long without seeing you,” I confess.

“Really?”

I nod. “You’ve got me under some sort of spell, Pennington. I’m not asking you to break it. Just humor me.”

“Okay,” she says softly. “It’s not like it’s a hardship to make time to see you.”

“So you’ll come to Gil and Maisy’s?”

“Check with them first. I don’t want to intrude.”

“You wouldn’t be. They haven’t stopped talking about you since you came over. Gil has been texting me relentlessly. They’re dying to see us together. Gil is unofficially dubbing himself the matchmaker of the century.”

She laughs. And I nearly hold my breath. I can’t believe we’re finally dating. The ease between us feels so right, yet simultaneously tenuous. I guess Olivia’s not the only one who has to settle into our new reality. It’s going to take me a little while to believe she really wants me the same way I want her. I also don’t fully trust myself not to inadvertently chase her away again.

I show up Friday evening with a grocery bag full of pre-made dough, pepperoni, cheese, sauce, and other toppings in one arm, and Rhett on his leash looped around the other.

I tap Olivia’s door with the toe of my shoe, and Rhett barks.

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