Page 109 of Misfortune and Mr. Right

“... and then he stood up there, in front of everyone and said, ‘I’d like to thank my competition!’ The nerve of this guy!”

I watch Olivia for her reaction.

She’s all smiles. “Right? He always had to rub it in for good measure.” She looks up at me from her place at the table. “We’re just talking about you and your high school antics.”

“From which I have greatly matured.”

Olivia’s assuring smile is open and unguarded. I take my seat next to her and drape my arm over her shoulders.

I look across the table at Gil. “Hey, Benedict Arnold, your wife wants you to help dish up the cobbler.”

“I’d better get in there. I don’t want her lifting anything too heavy.”

“Cobbler isn’t …” I stare at Gil. The meaning of his words washes over me.

“Wait. Is Maisy … ?” Olivia says with her mouth ending in an O before she finishes her thought.

Maisy appears in the doorway. “We’re eight weeks along. Just found out Wednesday.”

“Oh, my gosh!” Olivia jumps up and rushes Maisy. “Congratulations, you two!”

The women hug, and I stare at my best friend, emotions welling to the point that I feel tears along the rims of my eyes. “Congratulations, Gil.”

“Thanks.” Gil pivots in his chair and beams back at Maisy.

Olivia’s eyes catch mine, and we share an unspoken thought. It’s clear, unhindered, and full of everything I could hope for:One day this could be us.

We finish dinner and say our goodbyes. I drive us back to The Serendipity, Olivia’s hand linked with mine on the console. We don’t talk much on the drive. She’s quiet, a sated smile on her lips as she watches the scenery pass by.

I walk Olivia to her doorway.

“Do you want to come in?” she asks, facing me with her back to the door.

“I do, actually. Let me take Rhett on a quick walk, and I’ll be right back.”

“I’d come with you, but I’m …” She yawns. “Feeling a little tired.”

I smile down at her. “Change into something more comfortable. I’ll be back as soon as I’ve taken Rhett out.”

She nods. I lean in and give her a kiss. Then I walk Rhett.

When I knock on Olivia’s door after letting Rhett back into my apartment, she doesn’t answer.

I send her a text.

LOGAN

Did you fall asleep? Totally understood. I’ll take a raincheck for tomorrow. Sleep tight.

I turn and head to my apartment for the night.

Olivia and I spend all Sunday together starting with our morning run, leading into a movie marathon interspersed with trips to the laundry machines in the basement. We take Rhett on a few walks together, and we end the night by ordering takeout and eating it at my place.

At the end of the night, I ask Olivia to dance, inspired by my conversation with Maisy the night before. And, to my surprise, Olivia takes me up on the invitation. I turn on Michael Bublé. I started to put on “L.O.V.E.” but ended up choosing “Sway.” I feel everything Michael sings in that first song, but it’s too soon to declare it, even subversively through a song choice. Olivia and I dance a little combo of cha-cha, a more romantic slow dance, and our own improv, laughing and ending our dance with a kiss. I walk her to her apartment and kiss her goodnight, something that’s becoming a part of my nightly routine. Everything between us is already so natural and easy.

Monday morning, I’m smiling at the memories of our weekend when Darwin comes over to my workspace and asks me to join him for a private conversation in his office. Heads turn when we walk out together. Very little is kept secret in an open concept workspace.

I follow Darwin into his office which is down a hall from our workspace, next to the conference room. He and Rick are the only two Barnes employees with their own offices. One day that office next to Darwin’s might just be mine.

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