Page 74 of Misfortune and Mr. Right

I show Olivia down the hall to my bedroom. Rhett trots behind us.

“If you don’t want him in here, just shut the door.”

“Could he stay with me?” Her voice is tenuous and soft.

Rhett doesn’t wait for me to answer. He hops up onto my bed, does two circles and then plops down at the foot of the mattress, staring at Olivia with love in his eyes.

I step out into the hallway.

“Okay. So. Make yourself at home. I’ll just be right there in the living room if you need anything.”

“Are you sure this is okay?” she asks again.

“I’m sure.”

I turn to walk away before she second-guesses me again.

“Logan?”

“Hmm?” I pause in the hallway.

“Thank you.”

This time I don’t restrain my smile since she can’t see me. Olivia Pennington is going to sleep in my bed after sharing a meal I cooked for her. I don’t know what spell has fallen over my apartment, but I can only hope I don’t break it.

The next day, I’m up and running before sunrise so I can make Olivia a breakfast she’ll remember.

By the time I’m back to my apartment, there’s an eerie emptiness. Rhett looks at me as if he’s asking me what I did to chase her off.

There’s a note on the counter.

Logan,

Thanks for everything. Your bed is far more comfortable than mine. Your pasta is better too. And that shower felt like heaven compared to my usual trickle that never gets quite hot. I feel like Goldilocks. To be honest, you’re the last person I’d imagine turning to in my time of need. But you know what they say about desperate times. I’m grateful you were here for me. You are not what I expected. See you at work.

~ Olivia

P.S. I’m stopping by Serendipi-Tea. Text me if you want me to pick something up for you. It’s the least I can do after all you did for me.

I turn to Rhett and pick him up. He licks my cheek excitedly, snorting and snuffling in response to my obvious excitement.

“She likes me, Rhett. I’m not what she expected. Did you hear that? She didn’t run off. She wants to get me something from Serendipi-Tea. That’s good, buddy. Really, really good!”

I lift Rhett over my head like that monkey holding up the lion cub inThe Lion King. He squirms and snorts, so I set him down and he runs in circles around me.

“Man, I wish you could talk. I’d be asking you what it was like to share a bed with her. It was awesome, right? Maybe one day I’ll know. Can you imagine? I barely can. Less is more, Rhett. Less is more.”

On my way to work, I call Steve and tell him to do whatever it takes. I want Olivia’s electricity fixed and her shower repaired. I’ll pay for whatever upgrades he puts in. I want her shower equipped with the same rain head and spray attachment as the one in mine. I make it clear I don’t want him to mention my call to Olivia at all, but I expect the repairs to be completed as soon as possible. He assures me he’ll have an electrician and plumber there by this afternoon.

I greet Charlie on my way into the Barnes workspace.

“You’ll want to check out something that was left for you on the back table,” he says.

“Okay.”

I walk back to the table where a cup of my favorite coffee from Serendipi-Tea sits waiting for me. Next to the coffee is a protein bar with a Post-it that says, You’re going to need this to keep up with me today.

I chuckle, looking around the open space to catch her eye. She’s engaged in a conversation with Suze and Chandra. The three of them are laughing. I take a sip of coffee, watching her until our eyes meet. I tip my cup at her and mouth,Thank you, then I turn away.

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