Page 50 of Finally Home

Chapter 22

Ollie

“Ollie, can I get refills for your sister’s table?” Tracey says as she leans on her elbows on the bar.

“You got it. I’ll walk them over.”

“Alright, lover boy,” she teases before walking over to check on another table. I can’t say I’m disappointed that Payton and Hollie ended their girls’ day here. It only sort of makes up for this morning’s interruption. Since the night of the engagement party when I had my first taste of her, I couldn’t stop thinking of when I could do it again. And now that I have, it’s all I want to do. My mother always said that every day should start out with a nutritious and delicious breakfast. I’m sure she didn’t exactly mean it to be my girlfriend that I ate for breakfast, but hey, tomato tomahto.

“I’ll be right back,” I say to Logan, who’s working the bar with me tonight.

He nods while at the register, and I head over to their table. Archer has joined them, finally making an appearance from the office, where he prefers to be holed up. They’re deep in conversation about all they did today as Archer flips through images on Hollie’s camera. When they had left this morning, Hollie hadn’t taken her camera bag with them, so she must have gone back for it. I only partially caught what all they’ve been up to, but I understand she took more shots of our town. I can’t wait to look at them. My girl is so talented.

“Hey, do you know how much longer food is going to be? I’m starving,” my sister whines, making the word starving seem like there are multiple g’s on the end and not just one. “Being a model burns so many calories.” She then brings her hand to her forehead and pretends to pass out. I roll my eyes at her dramatics.

“Would you like me to go check on it for you? Maybe had Rhy make a cheese plate to go with that whine of yours.” Something flashes behind both Archer and Payton’s eyes. My dad’s favorite joke to say to her when she would whine as a child was, “Would you like cheese to go with it?” Of course, even just seconds after he said that, he always caved on whatever it was she was whining about. That girl had him wrapped around her little finger. I hope that one day when she has kids, they’ll give her a taste of her own medicine.

“I’ll go check on it.”

“You’re the best big brother,” she praises, and Archer looks up from the camera with a frown.

“Oh, stop it,” Pay teases.

“Are you all good?” I lean down and press a kiss to Hollie’s temple.

She nods before starting her conversation back up with Archer. I keep watching her over my shoulder while I walk away.She’s so animated and in her element. No version of the girl she became around her family has been in sight.

“So how’s it going, mother faker?” Rhy smirks as I enter the kitchen.

“Hardy har har,” I mock and mutter “asshole” under my breath at the emphasis offaker.

“Dinner went well the other day, don’t you think? I mean, minus the douchebag’s presence. I really don’t see what your sister sees in that dickwhistle, though.”

Neither do I. “Thankfully, something came up, and we don’t have to deal with him all week.” Although maybe if he had stayed, I would have gotten more time with Holls this morning. I had lots of plans for her. I meant what I said about christening every room in the house with her. So far, we’ve managed the bedroom, the shower, and had planned to check off the counter this morning.

“And everyone seemed to buy your entire ordeal. I gotta say, though, hard not to buy it if I’m being honest. I’ve never really seen you like that with anyone.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not fake anymore.”

“Huh?”

I explained to him our conversation, our feelings, and our decision to continue seeing each other.

“You know, it’s funny you say that you’ve never seen me with someone like that because I’ve honestly never felt like this. I don’t even know how to explain it. She’s always on my mind. I always need to be touching her when she’s near. Hollie is just really something.”She’s really everythingis on the tip of my tongue. But if I tell him, he may just ship me off to the loony bin or something.

“But she’s still leaving, right? Didn’t you mention she has a job to go to?”

“Yeah, but I’m trying not to think of that and focus on the present. People always expected her to give up her dreams and live a life she didn’t want. I’m not that guy. How could I ever ask her to give all that up, the life she created, for me? To be stuck in this small town when she’s clearly destined for great things.”

Rhy stares at me before nodding. “I can’t decide if that’s romantic as shit or dumb as hell.”

“Maybe both. How much longer on their food? Pay is trying to win an Academy Award for best dramatic performance.”

“I’ll bring them out as soon as they’re ready.”

With a quick nod, I head back out to the front of the house. I’ve just pushed past the kitchen doors when Hollie jumps into my arms. Thankfully, I catch her. Before I get the chance to ask her what’s going on, her lips are on mine.

“Archer is purchasing a few of my prints that I took today for the bar. And he asked me to take some shots of Tilley’s for marketing.” She can’t control the smile on her face, and I can’t either as I take in her giddiness.

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