Page 43 of Could Have Been Us
“You know we’ll kill each other before the month is out.”
“If I don’t kill you by the end of the week.”
He grins. “You can try.”
I sigh and sit beside him, nestling into him like we were kids. “Ollie, what’s wrong with me?”
The deep rumble of his laugh makes me smile. “So much, Meatball.”
“I’m serious. Why don’t I have a husband and a family?”
Oliver shifts, causing me to sit up. “What in the hell made you ask that?”
“Nothing.”
“Liar.” I should’ve known he wouldn’t let me back away from the question. “Is there . . . someone you’re not telling anyone about?”
This is the most he’s ever asked. “No. Yes. I don’t know. There’s always been someone.”
Oliver’s eyes narrow slightly. “Stella, you know you can’t.”
And there it is. Oliver knows something.
“I can’t what?”
He sighs through his nose. “He’s Grayson’s best friend, and he’s about to go into business with us.”
“So you know.”
“About the fact that you like Jack? Yeah, I’ve known.”
Do you know more? Do you know about my daughter?
The question hovers in my mind, and I stamp it down. “It doesn’t matter.”
“I doubt that, but in a way, you’re right. It doesn’t because Grayson will flip his shit.”
“Why though? Why the hell do I give a shit what Grayson wants? I’m thirty years old. I’m not some stupid little girl.”
“I know, but you have to see it from his perspective. Jack’s his best friend, and if shit goes wrong between you, then what? He loses someone he’s known since childhood.”
“Why would he lose him?” I ask, feeling frustrated.
“Because you’re our sister. No matter what the hell happens, we will always be on your side.”
I roll my eyes. “There doesn’t have to be sides.”
“Stella, I’m not trying to be a dick, but there are always sides. Look at Devney and me, we ended things, and do you think I’ve talked to anyone from Sugarloaf since then? I was friends with Sydney, but she, of course, sided with her friend. It’s the way shit goes. Now imagine if I was with Winnie and it went bad, how are you going to handle that when she broke my heart by leaving me when she realized what a dickhead I am?”
“You are a dickhead.”
“Besides the point, but nice try.”
I hate it when he’s right. Probably because it doesn’t happen often.
I lean back, wanting to cry again. “It’s been a long time that I’ve felt this way, Ollie.”
He nudges me. “I know it. I think Grayson does too and pretends he doesn’t. I don’t know, maybe he doesn’t because I can’t see him not saying something.”
