Page 91 of Nanny for the Bodyguard
THIRTY
Hazel
“Hey, hun, thank you so much for meeting me. I definitely needed to get out of the house for a little bit, and I know that it's been too long since we hung out.”
Olivia smiles at me as we walk through the park, coffee in hand. It is a blisteringly warm, sunny day, as per usual, but there is a lovely breeze that wafts over our skin, and we try to stick to the shade as much as possible.
“Ithasbeen too long since we hung out, and I have missed you terribly. Also, I need the full download. You havenotkept me updated about the whole Neil situation, and I don't think I didn't see the news report.” She casts a sympathetic but peeved look at me. “How are you doing, honey?”
My heart squeezes at the thought of the looming threat that’s never too far away. But I put on a brave face for Olivia because I don't want her to worry.
“Well, it's a lot, but I'm managing. Neil did break out of prison, but as Easton likes to remind me, we have no idea if he is even aware of where I am. Although, it’sprobablylikely. I'm trying not to let myself freak out about it. We've given the police everything I have, every bit of information, and I try to be assafe as I can. We lock the doors, Easton upgraded the security system, and this is the first time I've been this far away from the house without him in a while. But I have you.”
Olivia makes a face, and I know that she's just desperately worried for me, but it’s a face I don't like seeing.
As we round the corner, the sound of our sneakers brushing over the asphalt becomes suddenly loud, and I sip at my coffee to ease the tension growing in my shoulders.
“Honey, that sounds a little crazy, being cooped up in the house all the time. I hope that you're all right. I know that Easton is trying to do his best to keep you safe, but you can always come stay with me, too.”
I let out a heavy breath, nodding along with her until I’ve finished burying my emotions in the cup of coffee. I even managed to get iced this time—although light ice—and the cool liquid running down my throat does a little bit to ease the sweltering inferno that is Red Lodge during the summer.
“I know. I would stay with you, and we'd have a blast. I know it. But I'm still trying to be there for Jade. With everything that's going on, I want to make sure that I have my eyes on her. The idea that something could happen to that sweet girl…it just breaks my heart.”
“I get it, hun. I do. I’m sure you’re scared.” Liv wraps an arm around me as we walk. “And what about the fake dating situation?”
I know Olivia changed the subject to what she assumes will be an easier one. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
She isn't aware that Easton and I have slept together…a few times now. She isn't aware that the “fake” part of this relationship kind of went south a while ago.
“Umm…”
Immediately, Liv picks up on my expression, and she points a finger at me, her eyebrows flaring up to her hairline.
“Oh, I knew it. You aresoback in with him, aren't you? Thought you were going to be careful? And this is the guy that left you hanging, you know that, right?”
Guilt washes over me about not telling her sooner. But I knew this was going to be her reaction, and I’ll admit that I wanted to avoid it.
There is a lot of baggage associated with Easton and me, and I understand why not everyone will feel very supportive ofanyrelationship we try to have, even if this one is supposed to just be casual.
“I know, I know. I should’ve talked to you sooner. There's just been a lot going on, and like I said, I tried to stick close to the house. But yes, there's kind of something going on between the two of us, but I don't know what it is, and we haven't put a label on it or anything like that. There's chemistry there, Liv, and it's very hard to ignore it. I'm not sure if I want to ignore it.”
I release a heavy breath after that ramble, my head dropping so that I’m starting at the ground.
Stopping beneath the shade of a tree, Liv puts a hand on my shoulder and makes me look at her. I know I'm in for a “serious best friend talk” now.
“Babe, you're amazing, and you could have anyone that you wanted, so I just want you to bereallycareful with the person who already broke your heart once. I know he's gorgeous, and he's doing this stuff to protect you. But it's like thatSpeedmovie, you know? They're all hot and heavy because he saved her from a bus that was going crazy. But then, as soon as the bus problem was gone, they found out they had nothing in common and they weren't meant to be together.”
I get confused for a moment, trying to remember a movie from the ‘90s that I haven't seen in ages.
“Wait, they're together at the end of that movie? What are you talking about?”
She rolls her eyes at me, shaking her head. “Oh, honey, they break up. It's in the second one, which Idon'trecommend, but it’s in the movie. That's not the point. I just want you to know that you're in a similar situation. There isa lotof tension and pressure going on right now with the Neil situation, and it's making this relationship feel damn good, I'm sure. But when he gets thrown back in jail, and he will, is Easton still gonna be there for you? Or is he gonna decide that this is too hard again? I know that you're leaning into fake dating, and that can make emotions messy and complicated, which Ialsowarned you about. I just want you to know what your real emotions are before something bad happens to you.Youmatter to me more than any of this.”
There’s a moment of silence as I download everything Olivia just said. My head is spinning, my heart too tight in my chest, and I still feel like such a bad friend for not talking to her about any of this.
“I hear you. I do, Liv. There's no way for me to answer that question, though, is there? I mean, it feels like it did before. Except we've talked a lot more this time around. I promise I'm being smart and doing my best to think this through. Easton and I haven't decided on anything. We know that we need to reevaluate everything once the Neil situation is resolved.”
Liv squeezes me in a hug quickly, and then she grabs my hand and pulls me into a walk so that we can continue our journey through the park.
