Page 105 of Sweet Escape
“Tell her.”
Chapter 28
Wildest Dreams
?Love You Anyway - Luke Combs
Olivia
I wakeup with Emmy wrapped around me, her snores filling the silence of the frilly pink bedroom fit for a princess. I almost can’t bring myself to leave her, but I don’t want to be here when Wilder returns to check on her. I know he peeks through her door every night, waking from his restless sleep to make sure she’s okay. I know because I’m a light sleeper, and he always looks into my room, too. At least, he did until he shut me out. It feels a lot like he’s stopped caring, and the weight of that knowledge sits heavy on my chest.
I pad into the kitchen, letting the dim light above the stove guide me. The pantry is well stocked with my baking supplies. I gather everything I need for my cowboy cookie recipe and set to work mixing the ingredients. Even without the use of my stand mixer, everything comes together perfectly. I fill two of my biggest baking trays, sliding them into the preheated oven as the golden glowof the early morning sun peeks through the gingham curtains in the kitchen window.
While I wait for the timer to go off, I settle at the island with a cup of coffee and a bowl of Cheerios. I managed to convince Wilder that a single dose of caffeine every morning wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, and he made me promise to only drink decaf the rest of the day. It was our first co-parenting compromise. Sitting here in his home, feeling out of place for the first time, I wonder if our next compromise will involve visitation. I can’t imagine living here while he actively pushes me away.
A door creaks down the hallway, and I don’t have to look up from my bowl to know it’s him. My body is finely attuned to his presence, sparking to life instantly. I wish it wouldn’t.
He’s in a pair of low-slung grey sweats and one of his Whispering Oaks tees. His hair is wet from his morning shower.“Morning, Cupcake. Something smells good.”
“I’m making cowboy cookies. They’ll be ready in about—” The oven timer goes off. “Now.”
I move to stand, but he stops me with a hand on my lower back. It’s the first time he’s touched me like this in weeks, and it’s over far too quickly.
“I’ll get them out,” he says.
“You don’t have to.”
“I know, but I'm going to.” He places the pans on the cooling racks I’ve already laid out, then grabs himself a cup of coffee, leaning back against the counter across from me. “They look incredible. What’s in them?”
“It’s basically an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie base with coconut, cinnamon, and pecans. Is anybody allergic to nuts? I was thinking I might take some to the guys.”
“That’s really sweet. They’d love that. Nobody has any allergies that I’m aware of.”
The conversation is stilted, like two strangers meeting for the first time. I hate it.
As if he has a direct line to my thoughts, he says, “I’m sorry, Liv.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“So many things, but most of all pushing you away. I never intended to hurt you.”
“Somebody once told me it’s not about the intention.”
“Wise man.” A slight smirk tugs up one corner of his lips. I see it then, the dark circles under his eyes and the beard that’s so obviously in need of a trim. He’s tormented, and my presence may be making things worse.
Turning my attention back to my breakfast, I say, “I should move back to the diner. It’s been ready for a while now.”
“No. I don’t want that.”
“Wilder—”
“Let me explain. Please. If you still want to move out after that, I can set up the guest cabin out here so we’re still close by. But I really don’t want that, either.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak.
“I got scared. That day with you and Emmy in the field, it made me feel too much all at once. Made me realize how close we’d gotten, and how broken I’d be if I ever lost you.”
“So, you hurt me instead? Did that make you feel any better?”
