Page 50 of Roman & Olivia
They hung out less than they used to. They didn’t message or call as often. Olivia had insisted that they needed to get out of their funk, which was why she’d dragged him to this coffee shop and insisted on getting him a drink with far too much cream and sugar.
He pushed the mug toward her with a smirk. “I think you’re going to have to drink this. It’s… not really my scene.”
She snorted. Then her eyes lifted to meet his. “How’s that girl you’ve been seeing?”
“What girl?” Roman grimaced. The girl he’d made up, duh. He’d told her he’d taken the woman out a couple of times, and it was nice, but nothing would likely come of it. But apparently Olivia was holding out hope.
Her eyes sparkled as she tilted her head. “Oh, Roman, don’t tell me you already moved on from her. I had high hopes that you’d find someone so we could double?—”
An exaggerated groan escaped his lips. “Don’t even bring up that word. No more double dates.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to do double dates. It was that he didn’t want to be on one where Olivia wasn’t his.
She laughed, and the tension that had been building eased somewhat. “Okay, okay. No double dates. But seriously, when are you going to find someone fun for me to hang out with? Mason’s friends are so boring. I thought it would be great to get to know some people who weren’t cowboys, but you’ve utterly spoiled me.”
He couldn’t help the smile that graced his lips. “Yeah, well, nothing is as exciting as being in the company of a man who could throw you over his shoulder and whisk you off to parts unknown.”
For a moment, her smile faltered. He had to think about what he’d said before it sank in. Then he felt the heat creeping up his neck. “I’m not talking about me,” he assured her. “I was talking about the other guys—the ones on the ranch. You know, the guys who work with their hands.” The heat in his face intensified.
Then she laughed.
He peeked at her, surprised by the burst of noise that came from her.
“This is why I love you,” she murmured.
There was something about the way she said it that had his heart rattling around again. Of course she didn’t mean she was in love with him. She loved him like a friend. Like a brother. Like someone she could feel safe with. He didn’t get her heart racing. He’d never be the one to kidnap her and demand that she be his.
His smile returned, unbidden despite the emptiness he felt over accepting where he stood with her. Their love might be different, but she still cared for him. For that, he was grateful.
A little while later, they were wandering down the sidewalk to his truck when they bumped into the one person Roman had never wanted to see again. The arm Roman had around Olivia’s shoulders dropped as she surged forward to hug the intruder.
“Mason! You’re back?”
Roman glanced toward Olivia with curiosity. She hadn’t mentioned him being gone. Had he left town? Did he even know that Olivia had planned an outing with who Mason considered her ex?
Mason’s eyes narrowed toward Roman, and it was hard to fight the smug feeling that washed over him. But that quickly dissipated when Olivia noticed Mason’s look of disdain.
“Oh! Don’t worry about Roman. You know we were friends long before we started dating. Besides, Roman is dating someone else.”
That caught Mason’s attention, and his features relaxed slightly, though there was a sliver of suspicion that remained in his eyes. “Is that so?”
Olivia pleaded with Roman with her own gaze, and he frowned. Then he nodded. “Yeah. Met her last week.”
Mason’s smile could only be described as slimy. It was like he’d caught Roman lying. There was no way he knew, and yet Roman was familiar enough with Mason’s expressions that he couldn’t be sure. “Sounds like we should start up our tradition again.”
Olivia’s head snapped around toward Mason with confusion, but Roman already knew where he was going with his way of thinking.
“I don’t think that would be nec?—”
“Olivia, darling, don’t you think it would be fun to do another double date?”
Her eyes widened as they bounced from Mason to Roman. “I’m sure you wouldn’t want to?—”
Mason chuckled, but it sounded anything but welcoming. “Nonsense. Roman and I got to be friendly enough. If there’s nothing left between the two of you, I can be an adult about this. What do you say, Roman? One more for old times’ sake?”
Roman clenched his jaw. Wasn’t this the exact thing he’d told Olivia he had zero interest in? Not only that, but the woman he’d been telling her about didn’t exist. How on earth was he supposed to find someone who could play that part?
He was fully prepared to decline—not even nicely—when he caught sight of Olivia’s eyes. It was unclear if she was fearful about the exchange—worried, maybe? Did Mason make her feel uncomfortable? Had he said something to make her feel like she couldn’t see Roman?
