Page 57 of Roman & Olivia
She couldn’t help that question from forming, nor could she help the fluttering in her chest whenever she thought about another reality in which they’d stayed together.
Mason reached up and traced a finger along her jawline. It didn’t elicit the same emotions in her as she expected, and she had to wonder if maybe this relationship with Mason was the right path for her.
The more she looked at him, the more confused she got. Roman had worked so hard to help her to get to this point. And she wasn’t a quitter. They just needed to get to know each other a little better.
He moved in, and the second he did, she knew what he was going to do. For a moment, she contemplated letting him kiss her—a real kiss like the one she thought she shared with Roman. But at the last second, she turned her head and he placed a kiss on her cheek.
Olivia closed her eyes against the irritation she knew she would feel coming off Mason in waves. This wasn’t the first time he’d tried to kiss her, and she’d been unable to let it happen. There was a block in her brain that was preventing her from going all in.
And maybe Mason was right.
Roman had something to do with it.
“Liv,” Mason whispered, a bite of exasperation in his tone. “I know that you recently got out of a relationship, but don’t you think it’s been long enough? You were the one to cut him off. I don’t understand why you insist on keeping him in your life as a friend. Isn’t that leading him on?”
She forced herself to meet his eyes. “You don’t understand,” she rasped.
He sighed, and she felt that tension release slightly. “Come on, let’s head out.” When he moved to get past her, she reached out a hand and stopped him.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Mason tilted his head.
“We can be exclusive.”
A light of excitement flickered in his eyes, and she hated that she couldn’t feel the same. It would come. She was sure of it. All she’d have to do was get rid of this attachment she had for Roman. He wasn’t a possibility. She was clinging to something that didn’t exist. Mason cupped her cheek with his palm, then he moved closer and pressed a cool kiss to her forehead. “Let’s go. The restaurant I’m taking you to is amazing.”
The food had been delicious,and Mason’s company had been as good as she could have hoped. Olivia had pushed all thoughts ofRoman out of her mind—that was until Mason drove up to her place and she saw what was waiting for her.
From the car, she could see Roman leaning against the railing, staring out at the night sky. She didn’t know how long he had been there because he hadn’t bothered messaging her.
Their little interaction before she’d gone on her date with Mason had put her on edge, but she’d blamed Mason’s reaction to him being there.
Now, looking up at him from where she sat, she wasn’t so sure anymore. Roman was upset about something, and he was bound and determined to have it out with her.
Mason leaned over her seat and peered up at the second-story apartment floor. “Is that…Roman?” Her friend’s name was spoken on a growl. “Can’t the guy get the hint?” He moved to push his door open, and Olivia reached out to stop him.
“Don’t.”
Mason gave her an incredulous look. “What?”
“Can you… just… stay here?”
“What?” he repeated. “You can’t be serious.” Mason squeezed his hands into fists at his side. “You agreed to be exclusive with me and now you expect me to let you go up there alone—” He cut himself off and shook his head. “No. I’m not going to do that.”
“Mason—” She didn’t get out another word before Mason charged out of the car and headed for the stairs. Olivia muttered under her breath and scrambled after him. This wasn’t going to go well.
By the time she was up the stairs, she could hear them arguing. Mason had beenfast.
“Do you want to tell her, or should I?” Roman snapped, his face in Mason’s personal space.
“You don’t have any right to be here.”
Roman scoffed. “I have as much a right as you do.”
Olvia’s eyes bounced from one man to the other. She couldn’t bring herself to step between them, and she couldn’t figure out why.
But then Mason gave Roman a shove. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
