Page 73 of Roman & Olivia
“And I don’t think it has anything to do with your boyfriend.”
She turned back to her book, unable to swallow the painful lump in her throat. If she even attempted to put words to the feelings swirling in her head right now, she’d start to cry. Then she wouldn’t be able to stop. And all those tears would fall right into that chasmic hole in her chest. They’d get swallowed up and feed the excruciating pain she felt.
Cammi was right.
She wasn’t okay.
Tears clung to her lower lids, and she fought with all of her willpower not to let them grow large enough to completely spill down her cheeks.
But then the cushion beside her indented and Cammi’s arms draped around her.
And the sobs started.
Tears spilled.
Olivia’s body trembled, unable to catch her breath.
“As much as you like Mason, I don’t think he’s right for you.” Cammi’s soft voice seemed to be the only thing to break through the pain that tore Olivia’s heart apart. “You and I both know that if he were to call you today and tell you it was over, you wouldn’t care.”
“That’s not true,” Olivia sniveled. “I’d care.”
Cammi gave her a pointed look. “You’d care only because you weren’t the first one to break up with him. It’s an ego sort of thing.”
Olivia snorted despite herself. Then she shook her head as she pulled away from her friend. Her legs were drawn up to her chest so she could wrap her arms around them and rest her heated cheek against her knees. “What then? Are you saying that Roman and I…” She couldn’t finish the sentence. The idea, however thrilling, was preposterous. “He doesn’t like me that way, Cammi. He’s the one who wanted us to stage our breakup.”
Her friend snorted. “If you don’t think he loves you, you’re a bigger fool than I thought you were.”
The words hung in the air and time seemed to slow to a stop. Tension, thick and unyielding, grew between them as Cammi’s eyes never strayed from Olivia’s. Cammi didn’t know what she was talking about. She hadn’t been privy to all of the conversations they’d had.
Then again, the way her heart fluttered at Cammi’s interpretation—perhaps she could entertain the idea for experimental purposes. Olivia cleared her throat. “Why do you say that?”
Cammi rolled her eyes. “I don’t know anyone who would go along with your shenanigans who wasn’t head over heels for you. Not to mention the chemistry between the two of you. It’s sohot.”
Olivia let out a laugh.
“Seriously, Liv. You keep pulling away from him because you think he’s not interested. But what if he’s doing the same? You’re the one who wanted his help to win over Mason. Have you considered that maybe Roman loves you so much he forced himself to stay out of your way even though it broke him to do it?”
That twinge of pain that started in her heart spread until it entered other parts of her body. Olivia squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to hope that Roman could share her feelings. And even if he didn’t? Could she be brave enough to tell him howshefelt?
“What do I do?” Olivia whispered.
“You know what you have to do.” Cammi leaned over toward the coffee table and grabbed Olivia’s phone. “I’d suggest you tell Mason that things aren’t working out first. Get the easy stuff done before the harder stuff.”
Olivia smirked. Breaking up with someone shouldn’t be easier than telling someone how they felt. Her fingers wrapped around the phone, and she stared at it. “I don’t think I can do this.”
“Liv,” Cammi admonished. “You have to?—”
“Not over the phone.” She looked up at Cammi. “He deserves to know in person. I’ll tell him tomorrow.”
Cammi frowned. It was clear she didn’t believe Olivia at all. It didn’t matter. Olivia knew that Cammi was right. She needed to break things off with Mason. Their relationship wasn’t going anywhere. After she squared things away with Mason, she’d go visit Roman.
And plead for him to forgive her.
Olivia had the day off,but like Cammi had said, she couldn’t put off what she had to do. Mason deserved to know where she stood so they could start to move on. It would be simple. She’d go in on his lunch break and tell him that she wanted to end things.
In this situation, telling him it had everything to do with her and not him was accurate. Mason hadn’t done anything wrong. Not really. She just… didn’t love him.
Not like she loved Roman.
