Page 62 of Love Off-Limits
“Darcy? You okay?”
“Yeah, I just...you sound like you really like it there.”
I pursed my lips. “I do.”
“How’s Olivia?”
“I met her parents.”
“So things are going well, then?”
I swatted at a mosquito that landed on my arm. “I mean, nothing significant has changed, but it feels like things are shifting. Maybe. I don’t know. I’m trying not to read too much into it.”
I told her about the morning I’d spent in the studio, detailing our interactions, until I ended with the text Olivia had just sent me.
“Um, you should totally be reading into things,” Darcy said, her tone matter of fact.
“I don’t know that I can assume—”
“Tyler. Don’t be brick-headed about this. You weren’t texting. Or talking at all, really. Then you spent a morning together getting all cozy in the kitchen andnowshe’s randomly starting conversations about favorite books? She’s interested.”
“But it was almost a week ago. Why text now instead of the same day?”
“I don’t know. Because she has a job? A life? Maybe because she was nervous? It’s only been a week. That’s basically nothing.”
“But she told me explicitly that she’s off-limits. Or that I’m off-limits. Or, whatever. A relationship is off-limits.”
“Maybe she changed her mind. Maybe she decided that you aren’t just a boy-toy distraction but a real man who could bring real meaning into her life.”
“Um, thank you, I think?”
“Don’t you see, Tyler? If this was just a game, if she was just looking to have fun, she’d just hit you up for something meaningless. But she’s starting a conversation. She’s asking to get to know you better.”
“So what do I do?”
“You respond, dummy. And quickly.”
“I have no idea what her favorite book might be. It could be anything. I’m not sure I know her well enough to even make an educated guess.”
“Then just guess your favorite book. It doesn’t even really matter. The point is, she gave you an in to keep talking to her.”
We talked for a few more minutes as I walked over to the kitchen, knowing dinner would shut down within the half-hour. After Darcy had given me a detailed rundown of the fellow tour guide she was still sparring with—his name was Cameron, and I already didn’t like the guy—she encouraged me one more time not to throw away the opportunity Olivia had given me, and we said goodbye.
I pushed my way into the staff dining room and immediately noticed Olivia sitting on the other side of the room next to Kelly. I’d never seen her at dinner before, though I’d noticed her ducking out with a to-go box a time or two. Her eyes met mine, and she smiled.
Okay,yeah.Something was definitely different.
I grabbed a plate, nodding at Chef who happened to be passing by the spread of food at the buffet table.
“Tyler! You finish your movie yet?” he asked as he headed toward the kitchen.
“Still working on it.”
He pointed to his chest and smiled big. “You’re going to make me a star?”
I shook my head but couldn’t help but return his smile. If anybody had star potential, it was Chef Julien, but that meant I would have to know what I was doing. With my plate filled, I settled into an empty chair at the opposite end of the table where Olivia sat. Before I started eating, I responded to her text.
Tyler: Is this a do-or-die situation? Do I get any hints? Any second guesses?
