Page 104 of Olivia's Only Pretending
Oh. If they didn’t know about me earlier, they know now.
We had been all over each other in a way we never were before, even when the lines were blurry. I’m sure that warranted a few questions once I’d fled for the bathroom.
“She hasn’t dragged me along,” Victor said, his voice strong, protective. “She’s just a thinker. She doesn’t dive into anything unless she’s vetted it first. I’m fine being vetted first.”
Gabe chuckled. “I’d vet you first, too.”
“You sure she’s really in it, though?” Luis asked.
“Yeah, I am sure. I’m sure about her,” Victor said.
I bit my lip. I was sure about him, too.
“I’m just looking out for you.” Luis slapped Victor’s shoulder with a loud thwack.
“I’m not scared off by her feelings. They’ve never scared me. If she’s scared, I’ll be a little braver for her. If she’s nervous, thinks we’re moving too fast, I’ll slow it down for her. If she’s overthinking, I’ll talk with her as long as she needs,” Victor said as the crosswalk light a few steps away switched colors. “If her past is making her have second thoughts because of jerks who’ve only ever left, I’ll show her a future with someone who’ll stay.”
The guys murmured something in response, but my heart was caught in my throat. I touched my fingers to my lips, wanting to memorize every word Victor said. He said exactly what I needed to hear, and it wasn’t even said to me. It was just Victor talking off the cuff with his brothers.
It took me back to one of our early romance book club meetings. We’d been discussing the passionate declaration of love from a particular book’s male love interest, and one of our club member’s friends who’d tagged along to the meeting spoke up, saying,These speeches are why romances drive me crazy!
This had gotten the whole club’s attention. Our eyes were on her.
“Men just aren’t like this in real life. They don’t say stuff like this!”
Now, overhearing Victor, it took me straight back to that memory, and all I could think was,Sometimes they do.
Victor sure did, without even meaning to.
I took the steps to close the distance between us. My boots clicked against the pavement. “Here you guys are,” I said.
The guys turned to me.
“Olivia,” Luis said, in a tone of surprise.
They knew already that we were at leastsomething. And I was officially done pretending about anything.
I slipped my hand into Victor’s. “I couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye.”
“I was going to come find you inside before we left. I wouldn’t leave like that.” Victor squeezed my hands in his. His palms were warm against mine. “We just came out here to talk for a second.”
I leaned up on my tiptoes, bringing my lips to his cheek. “Okay, good. I need a proper goodbye,” I said, then brushed my lips against his cheek for a little peck that showed I was in this, too.
But Victor pulled me in eagerly, turning his face to make his lips meet mine.
The guys hollered and laughed. One of them clapped.
Victor’s lips smiled right in the middle of our kiss, and a throaty giggle escaped me. He lifted me up off my feet and spun me around.
He was all mine, no hesitation. We were all in, for everyone to see.
When I landed back on solid ground, flushed and laughing, Victor whispered in my ear, “Everyone knows now, by the way. I couldn’t wait to tell ’em anymore.”
I glanced up, my voice barely above a whisper, “I figured. We aren’t good at hiding it.”
“No, you guys really aren’t,” Luis added.
I covered my face with my palm, laughing.
