Page 60 of Squatch Out!
“Yup, surprise!”
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Even across the room and through the phone I can hear the relief in my brother’s voice. Then he asks cautiously, “Does he know?”
She looks up and meets my eyes. “He does.”
“And?”
She lets out a long sigh.
I hear the jingle as he grabs his keys. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right there. We need to talk.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
OLIVIA
“So, is this going to be anintervention-type talk?” Sean pouts from his recliner.
“It’s definitely an intervention.” Owen laughs. He’s sitting beside me on the couch.
As soon as Owen walked through the door, I ran to him and hugged him, putting everything I’ve bottled up into it. I hugged him until Sean started growling, and then I hugged him even longer just because I could.
“Olivia, honey, I’m so glad you’re here. I was afraid this asshole ran you off.”
Sean glares at his brother.
“Well, he tried.” I glance over at Sean then wink. “Luckily, I’m too stubborn to take a hint.”
Owen laughs, and I don’t miss the way Sean’s lips press tightly together. The way he can’t keep his eyes off me makes me hope he’s glad I’m here too, even if he won’t admit it.
“Okay, so for this to be a proper intervention, you’re gonna have to tell me exactly what happened.” Owen leans back and braces a heavy work boot across his knee.
“What part?” I snort.
“Start at the airport.”
“You don’t know?” I tilt my head so I can look over at him. I figured Sean would have told himsomething.
“Sweetheart, my brother is an idiot.” His statement comes out matter-of-factly. Like he is clueing me in on one of the universe's greatest mysteries. “And when you left, he just,” Owen shrugs, “shut down. He hasn’t talked to anyone.”
“You can quit with thehoneyandsweetheartbullshit,” Sean grumbles to his brother. “And quit talking like I’m not right here.”
“Would you like to tell your side first, then?” Owen asks.
When Sean snaps his mouth shut with a click of his teeth, I lean into the couch cushions and tell my side of everything that happened, starting with the day he dropped me off at the airport. Owen and Sean listen quietly as I pour my heart out, telling them how I texted and called but never got a response. While I talk, the sun slowly sets outside.
“Getting the silent treatment hurts the worst,” I say to Sean. “It made me think maybe I imagined everything. Or maybe I read you wrong. I started to wonder if I was just a hook-up for you, and that I was acting like a desperate Tinder-ella by texting you over and over…”
“What? No!” Sean suddenly barks. “You were—you're not a hook-up!”
“Well, that’s a relief. But it doesn’t explain why you ghosted me.” I wait a moment for him to give me the explanation I’m waiting for, but when Sean only grinds his teeth, I continue, “I started looking at jobs that would bring me back here. When I found one, I applied, and when I got it, I put in my notice and packed up my whole life.For you.To be closerto you.Because I felt something with you that I don’t think I’ll find with anyone else. And not just with you, but this place, too.
“It was a big gamble,” I admit, “moving here like I did. So now I want to knowwhy? Why did you push me away? Why are you still trying to push me away?”
The room goes eerily silent until Sean leans forward—toward me—with his elbows braced on his knees. He keeps his dark eyes on mine but still stays quiet.
“Did Sean tell you about our parents?” Owen asks quietly.
Reluctantly, I turn away from Sean, curious how their parents tie into our conversation. “Yes. A little,” I say, Then I look back at Sean. “Your mom was…like me, and your dad was… like you. And that they died in a car accident.”
