Page 20 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

“No way.”

They all spoke at once, and I wasn’t surprised in the least by their reactions. “Hard to believe, I know, but it’s true. She’s been living in Africa for the last six years.”

Cain crossed his arms over his chest and deadpanned me. “They do have movies in Africa, Josh. They also have gossip rags and radio.”

I smirked at his apparent knowledge of the entertainment industry in Africa. “She was in Uganda, Cain. Not fucking South Africa or wherever else you’re thinking of.” He scowled at me, ready to counter with some other piece of geographical wisdom, and as much as I loved listening to him drivel on, I stopped him with a look. “I’m not saying you can’t investigate the information I’m giving you, but I’m telling you right now, she doesn’t know who I am. I saw pictures. She’s been living in some shanty town in Uganda for the last six years. She didn’t keep in contact with any of her friends from the States, didn’t watch any new movies while she was there, hasn’t been back for vacations, nothing. It’s fucking w

eird, but it’s real.”

Daniel sat back and assessed me, his mind in obvious overdrive. “So, you’re okay with me running some checks on her?”

Normally, I was all for background checks and suspicion and whatever else they felt they needed to do in order to do their job, but the thought of checking Olivia’s facts annoyed me. I also knew I needed to let it go. Placing my hand out, palm up, I met Daniel’s gaze. “Be my guest. But while you do, I’m not hiding from her. She’s nice. I like her.”

“Dude,” Corey said, his gaze sending me a warning. “If she really doesn’t know who you are, you can’t go messing with her like that.”

Irritation crept into my veins. “I know that. I never said I was going to do anything with her.”

“You didn’t have to, bro. It’s written all over your face,” he said, sitting back.

Taking another sip of my beer, I tried to cover up the fact that I knew he was right. I just needed to convince myself he wasn’t, and then I might have a chance of keeping things platonic. In the back of my mind, I think I already knew I had no chance. But I was stubborn as shit with things like that.

Chapter 15

Olivia

Aunt Jenny watched me from across the dining table, her lips pressed together, trying to hide the smile that’d been trying to break free since I’d told her I was meeting Josh that morning.

She instantly wanted to know all about him, and after only being able to tell her his name was Josh, and he was an actor who liked to surf, I came to the realization that I didn’t really know him that well.

Aunt Jenny had laughed at my worried expression, reassuring me it was all fine, that we’d gradually get to know each other as we spent time together. I had nothing to base my fears on, so I decided I needed to listen to her, and just go with it.

After Aunt Jenny left for work, I raced up to my room to search for the perfect outfit. As I stood in front of my wardrobe, I froze. What the hell was I doing? My God! I was already turning into one of those girls I’d vowed to never be again. Was I seriously going to let myself be monopolized by how I looked and how hot the guy I was meeting was? I slumped down on my bed, disgusted with myself.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to remind myself of who I was, and the kind of person I wanted to be. I would go down to the beach wearing what I was comfortable in—whatever I would wear if I was just going down there to read my book.

Grabbing my new white cotton beach dress out of my closet, I ripped the tags off and threw it on over my bikini. Finishing with a little lip gloss, I checked my appearance in the large full-length mirror and nodded. My hair was a mess of incurable waves from the salty air, but I liked it that way. It looked kind of boho in an unplanned, untried way. It worked for me anyway.

Grabbing the beach blanket Aunt Jenny had loaned me, I made my way down to Josh’s house and sat in the sand to wait for him. It was only a few minutes later that I heard his voice from the deck above, calling out to someone that he’d be back later. Turning, I watched him stride down the path toward me, trying to stay cool, but failing to gain any control of my pulse whatsoever.

He smiled as he drew closer, making it so much worse. “Good morning.”

“Hey,” I said, returning his smile. Nodding up toward his house, I gave him an inquisitive look. “Everything okay?”

His gaze flashed back up at the house before it fell back on me. His eyes twinkled. “Everything’s fine.”

I smiled at him, but my mind was in a bit of a whirl.

“So,” he said, “are we walking again?”

I climbed to my feet and brushed the sand off my butt, deciding to leave the blanket where it was. “Sure.”

We fell in to step beside each other and walked for a little while in silence. When I saw him gazing out at the ocean, I smiled. It seemed to draw him in a lot. “How long have you been a surfer?”

His gaze met mine, and a tingle rushed down my spine. “I got my first taste of it when I was thirteen. I got this small part in a Disney movie, where I had to surf in the background while they filmed the main characters on the beach. I kind of got hooked after that. I find it therapeutic now. It’s the way I de-stress.”

“I could see that. I used to surf before we moved to Uganda. I was just getting the hang of it when we moved.”

All his attention was suddenly on me. “Why don’t you come out with me this afternoon? I’m sure it’ll all come back to you. I’ll help you.”

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