Page 104 of Love on the Byline

Ollie cleaned up after she left, checking his phone forupdates from Rory. He was on the couch with a fresh bowl of popcorn and abottle of sparkling water when a text came through.

RORY: The wayward prince will be on his way back soon.

OLLIE: Thanks. Any lurkers?

RORY: None noted. I’ll return at 8 a.m. Reach out if youneed me sooner.

OLLIE: That’s fine. See you then.

He closed his eyes for a moment, the day catching up to him.He couldn’t help but smile at the memory of dancing with Blake at the party,holding her close. Cooking for her.

Her cheek against his.

Her lips wrapped around the fork.

“Ols.”

Bran’s voice startled Ollie’s eyes open.

“What?” Ollie said, rubbing his face. He was more tired thanhe realized.

“You sent Rory after me because Blake needed her stuff?”Bran asked, angry. “Also, since when do you have a tracker on my phone?”

“Since day one,” he replied. He wasn’t going to apologizefor doing his fucking job. Sighing, he stood up. “You want to tell me what’sreally going on?”

“Val’s going through something personal. I can’t talk aboutit, but she needs a friend right now.”

He nodded. “Fair enough.”

“Popcorn for dinner?”

He glanced down at the coffee table. “No, we ate. I leftsomething for you in the fridge.”

“I’m not hungry.” Bran squinted at him. “Are you...on a dateright now?”

“What? No.”

“You were clearly scrolling through movie choices before youconked out,” he argued, hooking a thumb towards the screen. “There’s popcorn. Alittle bubbly water. My dude, you are setting up for a late datenight.” He looked so proud, Ollie couldn’t help but laugh.

“It’s not a date, it’s two friends hanging out.”

“Hmmm.”

Bran’s expression turned pensive, and Ollie wondered whatwas going through his mind.

“It’s so odd that she’s here,” Bran said finally.

“A little,” he admitted. “You’re welcome to join us.”

“Oh-ho-ho, no.” Hands in the air, he backed away. “I’m not aboutto play third wheel and crash your party. Besides, I’m not the best company.”

“Why did you have go to Silver Lake tonight? You couldn’thave waited until, I dunno. Daytime when it wouldn’t look so shady?” He walkedover to the kitchen to grab a couple of drinking glasses.

“Honestly? I went because I could.” Bran’s answer surprisedOllie.

“Because…you could.”

“And I should be able to. Besides, I was in Blake’s oldbeater—seriously, that car is a death trap—and I thought no one would everthink to look for me in a piece of shit like this.”

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