Page 25 of Undeniable

I feel the same.

And I’m thirty-one.

Her response was almost immediate.

Olivia: I’ll be twenty-six this summer.

I leanedback in my chair, pumping my fist in the air. “Fuck yeah. I knew it.”

“What are you so happy about?” Katie asked, standing in my doorway, hip cocked to the side.

I’d been so absorbed with Olivia that I hadn’t heard anyone come in. And I nearly fell off the chair and onto the floor. “What?”

“I asked what you were so happy about?”

Katie stood before me, but my mind was still on Olivia. Even from across the country, she occupied my thoughts more often than not. And while I thought I’d been honest about my intentions with Katie, her unexpected visit made me question if I’d been clear enough.

“Oh, um, just being right about something. Hey.” I stood, wiping my hands on my pants.

“Hey.” She gave me a coy grin, closing the door behind her before sauntering over to me. “I’ve missed you.”

When she reached up to wrap her arms around my neck, I grabbed her wrists, holding them gently to stop her. Her face fell. “What’s wrong?”

“We need to talk.”

She winced then quickly covered it with a smile. But she couldn’t fool me—the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Shit. How had we gotten to this point? Why had I ever allowed it to get this far?

“I thought that was the whole point of this,” she teased in a seductive tone, stepping closer. “Not talking?”

“It was,” I said, and she couldn’t hide the pain that flashed in her eyes this time.

“Was?” She took a step back. “Are you brea—” She gasped, her eyes wide. “Are you really going to end this?”

I tried to gauge her emotions. It had been weeks since she’d flirted with me in the hallway at Hudson, and I hadn’t initiated anything since. Not that I’d seen her much. I spent most of my days at the gym, at therapy, reading, or attending training online so I could show how valuable I could be to Hudson.

I hadn’t called or texted Katie, and neither had she…until now. That wasn’t out of the norm, but this time was different—at least, it was for me. Ever since I’d started talking with Olivia, something had shifted. And these days, there was no room in my brain for anyone but her.

“I’ve tried to be patient with your injury,” Katie said. “I gave you space because that’s what I thought you needed. What we all thought you needed.”

Shit. Was everyone talking about me?

“I appreciate that,” I said, ignoring that concern for the moment. “But I can’t do this anymore.”

“Why can’t we keep doing what we were doing?” she pleaded. “We’re good together.”

This had been a long time coming, and I should’ve done it sooner. But I didn’t say that. I valued my balls too much. Besides, I’d still have to see Katie at work, and I didn’t want things to be awkward.

Instead, I shook my head, resolute. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I didn’t want to lead her on either.

She wiped away a tear with the back of her sleeve. “I just don’t understand. Unless—” She glanced up at me, suspicion in her gaze. “You’ve met someone.”

When I hesitated, she asked, “Who is she?” Her eyes flashed with jealousy. “Does she work at Hudson?”

I shook my head, taking her hands in mine. “Katie, you’re a wonderful person. And you deserve more.”

She sniffled, and my gut churned with unease. Maybe I’d just been too keen to ignore the signs that Katie had wanted more all along. Decker had been right, the bastard.

---