ALAYNA “Alayna, dear.” Ms. Lennie is at the front door when we arrive and greets us with a sweet smile and widespread arms.
“Ms. Lennie!” I curl my arms around her and squeeze her against me. “I missed you so much!”
“I’ve missed you too, but I’m sure Casey misses you more,” she says kindly and releases me.
I giggle. “Yes. She texts me every day.”
“This house has lost its light without you, I must say.” Her remark is so sweet, but Ms. Lennie’s tone remains firm. Typical Ms. Lennie; yet, her words are words of motherly affection. I finally see that after living with her for a year.
“Alayna? Did I hear my best friend’s name?” Casey’s voice suddenly echoes throughout the hallway. I lift my head and see her coming from the stairs. “Alayna!”
I grin. “Casey!”
“Oh, my God!” She holds me in her arms as if we hadn’t seen each other for years. “I’ve missed you so much. I thought you wouldn’t come.”
I return her affection. “Happy early birthday! I wouldn’t miss your special day.”
She releases me and holds my hands. “Thank you for coming back. I’m so bored living with a boring brother and grumpy cousin.” She groans, rolling her eyes. “But it’s great now that you’re finally here. The house has been quiet. Right, Lennie? Do you agree?”
“Exactly, miss.” Ms. Lennie nods.
“I was only away for three weeks. But thank you for this very warm welcome.”
“Three weeks is such a long time. How are you?” She studies me.
“Hey, hey! Laynie must be tired after our travels. She needs to rest,” Cassius interjects, coming in, while carrying my suitcase. His free hand caresses my lower back.
“It’s okay, Cass. I’m working today,” I say.
“Mr. Katrakis is right. You both need to rest,” Ms. Lennie says. “You can start tomorrow.”
“It’s okay, Ms—”
“Alayna?” Oliver reappears, coming from the second floor. “I had your room cleaned. You can settle whenever you’re ready,” he tells me icily. The group becomes tense at his unusual demeanor, and his eyes land on Cassius’s hand on my lower back.
“Thanks, Ollie.” I suddenly feel embarrassed, so I move slightly away from Cassius. Ollie is probably not used to seeing Cassius and me together, or perhaps he’s upset because we are standing so close together in Brandon’s house.
“You can help me with dinner,” he suggests, but his expression is still glacial. He turns back and heads toward the central kitchen.
“What’s wrong with him?” Casey asks curiously, crossing her arms. “I barely ever see him like that.”
Cassius grabs my arm to catch my attention, shakes his head, and sends me a don’t-say-anything look.
“Guys, can you excuse me for a minute? I need to talk with Oliver,” I say instead.
I’m not asking nor waiting for their answer. I follow Oliver to the main kitchen area, but I don’t find him there, so I go to my station instead.
And my assumption is correct. I see Ollie standing and looking down at the prep area dejectedly. I’ve never seen him like this before. He doesn’t get mad easily. I don’t want to further assume that it’s because of what I said, but I need to make sure he’s okay.
The friendship we built inside this house wasn’t only because of Brandon. Just like he said, we’re family, and family stays together.
I push the door open and step inside. “Ollie?” I call softly.
His shoulders jolt in surprise. “You should not be here.”
“Are you okay? Is it because of what I said? If it is, then—”
Promptly, Oliver turns around and faces me, then grips my shoulders. His expression darkens, his eyes looking yearningly into mine.
“Stop it!” he hisses.
I jerk away. “Ollie...”“You do not know a single thing, do you?” His gaze is wretched and torn. His fingers are almost digging into my shoulders.
This is the first time Ollie has ever shown me this side of him—I never saw it before, not even when he broke up with Betty. His words sound more like an unexpected confession. Or... as if he is speaking to someone he loves dearly, and that person has wronged him.
I“Brandon is not... He’s not...” he stutters. “I tried, Alayna. I tried to ignore what I feel because I know it’s wrong. But, as much as I want you to get away from this, I can’t seem to do it. I couldn’t leave you, or... or maybe I just couldn’t see myself leaving. I thought I was selfish, but you...”
“Oliver, you are not selfish. You always see the best in people, in me, and you helped me.”
“You don’t understand,” he says painfully and releases me. He runs his fingers through his hair. “I shouldn’t be saying this, but everyone is fond of you. Everyone in this house loves you.” He gazes at me again. “But you still want to leave... Please, don’t give this up.”
“I get it now, okay? I understand, and I was wrong. I haven’t been considerate of all of you, but it doesn’t mean I don’t see you as my family. I love this“No, listen.” He lifts a finger. “Didn’t you hear what I said? I said, everyone, Alayna. Everyone“I beg to differ. If it’s everyone, Ollie’s eyes remain firm, assessing me shrewdly.
What is happening?
“Oliver, do you...”
His shoulders fall in defeat, and he hides his eyes. “Alayna, can you please leave me alone?”
“But Ollie...” I try to reach for his hand, but he pulls away.
“Just leave...”
I hold my breath. “I’m sorry.”
I storm out of the kitchen, closing the door behind me, but my heart almost jumps out of my chest when I find Cassius standing by the door.
“Laynie?”
I touch my chest. “Cassius, how long have you been there?”
“Just enough time for me to hear,” he said softly, and he sounded a tad apologetic. “Are you okay?”
“Ollie, he’s...”
“He’s in love with you, I know.”
“But it isn’t that“It is, just the way I fell for you.” He scratches his head and snorts incredulously. “What is this twisted fate we fell into?” he says almost inaudibly, but I only wish I heard it wrong.
“Anyway, I’ve put your things in your room,” he says.
I force a smile. “Thank you, but I’m still working today, Cassius.”
***
For the past three hours, I couldn’t help but think about Oliver. I never thought our friendship would lead that way. I could never look at him thatBut it doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate him. He is thoughtful, caring, and generous. I don’t want to hurt him because it would hurt me too.
Still feeling sluggish, I go to the kitchen an hour before dinner, get into my uniform, and decide to get over my unwelcome feelings.
I go to my station and find Oliver and Casey. Right now, Casey is mixing chocolate cream in a bowl.
“What are you making?” I ask Casey. I stand by the prep area, but Ollie remains unaffected. He’s currently dicing carrots.
“I miss you in that uniform,” she says first. “Pudding for dessert. But this isn’t for Brandon. This is for you.” She grins.
“Wow. That’s so sweet of you. Thank you.” I grin back, genuinely this time. “By the way, I haven’t seen any housemaids since I got here.”
“Oh, the maids? There are a few left. Brandon is still sensitive with people around him, so house rules have changed a bit.”
The sound of his name alone makes me jolt. When will I ever get over him?
“How about you, Alayna? You seem fine now. Lawrence has been good to you?”
“Always, but your brother helped me get through the past few weeks. Hey, do you need help? I can finish that, and you can help Ollie”—I clear my throat—“with the cooking.”
Oliver stops. “Help me with the chicken.” He is serious at first, then eventually smiles at me as if our conversation earlier hadn’t happened.
“Oh, right. What should I do?”
“Cut the chicken into fillets, then mix it here.” He pushes the bowl of onion and cream marinade sauce to me. “And set it in the oven for fifteen minutes.”
It’s still so nice to talk to him. “Got it.”
“Anytime.” He grins. “Can you do it?”
I chuckle. “Yes, we’ve been doing this for a year, Ollie.”
“Good. I’m preparing the tables, then. And, oh, Alayna, I just thought of this: Maybe we can all go out tonight.”
Casey gasps. “We’re finally going to the club? I thought you didn’t want to?”
“I think it’s time. I already asked Cassius,” he tells us before finally exiting the room.
“Yes, finally!” she squeals. “Besides, my birthday is tomorrow. Forget about the cake. I need to party tonight. Let’s save the celebration for later.”
“Okay, okay.” I laugh. “But you’re spilling the pudding.”
“Oh.” She giggles and cleans the spilled chocolate. “Ollie said he wanted to celebrate my birthday when you came home.”
“Of course, I wanted to be here for you too. Or else your two brothers would hassle me about it. Especially Cassius.”
“I’m so spoiled!”
We laugh heartily.