I rush out of Brandon’s room with tears blocking my eyes. My mind is clouded by the last words he said.
Leave.I’m so focused on the door, marching towards it to escape, that I didn’t notice bumping into someone’s chest as I try to reach the handle.
“Hey,” says a smooth, deep voice. I look up and find Ollie’s face gazing down at me.
“Oh.” I immediately wipe my tears and scan the space around me. Casey, Arianna, and Cassius are looking in my way, concerned.
“What is it, Alayna?” Ollie asks softly.
“It’s nothing. Can you let me through?” I reach for the door handle again, but Ollie doesn’t let me.
“Please, just let me leave. I need to leaveOllie signals Cassius with a finger snap, then points to the door. His brother then nods though he’s looking at my face. He has never spoken to me yet or even greeted me. I’m not sure what his problem is, but he certainly looks like he has something to say.
“I’m coming with you,” Ollie says, then Cassius throws him his jacket and wears it on.
“What? No, it’s okay. You don’t—”
“It’s late. I know you’re not letting this go either, so I’m going with you.” He then steps aside and lets me open the door then we exit out.
We walk quietly from the corridor down to the building’s lobby. Ollie lets me pass first again and follows me. The valet approaches Ollie and hands him his keys.
“Where are you actually going to leave this late?” he asks after a long silence.
“Nowhere. Anywhere. I can’t actually go home since I already told my mother I was staying here.”
“I know where to go.”
I have a feeling that he would ask me about it. But Oliver is one of the people I can be comfortable with. Oliver never judged, and he’s really understanding.
A black Volvo arrives in front of us, and the valet hands back the keys to Oliver, so I guess it’s my cue to get inside. Ollie settles into the driver seat and revs up the engine.
“Where are we going?”
“For a drive. You can tell me anything, I will listen. I won’t say anything until you ask me to, ‘kay? Then we go back whenever you’re ready.” He smiles at me, and I’m encouraged. What can I really tell him?
I take a deep breath. “That’s very comforting. I don’t really know what to say. I just really need to get some air.”
Ollie opens the windows, and the wind brushes my cheeks. My hair hovers about my face. I chuckle, a genuine one, so I must be thankful. I don’t know anymore just how many times he saved me—especially from myself.
“Feeling better?”
I nod, smiling back at him.
“I don’t know if Brandon and I can really have a chance to be in a normal relationship, Ollie. This time, it’s going to be my fault.”
“Mm.”
“… And he’s been through a lot already. I don’t want him to go through something so complicated again.”
Oliver doesn’t speak as promised, so I continue. We are already approaching the road entering the beachside.
“I don’t know if I can share everything with you, Ollie.” I bite my bottom lip. “I want to stop recalling all those… memories I tried to throw away, and it’s now affecting us. Because of that, I hurt him really, really bad. I saw it in his eyes. Brandon tried very hard in this relationship, but at the end of the day, I’m always going to ruin it. I’ve disappointed him. Maybe he’s regretting that he came back here to Seattle.”
Silence. I look at Oliver’s face who seems to be thinking, but his eyes are focused on the road.
“Well, you can say something now, Ollie,” I encourage.
“I’m sure he doesn’t regret anything,” he says. “Brandon couldn’t wait to finish those goddamn meetings and clear his schedule just to be here.”
“He asked me to leave.” I shrug, keeping myself to shed tears.
Ollie’s eyes narrow. “Did he? Well, that’s not unusual. But it doesn’t mean he really wants you to actually“And here I thought I knew him, but I guess we never really had a proper time to learn about each other.”
“If it’s not too much, Alayna, why do you think it’s your fault? You don’t have to keep things from me now because I know you’re aware that I know you.”
“That’s also true.” I realize the time I had with Ollie is more than I spent with Brandon since his cousin barely had time for our relationship even before.
“Is this because of the mayor? What’s your relationship with him?”
“Ex.“Uh-huh. I see it now. Brandon didn’t mention anything after that art exhibit opening. And to think that it was me who brought you here. I’m sorry about that.”
“You didn’t know. I didn’t want Brandon to know too, but I guess there’s no point hiding about it. I’ve shocked him, and so now he needs to think. That’s what he said.”
“What did you do, Alayna?” Ollie finally questions, which I already anticipated.
“I have an unresolved issue with Drake Mallory. We didn’t break up, he just disappeared, and all those things he left to me are reoccurring. Do you remember when I had those panic attacks at night?”
“Let me guess. Your ex is the cause of your anxiety, or was he? “It suddenly stopped when I started working in the restaurant, or maybe I wasn’t aware how it happened. Those nightmares—they didn’t occur for a while. Ironic, isn’t it?”
“Is it bad if I think that’s serious?” He scratches his chin. “Not that it’s not good, but maybe because you found the person who caused this?”
“Maybe.”
“Do you still like this man?”
And that’s probably the millionth time I heard that question, and the millionth time, I’m going to answer it. I’m getting tired of it already. “I did love him once, but he hurt me. What we have now is more like an unsettled past I need to solve.”
“Oof!” he puffs. “Then that’s bad.”
“I didn’t want to hurt Brandon, Ollie. It’s just unavoidable. I’m tired of running. Drake and I’s paths will cross again. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants, and I need something from him too. The justice for my dad’s death is in his hands.” I look down at my lap. Whenever I speak to Ollie, I feel relaxed that I can be myself around him because I know he won’t judge. I’ve been unfair to Brandon in that case too.
“Brandon’s just confused, but he won’t let you go if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Nothing is certain, Ollie,” I oppose.
“Then let him take care of you. Run to him, and ask him. You don’t have to do this alone because you’re the reason he isn’t stuck in one place now. You saved Brandon once; now let him save you.” His eyes gleam, and Ollie has never been anything but someone who gives me encouragement.
“Right now isn’t the right time, I guess,” I say, but finally smiling. The only thing I can do for Brandon now is give him space to think and decide what to do with our current situation.
We drive along the beachside, spreading my arm out of the window, and let the icy wind slap my skin. It’s too damn relaxing. Letting Oliver take me out tonight for a drive is still better than being alone.
Oliver suddenly answers a phone call. “Yep, she’s with me. Don’t worry.” He then hands his phone to me. “It’s Jason.”
“J?” I take the phone and press it to my ear. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Don’t ‘what’s upI frown. “Who told you?”
“Casey. I was calling your number, but you’re not answering,” he scolds.
“I must’ve left it in the penthouse. I’m fine, J. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Give the phone back to Oliver,” he orders. I blink.
“Here.” I give the phone back to Ollie.
“Hello,” Oliver says again. “Okay, copy.” He cuts the call.
“What did he say?”
“He’s coming.” Oliver abruptly pulls over to the side. “He’s meeting us. Let’s wait for him here.”
“What? Why? I said I was fine.”
“Well, your brother is worried.”
I roll my eyes. “I can believe it. He’s acting like we’re high-schoolers again.” I push the door open and step out of the car. I take a deep breath and smell the cool but salty air. The beach is calm tonight, and the moon is set in full, illuminating the waters. It’s not every day I can see the ocean in this form—nope, this might be the first time I’ve gone to see the beach ever since I came to this place. I walk close to the beach, lift my arms in the air and yell, “Ah, this is nice!”
“I should have brought you here before,” Oliver says behind me, chuckling.
“We were too busy with the restaurant, and settling down with a family of fourteen members isn’t easy. Well, for the record, we’re sixteen now, including Arianna and Jason.”
“It’s amusing to see you have more siblings your age,” he comments. “I’m actually grateful.”
“I had a great childhood with them. Jason and Arianna are more than siblings to me—they’re like my savior. I’m the only biological child of my parents. Mom couldn’t bring another little one to the world, but I really loved to have siblings, so I begged Mom and Dad to take them in, only to know they’re already planning that.” I grin at him. “You have a good relationship with your siblings too. They look up to you.”
“I guess I’m lucky.”
“I look up to Jason,” I admit. “He’s the brother any younger sibling would wish to have. Although he’s very protective, I kind of like it.”
Ollie laughs. “I thought you were pissed earlier when I told you he’s coming.”
I laugh back. “Not every time is good timing.”
“How about this time?” Another deep voice joins in, and it is almost familiar but still feels like a stranger. I turn around and catch my breath when I find the man standing next to Jason. Evenly tanned, dark hair, and a charming smirk.
“Chris…” I say breathlessly—the eldest of the Valentine siblings. I always remember him as tall and broad. He is still handsome as always.
A smirk plays in his mouth as he opens his arms wide. It’s as though my legs have life on their own; I sprint towards him, and I almost lose balance.
I cannot contain my emotions anymore, so I jump onto him, and he catches me. I curl my arms around his neck, pulling him so tight because I need to prove to myself that I’m not dreaming. “Chris!”
He chuckles. “Nice to see you too, Laynie.”