Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Dammit. “Kanan, shit, I didn’t mean it like that. Look, I know I’m being stupid,” I tell him, and it’s the truth. He doesn’t deserve this, and the truth is, I know it’s not a little bit of pain he has in his arm. There’s a lot more shit he’s going through, but he’s not the type to go on and on about it. I count to ten and try to calm myself down. “Look, I’m sorry.”
Kanan inhales deeply and then lets it out with a loud sigh. “What the fuck is going on with you, man? And don’t tell me nothing. It’s obvious you have something going on.”
I open my mouth and then close it again. I don’t even know where to start.
After I don’t answer him, Kanan’s voice gets deeper. “Does this have anything to do with Olivia?”
I hear the material of the towel in my hands start to rip. “How do you know Olivia?” Jealousy rages inside me, and I know it shouldn’t. I don’t have any claim on her.
“I don’t know her.”
I sit up a little straighter, making myself bigger. “Don't lie to me. Not about her. How do you know Olivia?” I demand.
He chuckles. “Davis called and told me what happened. What do you think I’m here for? I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
I lean over and rest my head on my hand. “Fuck, what did he tell you?”
If he told Kanan I had a boner while I was getting my hair cut, I’ll never live this shit down. Never. I already feel guilty. I know I owe Olivia another apology, but I’m sure she’ll be better off if I just leave her alone at this point.
“He didn’t say much, just you and her had a thing and you were not happy when you skipped out on dinner. Abby was all upset and worried about you. What were you thinking upsetting her? You know how Davis is about Abby.”
“I know, I know. I just wanted to get out of there.” I stand up from the bench. “Let’s do a set. I feel like we’re worse than the old men that sit outside the post office and talk shit right now.”
He stands up and assists me in moving weights off the bar. “You go first.”
I find my way to the bench and lie down. He helps me get into position, and then I go to work, lifting the bar straight up and then lowering it to my chest. Over and over, up and down until I’ve completed ten reps, and then he helps me bracket it.
I’m huffing and puffing as I sit up.
When I change places with Kanan, he proceeds to bench, and I hold on to the bar lightly so I know what movement he’s making. I start to talk, and when I do, I can’t stop. “I fucked up. God, I fucked up, Kanan. Olivia… she’s something else. She has the sweetest laugh I’ve ever heard, and she smells… I don’t even know how to explain it, but it made me feel all cozy inside.” I shake my head. I just met the woman and I’m waxing poetic about her.
When I stop talking, he brackets the bar and huffs. “So what? Did you ask her out?”
Stunned, I shake my head. “No, of course not.”
He stands up, shoves me from the bar with a push to my shoulder so he can take his turn, and I take my position back on the bench. “If you like her, why didn’t you ask her out? That doesn’t even make sense.”
I shrug and listen to him count as I do ten reps. When I set the bar on the bracket, I sit up, huffing. “It actually makes perfect sense. I’m sure I’m not her type.” I don’t get into all the reasons why I’m probably not her type. Kanan doesn’t want to hear that shit, and honestly, I’m tired of thinking about it.
He moves from the bar and comes to stand beside me. His hand grips my shoulder. “Yeah, well, the bad thing about it is you’ll never know. If you don’t put yourself out there, how are you going to know if you’re her type or not?”
I suck in a deep breath, knowing he’s right. I know that the chemistry between Olivia and me was like nothing I’ve ever felt before, and I’d give anything to pursue it. But I also know that my life right now is too fucked up. With therapy, doctor’s appointments, and no real job at this point, let’s face it, I’m not really a catch. Nope. I’m doing the right thing. Olivia’s better off without me.
CHAPTER 6
OLIVIA
It’s been three weeks, and he’s obviously forgotten about me. I don’t know what I expected, but complete silence, not even a text or phone call, surprised me. There’s no way I’m the only one that felt the connection that day in my salon.