Page 120 of Right Man, Right Time
“Where are we headed?” I ask as we reach a door at the end of the hallway.
“My car,” he says.
The fall wind whips up around us as we step out into the starry night. Silas brings us over to his Tesla, and he opens the door for Ross but keeps me put.
“I just need to talk to Ollie real quick.”
“Not a problem,” Ross says. “I’m going to see if I can find any information on this alleged boyfriend. I have some gay friends around the city who are rich in gossip. They must know something.”
Oh Ross.
Silas shuts the door and brings me to the back of the vehicle, where he pins me and very carefully, in a low and controlled voice, asks, “It’s your fucking birthday today?”
Yup, I knew he would be angry.
“It is.” I swallow.
“You know, this happened with Eli,” Silas says. “Penny didn’t tell him it was her birthday, and he nearly lost it. I didn’t think much of it until I was standing in front of Winnie, and she’s asking you what you’re going to do the rest of your special day.”
“Silas, it’s not a big deal—”
“And when I asked you to come tonight, and you said you needed to move some things around, were those birthday things?” He’s speaking so low, I know Ross can’t hear him.
“Yes, but like I said, it’s not a big deal. We had a good time. And Ross and I were going to go out after the game, so no biggie.”
“It’s a big fucking deal to me, Ollie.”
“Why? It’s not like you’re my actual boyfriend,” I say, even though it doesn’t quite feel right saying that, especially after the kiss we shared only moments ago. “I don’t expect you to do anything for my birthday.”
“You should know me better than that.” His hand brushes over my cheek. “I would have done something for you. I would have made it special.”
“You did make it special. I loved watching you play.” I tug on the lapel of his suit jacket. “You were really hot out there.”
His jaw grows tight as he says, “Don’t say things like that.”
“Why not? It’s true. You were sexy on the ice. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
“Oliana,” he says, his voice growing dark before he rests his forehead on mine. “I’m struggling here. Please don’t distract me.”
“What are you struggling with?” I ask as I find the waistband of his pants and pull him in a touch closer. “I thought you were sexy on the ice.”
“You’re changing the parameters of this agreement.”
“As if you don’t want to,” I say, growing slightly frustrated with him. “You’re telling me that kiss we had back in the hallway was all fake for you?”
His eyes flash open to mine. “You know it wasn’t.”
“So then . . . what’s the problem?”
“I told you what the problem is.” He puts some distance between us. “And that’s beside the point. We’re talking about your birthday.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. You clearly don’t want to extend this relationship into something more. You’re not my boyfriend. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about my birthday. Enough said,” I reply, now just irritated with him. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Ross and I have some dancing to do.” I attempt to leave, but Silas pins me to the car.
“You’re not going without me.”
I roll my eyes. “Come on, Silas. You don’t like dance clubs.”
“You don’t know that.”
