Page 67 of The Triple Play

She lifts her head with a beaming smile. “I love it. Thank you.”

Swinging her legs off my lap, Olivia moves to sit upright and tugs the coffee table closer. “We have to start building it.” Leaning back, she starts to pull her long hair back. “Crap. I need a hair elastic.”

I immediately stand. “Where are they? I’ll get you one.”

“Bathroom, top drawer,” she says distractedly, already starting to sort pieces for the puzzle.

I find what I need quickly, and when I return to the living room, she’s got a small pile of flat-edged pieces already separated.

“Here. Why don’t you keep sorting, and I’ll braid your hair.”

Her head whips around so quickly, I almost want to ask if her neck hurts. “You’ll what?”

I chuckle. “Braid your hair. Sister, remember?” I move to stand behind the couch and lean forward to rest my hands on her shoulders. My lips find her neck, and I graze her skin with a kiss. “Hopefully someday, you won’t be so surprised every time I want to take care of you, baby. Let me do this for you.”

I feel her shiver under my touch, and I kiss her neck again before she angles her head, her lips finding mine. I know this can’t be comfortable for her, but I’m addicted to her kiss. Eventually, I pull back and turn her head to the front.

I gently run a brush through her hair, then twist it into a simple braid before moving around the couch and sitting down beside her. She leans over and kisses my cheek. “Thank you. I’m feeling a lot better.”

That simple sentence of gratitude makes me feel like a goddamn rock star.

“Good,” I reply gruffly, trying not to let my emotions bleed through. “That’s all I want.”

For the next little while, we work on the puzzle. But eventually, Liv can’t stop yawning, and she leans back against the couch. “I didn’t sleep that well last night,” she explains, tucking her feet underneath her and leaning against my shoulder.

I adjust my position so she can cuddle up to me, then tug the blanket back over her. Tentatively, I rest my hand on her abdomen, still warm from the heating pad. “Close your eyes for a bit. Foxxy’ll be back with Trip soon. You might as well get some rest.”

“Will you stay?” she asks sleepily, followed by another yawn.

I press a kiss to the top of her head. “Yeah, baby. I’ll stay right here.”

She’s asleep a minute later. I text Foxxy to tell him to be quiet when he comes in, and half an hour later, when the door opens slowly, Olivia is still passed out.

Foxxy unclips Trip’s leash, then tiptoes over to the couch. “Damn, she looks pretty good there, bud.”

The corners of my lips tip up. “Feels pretty good, too.”

He sits down on the edge of the coffee table, avoiding the puzzle. A goofy smile is on his face as he stares at her.

“Still think you’re shit at relationships?” Foxxy whispers when he finally lifts his gaze to meet mine.

I swallow against a dry throat but say nothing.

“Because it’s pretty clear to me you’re doing everything right.” He lifts his eyebrows. “Taking care of our girl, comforting her, making her feel safe and relaxed enough to fall asleep with you. Solid boyfriend material right there.”

Our girl.

My brain stalls out on those words. But it’s not because I don’t think I deserve to call her that.

No. I’m stuck on them because it does feel right to call her that.

28

OLIVIA

Yesterday was…confusing. Likely more so because of my stupid hormones, but still. The way Griffin and Denver were just there for me. With no expectation for anything in return, simply to make me feel better. It was nice. No, it was wonderful. And yet, it felt dangerously close to what I always imagined a real relationship would feel like. Intimate and affectionate, sweet and comfortable.

But this can’t be a real relationship.