A Heart to Trust A.L. Brooks (romantic story to read .txt) 📖

Chapter 23

“Are you okay?” Broderick asked as soon as Olivia walked into the apartment at around midnight. “Your message said you had something urgent to talk about, but what can be so bad that it can’t wait until—”

“I kissed Jenny.”

Broderick’s guppy-fish impression was remarkably on point. After a few moments, he found his voice. “What?”

Olivia hung her head; her purse slipped off her shoulder and fell to the floor with a loud thump.

“Maybe you’d better sit.” Broderick’s voice was gentle. He took her by the arm and led her over to the couch, urging her to sit.

She looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes. Those tears held all her sadness, frustration, and fear.

“Start from the beginning.” Broderick sat next to her.

She told him everything. The initial coldness between them at work that had somehow morphed into a healthy respect for each other, which managed to become an attraction that was obviously mutual. And then, Olivia’s weakest moment: allowing herself to be drawn to Jenny’s defense of her earlier that evening, Jenny’s anger simmering so beautifully in her eyes making Olivia forget who and where she was and… she’d kissed Jenny.

“Oh.” Broderick rubbed at his face with his hands, the stubble on his chin making it sound like sandpaper against wood. “I mean, on the one hand, I’m glad you found someone, because I know the last couple years haven’t been easy for you. But the timing…”

“I know.” Olivia grimaced. “But I am sure we can trust her not to say anything.”

“Definitely?”

“One hundred percent.”

“Did anyone see you?”

Olivia snorted. “Nearly your mother, but thankfully not.”

“My mom?” Broderick’s eyes widened to comic proportions. “Seriously?”

“Relax.” Olivia patted his leg. “She called out from somewhere, looking for me. Actually, her timing was impeccable. Her appearance certainly brought me to my senses.” She swallowed down the ball of regret in her throat.

Broderick slumped back against the couch then turned his head to look at her. “What are we going to do?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I put everything at risk with a stupid kiss. But honestly, I do trust Jenny not to tell anyone. I think we’re safe.”

“But you like this woman, right? I mean, maybe we should be thinking about bringing forward our divorce plans, so that you’d be free to date her and—”

Olivia held up a hand. “Hold on a moment! Just because I kissed one woman does not mean we have to put our entire plan in jeopardy. You know your mom would never believe it if we broke up so soon. Never mind you still need to get that extension from the sponsors before we set the divorce in process.”

“But if we—”

“No!” Olivia glared at him. “No, it’s not worth it. Really, it isn’t.”

She wasn’t sure who she tried hardest to convince, him or herself. His offer to bring their plans forward was wonderful but scared her. It was just one kiss. One kiss isn’t a reason to change all of our plans.

Even if that kiss had melted every bone in her body.

“Olivia, dear, you seem a little down today. Are you missing your mother?” Katherine clasped Olivia’s hand in hers. “You know you’re more than welcome to call her from here. I mean, it’s Christmas Day, you should be able to spend some time with her, even if by phone.”

Olivia made every effort to make her smile seem genuine. “That’s sweet of you, but honestly, I think I’m just tired. That project took it out of me. Besides, I had a good long chat with my mother this morning before we left the apartment. She sends her best, by the way.”

“Oh, lovely! And yes, I can quite imagine you’re tired. I saw you all, running around all day at everyone’s mercy.” Katherine leaned in and kissed Olivia’s cheek. “I was so proud of you.”

“You were?” Olivia was surprised at the level of emotion Katherine’s words engendered.

“Of course! Seeing you in your element, so focused and organized. I can see why you do what you do. You made so many people in that room look completely useless by comparison. That blonde woman, for example, the one with too much makeup. What exactly was she there for?”

Broderick winked at Olivia from his perch on the armchair opposite and raised his sherry glass in a toast.

Olivia grinned at him. She’d actually rather dreaded coming to Katherine’s today. Short of having a serious illness—plague level or above—Katherine would never have accepted a declination to her yearly invite for Christmas Day lunch. However, right up until late the night before, Olivia had seriously considered asking to be excused.

After telling Broderick what had happened with Jenny, Olivia had gone to bed and, much to her surprise, fallen asleep immediately. Also to her surprise, she’d slept for twelve hours. When she awoke, she’d almost forgotten the drama of the previous day until she switched on her phone and saw the text from Jenny.

Can we talk?

Olivia’s stomach had flipped and everything came back to her in a rush. The kiss. Katherine interrupting them. Jenny’s forlorn face as Olivia told her to forget everything. It took a few minutes to compose the right response, and as she’d sent it, a part of her withered inside.

I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. Please, forget what happened.

She’d felt so much guilt about so many things. Pushing Jenny away, when she was the one who’d kissed Jenny. Lying to so many people about her relationship with Broderick. She’d spent the rest of Sunday holed up in her room, watching one trashy TV program after another.

Broderick had tried to tempt her out to lunch, but she’d begged off, needing to wallow in her self-pity for a few hours more.

Now Katherine was being so sweet and kind, and while it made Olivia feel wonderful in some respects, it also made that guilt claw at her once again. “That’s lovely of you to say so.” Olivia gave Katherine