18. Oliver

Chapter 18

Oliver

I left Lexie's cabin feeling disheartened, but at the same time, I knew she was right. I was definitely falling back in love with her, and that was something I couldn't afford to do. It'd nearly killed me the first time.

Instead of going straight home like I'd planned, letting Trent stay over at my mother's house, I headed over to pick him up, feeling lonely. I didn't examine why. I felt like I was in shock, and if I allowed too much awareness of what had just happened to permeate the numbness, I would have a full-on panic attack.

I knew Trent would be asleep, but at least I wouldn't have to be in my big house all by myself. I didn't think I could handle that, not tonight.

My mother came to the door, sleepy and surprised.

"Ollie? What are you doing here so late? I thought you were going to let him sleep over."

"Just missed him, I guess," I muttered. "I've been working so much lately."

My mother looked at me curiously, and I knew she could tell something was wrong .

"Ollie," she said firmly. "Let's talk and have some tea."

I knew that I wasn't getting out of this easily, so I sighed and followed her as she put on the tea kettle. We stood in the kitchen, staring at each other for a few minutes.

"Tell me what's wrong," she demanded, and I huffed out a breath.

"No." She blinked at me in surprise. "Not until you tell me why you left Dad."

I guess I wanted to change the subject so badly that I brought up something I knew she wouldn't want to talk about. Or maybe I truly wanted to know the answer. I thought at first that my parents' separation wouldn't bother me, after all, I'm a grown man. Yet here I was asking my mother for an explanation.

After seeing Dad the other night, I really wanted to know.

She took in a deep breath. "That's none of your business, Oliver."

"Isn't it?" I asked, stepping forward to pour our tea into cups. "It seems like something I should know, Mom."

"It just wasn't working," she said flatly, heading to the table with her tea. She sat down heavily into a chair. I followed and sat across from her. "Your father... he can be a very critical man, you know."

"I do know," I said softly. My father had pushed me to be the man I was today, going out on the rigs and working hard. Now that he was retired, he nitpicked me relentlessly. I guess I never knew that he did it to Mom, too.

"It just got to be too much. There was always something wrong with my cooking or the way I cleaned the house, or the plans I made. I grew tired, Ollie. You shouldn't be constantly tired when you are in love."

I drew in a sharp breath. Tired was precisely how I felt right now. Tired of fighting my feelings. Tired of pretending I wasn't in love with Lexie. If my mother was right, and you weren't supposed to feel tired in love, what was the alternative?

"I messed up, Mom," I said softly, and she reached across the table and took my hand in hers.

"Tell me," she said softly.

Tears burned at the backs of my eyes, but I didn't let them fall.

"I'm in love with Lexie Tripp," I said finally, and she gasped subtly.

"Oh, honey, I knew that already." When I gaped at her, she just smiled. "You've always been in love with her, haven't you?"

"I guess so," I admitted, almost wanting to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. How could I think I could be with her again and not fall in love with her?

"It was your father who didn't like her, you know," she said. "I thought she was a lovely girl."

"He had reasons not to like her," I muttered.

"Did he?"

My mother's words struck me oddly and I looked at her intently. "Mom, do you know something I don't?"

She shrugged. "Just that your father didn't want to see you with her. I'm not sure what it was though I think it had something to do with her father, and his poor business practices, and her own slightly unfocused nature"

"But what Lexie did with Tristan?—"

"I don't know anything about that. All I know is how you looked at her, Ollie. Like she made the world stop turning." She smiled sadly. "Your father once looked at me like that. A long time ago. "

"I think you should talk to him, Mom. Tell him how you feel. I think it would make a big difference."

She hummed. "Maybe it will. Or maybe it won't make any difference at all."

I felt the same way about Lexie. Even if I did tell her how I felt, would it matter? She's made it clear she wants to leave Wagontown. When that happens, I'll be heartbroken all over again.

"Why don't you stay here tonight, honey?" My mom suggested. "I'll pull out the couch into a bed, it's pretty comfortable."

My shoulders slumped. "That would be nice," I admitted.

I was exhausted, and heartsick to boot.

I lay on the pullout bed, looking up at the ceiling, and thinking about Lexie, wondering if she was looking up at her ceiling and thinking about me.

Probably not. She was probably fast asleep, dreaming about her escape from Wagontown.

The next morning, I woke to a text from her: I'm so sorry to ask, but could I get a ride to the bar tonight?

I frowned at the phone, annoyance trickling through me. I had told her that I'd give her a ride any time, but for her to ask right after she broke things off seemed cruel.

But at the same time, I had made myself available to her with a sincere offer, and that wasn't just because we were hooking up.

I spent the day at my mother's with Trent. We dug out the colored plastic eggs we used at Easter, filling them with candy and money, even though Easter was still months away. Trent got a kick out of looking for them knowing the Easter Bunny was nowhere to be found.

"He'll never guess we're looking!" he snickered, and I couldn't help but laugh at his cute innocence.

"I'll be back in a few hours," I told my mother after several moments of watching Trent search. "I just need to check in at the bar. I won't be out late tonight."

"Good to hear. Trent likes it when he can be tucked into his own bed."

Guilt rushed over me again, but I had to work, and getting this bar off the ground under new ownership meant I needed to be there as often as possible. At least for the first few months.

I kissed and hugged Trent goodbye then headed out to pick up Lexie.

She slid into my truck, frowning slightly. "Where's Trent?"

"With his grandmother," I said flatly, not looking at her as I pulled onto the road. "I'm going to spend a couple of hours at the bar when I drop you off."

"I'm sure Krista and I?—"

"I need to do some paperwork," I stated, cutting her off. Lexie shut her mouth. I figured she finally got the hint that I didn't want to talk.

I walked straight into the office and sat down, breathing hard while trying to get my thoughts together. I felt angry seeing her again, angrier than I thought I'd be, and I needed to calm down.

A strange, stifled scream sounded out over the music, and I was up and running out of the office before I knew what was happening.

There was a man standing with his back to me, facing Lexie. She looked terrified.

"Is this guy bothering you?" I asked loudly, and he turned.

"She's my fiancée," he snapped back. It was her ex.

Her controlling ex who'd emotionally abused her. Her ex who she ran away from. I tackled him around the waist, not thinking, and we both went down to the floor.

He got in a couple of body shots before I punched him in the throat and he started to gasp, clawing at his neck.

"Oliver, no!" Lexie exclaimed. "It's not worth it!"

She pulled me off him and he scurried away like a cockroach out the back door. I followed him, my chest heaving, Lexie hanging onto my arm.

When I realized she was shivering and trembling all over, I drew her into my arms, pressing my lips to the crown of her head.

"It's going to be okay," I assured her.

I meant it.

I'd make sure her ex never came anywhere near her again.