6. Oliver

Chapter 6

Oliver

I decided to drop Trent off at his little preschool summer camp before heading to the Stop ‘n Go to replenish our groceries. I couldn't handle him running around the store and remember to get what was on the list at the same time.

My grandmother spotted me in the meat section and grinned at me, walking out to give me a big hug.

"You haven't been by in ages!"

I usually have Peter, my personal assistant, run errands like this but lately I've been feeling restless. Ever since Lexie and I hooked up I've been feeling stir-crazy, though I can't say why.

Maybe it's because I almost allowed myself to slip back into old feelings, allowing the potential of losing myself to happen all over again.

"Sorry, Granny. I'll have to come by more often," I said, kissing her cheek and giving her a big hug back, picking her up off her feet.

She giggled like a schoolgirl. "Well, what about Lexie Tripp being back in town? "

I gaped at her. "You know Lexie's here?"

She nodded. "She came by just starving, poor thing. You know she left her man at the altar. Ran right across the street and hitched a ride with a trucker."

I blinked. "She told you that?"

"She told me everything. Poor gal was all to pieces," she said. "Wish I could help her."

I thought about Lexie, wondering where she was, thinking about her penniless and with only the clothes on her back. Guilt rushed through me. As much as she'd hurt me, I didn't want her to have to struggle. I'd once loved her, after all, and still held some feelings for her... whatever they were.

"Granny, weren't you just saying you needed to replace the girl behind the deli?"

"Oh, Samantha? Yes, she's terrible," she complained. "Plus, she's leaving for college soon so we won't have her anymore once summer's over."

"Why don't you call Lexie and offer her the position?" I suggested, and Granny's blue eyes widened.

"That's such a good idea, Oliver. I did mention that if anything opened I would let her know."

"And while you're at it," I said, then paused, asking myself if I really wanted to speak my thought aloud. "You could offer her the cabin to stay in."

"What do you want for rent?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

The ‘cabin' was a three-bedroom house at the back of my property. It had already been there when I built my place, and I suppose I'd left it there out of some sense of nostalgia. It was a nice little cabin, and I used it as a guest house .

Granny smiled slyly. "You're still sweet on that girl, aren't you?"

"Granny, please," I mumbled, grabbing the rest of what I needed. "Just do it, okay?"

"All right," she said, before grabbing my hand and squeezing it. "You're a good man, Oliver."

I smiled and squeezed it back before heading to the checkout.

When I picked up Trent from his summer camp, he sighed heavily as he got in the car. "What's wrong, pal?"

"Girl troubles," he muttered, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"At your age?"

"Her name is Shelby, Dad! She's so nice." He nearly yelled the words.

"What if I told you that you can't have a girlfriend until you're sixteen?"

"That's not fair. Lots of kids at camp have girlfriends. Some guys have two ."

I laughed, unable to stop myself.

Trent was as good-looking as his mother and sometimes, just as flirty. Suzanne Winters had breezed into my life five years ago and then breezed right out. We'd only been together a handful of times, and it was never anything serious.

I didn't hear from her for over a year until Trent got dropped off on my doorstep. She had put the legal paperwork signing away her rights away as a parent in the baby carrier along with a note that said: You'll be better at this than I will.

I guess Suzanne was right. I am pretty good at this. Trent is happy and healthy, and he's brought so much joy into my life. I can't even be angry at her because he's all I ever needed.

"Well, what's the problem, then?" I asked, teasing just a little.

"She doesn't like me. She said I have a big head."

I snorted but managed not to laugh out loud that time.

"You may have to let that one go, then, kid," I said sympathetically. "What do you say we eat ice cream tonight?"

"With peanuts?"

"Definitely with peanuts. And chocolate syrup."

Trent perked up after that, and later that night, while we were eating ice cream, he leaned against me.

"I love you, Daddy," he said quietly, and my heart swelled. I love Trent more than I've ever loved anyone.

"I love you, pal," I told him, kissing the top of his head. He fell asleep before the movie we were watching was over.

Granny called about ten minutes later, presumably to tell me how the conversation with Lexie went. I felt oddly nervous when her name popped up on my phone screen.

"I offered her the cabin. And a job."

"Did she take both offers?"

"Oh, she was overjoyed," Granny said quickly. "Don't worry, I didn't tell her it was your idea. But she did insist on paying rent once she gets on her feet."

"I'm glad she accepted," I muttered.

"Why didn't you marry that girl? You two were like peas and carrots growing up." She was right, we were. We were practically attached at the hip everywhere we went.

Until... well, until it all went sideways.

"Young love doesn't always last, Granny."

"I guess you're right about that. "

"I should go. Keep me updated on how she's doing. I'll stay away from the cabin, so she doesn't put two and two together and figure out it's on my property."

"All right. I love you, Ollie."

"I love you, too, Granny," I said warmly, hanging up the phone. I let out a long sigh of relief. I was glad that Lexie had somewhere to call home, even if it was most likely temporary. From the way she talked the other night, it didn't sound like she was staying in town long. I knew she would be happy to get away from her sister again and get back on her feet. It was only a matter of time before she left.

Would it break my heart? Maybe. I couldn't say that it'd ever officially mended after she left, to be honest.

I saw him sometimes around town, the guy who helped ruin my life. Tristan Scott. He'd been my best friend until... well.

Until.

But I couldn't think about that. I needed to focus on helping Lexie Tripp so that she could get the hell out of town and out of my life. For good.

Sleeping with her had been a slip. A big one. But I wasn't going to let myself fall back in love. If I did that, there was no guarantee that what happened when we were younger wouldn't happen again.

I glanced out the window, seeing my Granny pull up with Lexie, giving her a tour of the cabin. At one point, Lexie glanced up at my house and I froze, but I didn't think she could spot me in the window from that far away.

Granny distracted her and quickly led her into the cabin.

Lexie Tripp was going to be living just a few hundred yards away. That should probably worry me more than it did, but I had to admit that I wanted to see where things went.

Lexie was like a drug to me, and I'd relapsed.

Only time would tell how long it would be before everything went topsy turvy all over again.