Chapter 13

THIRTEEN

O live leaned back into her comfy armchair, adjusting the ring light to cast a flattering glow over her features. She took a deep breath, centering herself before pressing the record button on her camera. The familiar red light blinked to life, and Olive slipped into her vlogger persona with practiced ease.

"Hey, there, romance lovers!" she chirped, her trademark smile spreading across her face. "Olive here, and boy, do I have an update for you today!"

She looked around as if seeing if anyone else was eavesdropping. "Remember that gorgeous, mysterious guy I told you about from the charity gala? Well, we went on our first official date last night, and let me tell you, it was... magical."

Olive's cheeks flushed as she recalled the events of the previous night. "Let me set the scene: a cozy Italian restaurant, candlelight, the smell of garlic and herbs in the air... and sitting across from me, looking like he just stepped off the cover of GQ, is him ."

She fanned herself dramatically, laughing a little at her own theatrics. "I know, I know, I probably sound like one of those swooning heroines I'm always gushing about in my book reviews. But I can't help it! The man is... well, he's incredible."

Olive's eyes sparkled as she continued, "We talked for hours. And I don't mean that polite first-date small talk where you're both trying not to say anything too weird. I mean real, deep conversation. About our dreams, our fears, our favorite books... did you know he's a secret sci-fi nerd? Be still my heart."

She paused, biting her lip as she considered her next words. "And the chemistry... oh my god, the chemistry. Every time our hands brushed, or he smiled at me... I swear, I could feel sparks flying. It was like... like every romance novel I've ever read come to life."

Olive's expression softened, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her voice. "And here's the thing, romance lovers - I'm scared. Terrified, actually. Because this feels real in a way that nothing has in a long time. And part of me wants to run and hide to protect my heart."

She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "But you know what? I'm not going to. I'm going to be brave. I'm going to give this a chance. Because if there's one thing all these romance novels have taught me, it's that love is always worth the risk."

Olive leaned in closer to the camera, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "So, what do you think? Should I go for it? Take a chance on this real-life romance novel hero? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments."

She laughed, shaking her head at herself. "Anyway, that's all for now. I'll keep you posted on how things go. Until next time, keep believing in love, and happy reading."

Olive ended the recording, letting out a long breath as she slumped back in her chair. She quickly edited the video and uploaded it to her channel, her stomach fluttering with a mixture of excitement and nerves as she hit the publish button.

Within minutes, comments started pouring in:

"OMG Olive! He sounds amazing! Go for it, girl!" "A billionaire shifter? Is this real life or did you fall into one of your books? Either way, I'm here for it!" "You deserve all the happiness, Olive! Don't let your fears hold you back!" "I haven't seen you this excited about a guy in ages. He must be something special!"

Olive smiled as she scrolled through the comments, her followers' enthusiasm infectious. Maybe they were right. Maybe it was time to take a chance on love.

Her phone buzzed with an incoming message, and Olive's heart leaped when she saw it was from Chaos.

"Good morning, beautiful. I can't stop thinking about last night. Dinner again soon?"

Olive bit her lip, trying to contain her grin as she typed out a reply.

"I'd love to. How's tonight?"

His response came almost immediately:

"Perfect. I'll pick you up at six. Wear something comfortable - I have a surprise planned."

Olive's eyebrows shot up. A surprise? Her mind raced with possibilities, each more romantic than the last. She glanced at the clock and yelped. She was supposed to meet Athena for coffee in twenty minutes!

Olive rushed to get ready, throwing on a cute but casual outfit - skinny jeans, a flowy blouse, and her favorite ankle boots. She applied a quick touch of makeup and ran a brush through her honey-blonde waves before grabbing her purse and dashing out the door.

The coffee shop where she and Athena usually met was only a few blocks from her apartment. Olive enjoyed the short walk, the crisp autumn air invigorating her senses. By the time she pushed open the door of the cozy café, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright with excitement.

Athena was already there, two steaming mugs on the table in front of her. She looked up as Olive approached, a knowing grin spreading across her face.

"Well, well," Athena drawled as Olive slid into the seat across from her. "If it isn't Cinderella, fresh from the ball. Or should I say, fresh from a night of passion with Prince Charming?"

Olive groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Oh god, you saw the vlog already, didn't you?"

Athena's grin widened. "Of course, I did. I have notifications set for all your posts, remember? Now spill. I want all the juicy details about you and Mr. Sexy Shifter."

Olive wrapped her hands around the warm mug, inhaling the comforting aroma of her favorite latte. "I don't even know where to start, Thena. It was... god, it was like nothing I've ever experienced before."

"The attraction was that strong, huh?" Athena leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with interest.

Olive nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "It was like... like being hit by a freight train, but in a good way? Does that make any sense?"

Athena laughed. "About as much sense as anything else in this crazy situation. So, what happened after I left you two lovebirds on the dance floor?"

Olive recounted the rest of the evening - the intense conversations, the lingering touches, the way Chaos had looked at her like she was the only person in the room. She told Athena about their dinner date, how they'd talked for hours about everything and nothing, how comfortable and right it had felt.

"And then he walked me to my door," Olive said, her cheeks flushing at the memory. "And he kissed me, Thena. I swear, I saw fireworks."

Athena whistled low. "Wow. That's... a lot, Olive. Are you sure you're ready for this? I mean, after everything with your dad and your exes never truly connecting with you..."

Olive sighed, tracing the rim of her mug with her finger. "I don't know, Thena. Part of me is terrified. It's all happening so fast, and the intensity of it... it scares me. But at the same time, there's this part of me that feels like... like maybe this is what I've been waiting for, you know?"

Athena reached across the table, squeezing Olive's hand. "I get it. And for what it's worth, I saw the way he looked at you that night. That man is smitten, Olive. Just... be careful, okay? Protect that big heart of yours."

Olive smiled, grateful for her cousin's support. "I will. And hey, if he turns out to be a jerk, I've got you to help me hide the body, right?"

Athena grinned wickedly. "Please. With my fashion expertise, we could make his disappearance the hottest trend of the season."

As they dissolved into laughter, Olive's phone buzzed with another message from Chaos. She read it, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Everything okay?" Athena asked, noticing Olive's expression.

Olive nodded slowly. "Yeah, it's just... Chaos wants me to join him on a second date."

Athena's eyebrows shot up. "On your second date? That's... interesting."

"I know," Olive agreed, chewing on her lower lip. "What do you think? Should I go?"

Athena considered for a moment. "I think you should."

Olive laughed, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. With Athena by her side, she could handle anything - even a mysterious second date with her new maybe-boyfriend.

"All right," she said, pulling out her phone to text Chaos back. "Let's do this."