Chapter 10

Olivia: I got in! I"m accepted! They just called! I can"t believe it, and I"m losing my mind, and I don"t know how I can possibly thank you!!!

It was several hours before I could respond, but I know that Olivia understands that I"m unreachable while at work.

Riggs: I"m so proud of you! Let me know a good time to call. Don"t know if you"re working tomorrow? If I don"t catch you before you sleep, sweet dreams and know that I"m thinking of you.

She doesn"t respond, and I wait until nearly noon the next day to text again.

Riggs: Hey, gorgeous. Hope you"re having a wonderful day. Talk later?

I"m busy most of the day looking at large apartments and small houses, but I can"t stop checking my phone. I even set Olivia"s profile with a special ringtone so that I"ll know when it"s her. But every alert is either Benny, Stella the real estate agent, or other work contacts.

Could Olivia really have changed her mind about us? I don"t want to think that for a second, but…she"s young. Even though I feel like we have a deep, soul-stirring connection, I don"t know all of the details of her life.

She could have gotten cold feet about me, or us, or about taking her course. Hell, she could be in some sort of trouble. I can"t stop my mind from spiraling, so I try again.

Riggs: Hey, baby. I don"t know what is going on, but please send me a message so I know you"re okay. It"s fine if you don"t want to call, but please just text? I miss you.

The rest of the day is so up and down that it would have been comical if I wasn"t so worried.

Good news: Benny"s Aunt Stella found me an incredible apartment in a charming building at the top of a hill so the view is unbelievable. Bad news: Olivia still hasn"t messaged me.

Good news #2: Benny gets me hooked up with two regular jobs, monthly flights for a group of five businessmen. I already know one of the gentlemen through previous work. This will be an easy, steady gig. Bad news #2: Olivia still hasn"t contacted me.

The next morning I wake up and dive for my phone like a lifeline.

Nothing.

Somehow I get through the morning – sign the apartment lease, arrange for my stuff to be shipped, and make plans to clear out my old apartment. Then I stop by Cufflinks just to check in.

The receptionist, Brenda, jumps up as soon as she sees me. "Riggs, hi. You have a message." She looks concerned as she hands me a piece of paper. "A young woman called this morning. She was speaking very fast, as if she were trying to get off the line as quickly as possible. It sounded like she might have been in trouble."

Swallowing hard, I read Brenda"s tidy printing.

Please tell Riggs that Olivia called. Dad smashed my phone, so I can"t contact him. Please tell him that Dad refuses to pay for that course, so I have no way of going. And tell him that I"m really, really sorry. I hope that I can talk to him again someday.

Brenda frowns. "I tried, but I couldn"t get her to elaborate. She was starting to say something else but hung up suddenly. Perhaps she was cut off?"

"Thank you." I nod, then stride angrily to my rental car.

What kind of asshole won"t pay for his child"s education for a very respectable job when he has the means to do so? For that matter, what kind of asshole smashes a phone, for any reason?

I need to get her out of that situation. I can"t let my sweet angel live under someone"s thumb like that, afraid to be herself. It sounds like he caught wind of her having a… The word boyfriend doesn"t feel right.

I already want to be so much more than that to her.

Before I do anything drastic, I stop for a gut check. Do I suddenly want to be a provider, a partner, and a roommate all at once? Being locked into a three-year work contract is one thing. This is a whole other level of responsibility.

It"s a huge decision, and at the same time not a decision at all.

It"s just a plain and simple fact that is rolling over me even as I"m grabbing my phone to start figuring out the logistics of it all.

"Someday" is not going to cut it. I need to step up and take care of my precious girl.

Now.