Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 104802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Well, shit. I guess he’s putting it all out there. “Ollie does.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
I don’t know what I’m supposed to say right now, if anything, so I just let out the first words that come to me. “I really do love him. I’m in love with him. And I’ll always take care of him—not that he needs it; we both know he doesn’t. Realistically, it’s him taking care of me, but I won’t…you know, ever let anything happen to him.” Is that a weird thing to say? I figure most people don’t have to promise that to their future in-laws.
“I know.” He turns off the water, grabs a towel, and dries his hands. “I watched the two of you at the airport. The way he looked at you, I could see how much Ollie loves you. I already knew that, but what I saw is how much you love him. I’ve seen it all day. I heard it in the way you spoke to or about him, even when you’re not telling me you love him. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for Ollie—to find the kind of love I found. To have a best friend, because you’re that for him too. You’re a place he’s comfortable being himself, but also, he’s grown a lot in the last few months. Changed.”
“I don’t ever want to change him.”
“No, you wouldn’t, would you? But he has changed, and that’s all Ollie. It’s not a bad thing to grow. I must admit, I did look up your name.”
My heart stops beating, ice flooding my veins.
“I saw who your father is, who your uncle was. Is my son in any danger?”
“No. I swear it. And I’ll never let anything happen to him. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect him.”
He turns to look at me then, his brown eyes a mixture of emotions I can’t completely decipher.
“When he said you are different, this isn’t what I expected. Part of me wants you to walk away.”
“I can’t. Not from him. Never from him.”
Oliver gives me a small smile. “He deserves someone who loves him that way, and I know my son—he won’t ever walk away either. He’ll love you, and be loyal to you, and from what I’ve seen today, you’ll do the same. I can’t say this doesn’t scare me, but I love my son, and I trust him. He loves you, so I’m trusting you as well. Please don’t ever give me a reason not to. And please don’t ever let anything happen to him.”
“I won’t. I promise. And if it comes down to it, I’ll walk away from my family before I walk away from Ollie. I know I have to prove myself to you, and I will. I just want to make him happy. I’ll spend every day of my life trying.”
He reaches out, puts a hand on my shoulder, and squeezes. “You know what? I believe you.”
He pulls me into a hug, and this time, I don’t tense up. I hug him back just as fiercely.