Best Friend's Ex Box Set

I stood there on the stoop and watched as he skipped his way back down the stairs and to his car. Before he got inside, he blew me a kiss, making my cheeks blush and allowing a small giggle to escape my lips. Ollie had turned me into a giggling, lovestruck little girl, and I was perfectly okay with that. I turned to the front door and opened it up, going inside and closing it as he drove away. I smiled big and shook my head, completely blown away by what just happened. I locked the doors and went upstairs, readying myself for bed and crawling in under the covers.

Like I had done so many times before, I laid on my back looking up at the ceiling and thought about everything that had just happened. It was so clear in my head just a few minutes before, but I could tell that my emotions were blowing all over the place. Fear, excitement, love, lust, they were all mixed in there. I started to wonder, looking up at the ceiling, what exactly I had gotten myself into. Everything had been so sudden, and I was so shocked that all I could really do was nod my head yes and smile. Half of me was exploding with excitement at the prospect of being Ollie’s girlfriend, and the girl that he fell in love with. The other half of me, though, was absolutely terrified. What if he changed his mind? What if he had a bad day, and it started to mess with him, causing it to affect our relationship? There were so many different scenarios where things could go wrong, and I had already lost him once. I didn’t want to think about losing him again. I had waited years, thinking about how I figured that day would never come, but there I was, completely smitten and melted by Ollie.

No matter what fear plagued me, no matter what uncertainties ran through my mind, I had no choice but to take a chance and allow Ollie into my life. I had the real possibility of getting everything that I ever wanted. I couldn’t wait until he called me with the plans. I didn’t know if it would last forever, but I did know that Ollie cared about me, even so far as to be sneaky with his plans for me, something he rarely did for anyone. I had finally reached a point where I was able to reach for hope and not despair.

Chapter 21

Ollie

I looked over at Elana as we drove along, listening to music. She looked absolutely gorgeous with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, a pair of ripped jeans on, and a light sweater that dove far enough down in the front for me to see her collarbone. I turned off the main road and through the outskirts of the city. As I turned into the mini-golf course, she laughed, shaking her head. I smiled, pulling the car into a parking spot and putting us into park. I loved that she was already finding humor in our date. It was part of what made us who we were together.

“I hope you’re ready to get schooled at putt-putt,” I said, smiling.

“Are you trying to intimidate me, sir?”

“No, no,” I said. “Just don’t want you to walk out of this date feeling like you lost something. I mean, it’s only natural to feel that way when you’re put to the test.”

“Those are awfully big words,” she said, looking over at the course. “Especially since it seems you may have the same skills as that nine-year-old over there, whooping his sister's butt at the game. I mean, I’d be proud.”

“I am,” I said with dignity.

“I should warn you, though. I went mini-golfing every weekend in elementary and middle school with my cousins.”

“That was a very long time ago,” I pointed out. “Why haven’t these cousins taken you since then?”

“They are fearful of my mad skills with a putter,” she replied, shaking her head. “People tend to shy away from those with all the skills. They couldn’t handle the pressure.”

“I see,” I said, shaking my head.

She was trying hard not to laugh, which made me want to laugh even more. We sat there in contemplative silence for several moments, neither of us willing to fold and give in to the laughter. I watched as she bit her bottom lip, looking for control, closing her eyes, and taking a deep breath to relieve the pressure.

“I mean, seeing that this is a date and everything, I’m willing to let you take a handicap,” she said. “You know, just to keep up the morale. I know I can be intimidating.”

“That is so nice of you,” I said, smiling.

“It is, isn’t it?” she replied, starting to lose her composure. “Don’t say I never gave you anything.”

As she giggled to herself, trying to keep a straight face, I burst into laughter. She looked over at me, and without the ability to continue the charade, she followed suit, bending at the waist and laughing loudly. We sat like that until the laughter died down, and I had an idea. I liked her confidence. It was sexy, but what this needed was something a bit more daring.

“Though a handicap is very generous of you,” I said, folding my hands in front of me. “I was thinking maybe we do something a bit more.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“A wager,” I said with glistening eyes. “Lowest score wins.”

She pursed her lips and thought about it for a second before nodding her head. We got out of the car and headed to the stand where I paid for a round of eighteen holes, and then we collected our clubs and balls. She picked the bright blue ball, since her favorite color was blue. I picked the bright orange one, just because I felt like being a little loud. We made our way to the first tee, and she looked over at me, laughing as I pretended to do some stretches. She watched me walk up to the tee and place my ball, crossing her arms and staring. Just as I began to swing, she called out.

“Wait,” she said, causing me to miss the ball.

“Yes?”

“If this is a wager,” she said, “then what exactly does the winner get?”

“That’s a very good question,” I said, walking away from the ball. “It has to be good.”

“And slightly embarrassing,” she pointed out.

“Of course,” I said, nodding my head.