Never Hide Again

Chapter 19

“Shit, Liv. If I'd known I’d never see you again after you started hooking up with Grant, I wouldn’t have supported it.”

I laugh, mouth full of wine.

Roxie smiles at that. “And that’s one of the sincerest laughs I’ve heard out of you … I think ever. Guess things are going well.”

“Very.”

“Well, congratulations … for now.”

“What do you mean, for now? I ask, bristling higher in my seat.

“I mean, it is Grant Brexton. He has a lifespan of what? Two months max, and you’re at the one and half marker. Make sure you don’t fall for him.”

Fall for him? She’s far too late. I’m already flat on my face and have been for a while. Also—“I don’t see him ending this.”

She laughs, brows raising as her thin hands wave in the air.

“No, Roxie, I'm serious.” I jolt up, annoyance simmering under my skin. “He’s different with me. Hell, I’m pretty sure he’s even falling in love with me.”

One slender finger waggles in the air and a smirk presses up her maroon painted mouth. “I’m sure every woman he’s ever fucked has felt the same way.”

“Roxie—”

“If anyone loves you, it’s me, and it’s out of love that I say this. Don’t allow your head to fill with these ideas that Grant is going to stick with you, Olivia. All the stories tell me he’s only stuck to one person for longer than a few months, and that’s Alan Hall.”

“You don’t understand,” I say softly.

“No,” she counters. “I do. Really, I do. I mean, look at you. You’re happy, smiling … have you even thought about Lonnie very much?”

I shake my head.

“You went from not wanting to even work for Brexton because he was too high profile, to not even thinking about the person who made you worry about it in the first place. That’s great, but learn how to live without that. Enjoy Brexton while he lasts, but just remember me when your time with him is up. I’ll be right here for you, like always.”

“Sure, Roxie. Sure.” Is all I reply with, and I allow my friend to talk excitedly about the next gown she’s altering for her co-worker. A vintage Versace piece, and it sounds amazing.

I allow her to talk because I’ve learned with her. Roxie just looks at the people and not the motives. Bad is bad, good is good, and there’s no room for people like Grant to fall in between—for the men who are gray to protect what they have. One-dimensional if you ask me, since life isn’t clear cut. But I’ll be wasting my breath on her by announcing that the Grant Brexton she knows about is only part of who he is.

She’s wrong about him. I don’t think a guy who’s only prepared to last for another half a month would be asking me not to break him—would confess that if I ever turned on him that it would be the day he became nothing.

Same for having me escorted everywhere for my safety. With all the attacks here in Seattle, he puts my security first and even then he always calls to check that I make it to any destination safe. His attention on that in and of itself gifts me with a soothing kind of reassurance. If I must go somewhere alone, Grant doesn’t dream of it, and I’m either escorted, or checked on.

It’s a serious problem, one that all women are taking seriously now. You rarely find a woman traveling solo at this time. Alertness has become our calling card.

Honestly, I like the added attention right now. While I’m newly distracted with Grant, the amplified security means I have another safety net between me and Lonnie. I don’t feel so uptight, knowing I have men at my side who will tase someone if they get too close.

Grant makes it to where I have to look over my shoulder just a little bit less.

So, no. Roxie is wrong.

Grant isn’t temporary. Our relationship, no matter how new, isn’t going to be short-lived.

Good luck convincing Roxie of that, however.

This girl is as stubborn as I am.