“Elijah…I don’t know what’s going on with you. I know things have been…difficult. But she’s half your age. You shouldn’t be entertaining this thing that’s going on between you…especially not with a guest.”

“I think I can handle myself, Mom.”

“Does she even know who you are?” she asks, cocking her head to the side. “Does she know the lifestyle you lead? Does she know that you won’t be sticking around once the renovations are over?”

I frown. “Mom…don’t say that.”

“Well, it’s true, isn’t it? You can barely stand to be here. I can feel it,” Mom says. She sniffs a little, and the guilt washes over me.

“Mom…I’m sorry that I haven’t visited more. I know you’ve been struggling here. And it’s not that I don’t want to see you….”

“I know, I know,” she says, sniffing again. “But I just lost one son. I can’t bear the thought of losing another.”

My mother’s comment stings like a scorpion. I don’t want to be the reason my mother is unhappy. I can see her crumbling like the walls of this place. She needs me. And suddenly, I know I’m not going anywhere, not when she needs me. Not when Olivia is here. Hollywood can wait. This is where I’m meant to be right now.

“I’m sorry I upset you, Mom. But I’m not going anywhere, I promise. I’m here to stay.”

Her eyes widen. “You are?”

“I am. For as long as you need me.”

She sniffs again. “Well, alright then. I’m glad. But Elijah…please don’t get in too deep with that young woman. I’ve never seen you get your heart broken…and I don’t want to now.”

I nod, though I don’t know what makes her think I will get my heart broken. I have no intention of allowing that to happen. As far as I’m concerned, Olivia is mine now. I’m going to make sure that she and I make it to the end.

She’s not going to slip through my fingers so easily.

CHAPTER SIX

Olivia

When Elijah returns from talking with his mother, he digs straight into his pasta, making an appreciative noise. I smile.

“Is it good?”

“So good,” Elijah mumbles with a mouthful. “Sorry about that. My mother…she just wanted to make sure you were settled in.”

“Well, you’ve made me feel very welcome,” I say softly with a smile. Earlier today, I thought I would be holed up in a cheap hotel for the night, alone with only my thoughts to keep me company. Now, here I am, sitting with this handsome older man and eating dinner. I never expected this, but I have no complaints whatsoever.

“You said you were kicked out of your apartment and wanted a fresh start somewhere new…but don’t you have family of your own?” Elijah asks, his eyes boring into mine. “Didn’t you have someone to go run to at all?”

I shake my head slowly. “My life has been…unconventional. I grew up in the foster care system. I stayed with a few foster families over the years…but I never truly found a home. I guess I just got unlucky. I used to think it was something I’d done…that I didn’t deserve to find a home, a family. But now, I think I just missed out. Not everyone can find a happy ending, can they?”

“I’m sorry,” Elijah comforts. “It seems so unfair…who wouldn’t want you?”

“I think as I got older, I just learned to accept that I would have to find my own way in the world. And I tried, for a long time. I finished school and began to study for my cooking qualifications. I told myself that nothing else would matter much if I could make a good career for myself. But…over time, I have been lonely. It’s nice to find someone I can actually talk with. I guess I didn’t really have any friends in the city.”

“That sounds crazy to me,” Elijah says, shaking his head. “You’re a sweet girl. Anyone would be lucky to know you.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“Absolutely not,” Elijah gruffly. “I wouldn’t lie to you, Olivia. I’ve been enjoying your company. And I feel the same. It’s good to spend time with someone on my level.”

I feel warmth rushing through me. Talking to Elijah makes me feel like I finally belong. It doesn’t matter that he’s older than me. He talks to me like I’m his equal, and I like that. For the first time in my life, someone is treating me with common decency. It shouldn’t be too much to ask for, yet he’s the first person who has provided me the courtesy of treating me as an adult.

And when I look at him, I see everything I want from my life. A kind man to look after me. Someone fiercely protective of me and someone that wants to take care of me. I look at him, and I see a future where it’s just him and me against the world…

Tags: Flora Ferrari Romance
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