Page 18 of Love on the Byline
Bran sat up and turned to rest his elbows on his knees. “Iwant her to say nice things about me. But, also, I know I’m not as much of adick as she thinks I am. I’m not the guy I was in college, at least.”
“You’re not a dick but you do fuck anything that moves. Shecan’t pretty that up for you.”
“Hey! No slut-shaming.”
Ollie held up his hands, but he knew that look. It meant Branhad an idea in his head and was determined to see it through. It also meant hewas going to help him with whatever it was.
“Right, so…she hates me.”
“Hate is a strong word,” he argued.
“Severely dislikes me. Whatever.” Bran stopped pacing andgave an exaggerated sigh. “I’m not her favorite person. But you. Youand she were tight, once.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t say we were tight,but we were friends. So?”
“And she obviously still likes you,” Bran continued. “Theway she looked when she saw you? We can use that.”
“One, she didn’t look at me in any particular way, other than…shock.And two, use it how? I won’t manipulate her.”
“All I need is for her to give me a fair shot.” Bran heldhis hands out. “That’s all. And I have a better chance of that if you two arefriends again.” He paused. “And also, I thought I saw a few sparks.”
“There aren’t. I lost my chance with her years ago.” BecauseI’m friends with you, he didn’t say. He stared down at the empty coffeecup in his hand. Remembering what happened with Blake all those years ago waslike a bad hangover—once you had it you never wanted to repeat the experience.Too much of this situation felt like déjà vu. Still, it had been amazing to seeher.
Ollie had reached out to Noelia to get Blake’s contact info,but he hadn’t mustered up the courage to use it. Pulling out his phone, he senther a text before his nerves could get the better of him.
OLLIE: Blake, it’s Ollie. I hope you don’t mind metexting. I got your number from Bran’s publicist. I just wanted to say it wasreally good to see you. I’m sorry things went down like that.
BLAKE: I’m glad you reached out, Oliver. I’m sorry, too.I shouldn’t have lashed out at you. It was really good to see you as well.Maybe we’ll run into each other again soon.
He was grinning at his phone when Bran’s voice cut throughthe warm fuzzy feeling in his chest.
“What really went down between you two?”
He looked up at Bran, the truth on the tip of his tongue. “Adifference of opinion.”
“Huhn. Well, whatever it was, there’s definitely somethinglingering between you. I saw sparks.”
“Again. No sparks.”
“You still want her. Admit it.”
Setting his phone down, he glared. “What does it matter?”
Bran’s face softened with pity, but Ollie ignored that too.
“When did this become about me? We’re talking about yourcareer. Your interview. You want me to, what, cozy up to Blake—areporter—to make your life easier?” He let out a choked laugh. “What am Iasking? Of course, that’s how your mind works.”
“I don’t want to do this fucking interview at all!” Bransnapped. “But if I have to, I’m going to make sure it works in my favor. Andif, in the process, I can hook my best friend up with a girl he’s been piningafter for freaking years, then...” He placed his hands on his hips.“So be it.”
He stared at him. “You’re putting me in an impossible position.”
“Because you like her.”
“Because you need this to go well.”
“And because you like her.”
Ollie made a sound he’d never made before, a vocalizationthat was part frustration, part aching desire to be close to Blake again. Fuck.“I won’t lie.”