Page 32 of Yours Actually

“You’re not putting me at risk.”

I step closer and touch his arm.“Please don’t get involved.This is my work and I have to handle it appropriately.”

His eyes search mine for the longest moment.“Okay.But if she pushes this and it hurts you, there’s not one thing you can say that will hold me back.”

My heart melts.

I’m still convinced I’m imagining the shift in vibe between us, but for now I’m choosing to indulge in the butterflies fluttering wildly in my stomach.

This is what it would feel like to be loved by Callan.

Deep intense affection.

Next level attention.

Steadfast protection.

I’m beginning to question if I could actually survive being with him because right now I’m finding it hard to breathe while he looks at me the way he is.

8

CALLAN

Olivia is glowing.She wasn’t when she arrived, but she is now.Actually, the glow in her cheeks is more of a blush, and fuck if I don’t like that pink on her.

Hell, there are a lot of new things I like about her.Far too many to count and they’ve all been messing with me since Saturday night when she got drunk and asked me if I ever think about us being together.

I’ve gone round and round with this for days, wondering if this is new for her too.I’ve not seen any evidence in our friendship that she’s thought about this previously, but then there are things she’s not felt comfortable telling me before, so I’m questioning everything.

She woke with a fucker of a hangover yesterday and no memory of the things we talked about or of the fact I helped her out of her dress.Knowing she’s a private person when it comes to her body and would be mortified over the knowledge I undressed her, I kept that to myself.I also kept most of our conversation to myself.

I’m un-fucking-sure what to do here, but I know for certain that if we get our feelings out in the open, we won’t ever be able to put them back in their box.And our friendship would never be the same.

“Thank you,” she says after I tell her I’ll honor her wish for me to not get involved in her situation with Penny.

I meant it when I said nothing would hold me back if Penny hurts her.I’ve never felt so decided on something as I do on this.Or felt a decision so deeply in my bones.Olivia is precious and there’s no fucking way I’ll allow anyone to cause her pain.

A text comes through for me and I’m stunned when I see my brother’s name on the screen.

Ethan

I got your text.I’m out.

“What is it?”Olivia asks after I read the message.My face must show my disappointment.

I meet her gaze.“Ethan’s out for the Alps.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize you guys were still talking about doing that.”

I shove my phone in my trousers.“We weren’t, but I was hoping he’d pull his head from his ass and let shit go so we still could.”My words taste as bitter as they sound.Before he left New York, Ethan and I had been making plans to highline in the French Alps.Since I haven’t been able to get an answer out of him for months, I figured he’d changed his mind but I still held a glimmer of hope.

“I’m sorry.I know you were looking forward to that.”

“I’ll still do it.”

Her eyes widen a little.“Oh.Okay.”She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth.“Are you still planning on doing it at that place that has 400-foot cliffs?”

“You’re thinking of the canyon in Utah where we train.The Alps is higher.”