A Heart to Trust, A.L. Brooks [speed reading book TXT] 📗

“True.” Olivia kissed her neck. “Did you ever hear anything more from Chrissy, by the way?”

Jenny shook her head. “Nope. Just that one bizarre text message the week after you got the production manager job.” Jenny shivered at the recall. “You’ll always be with me,” the message had begun. “I won’t forget what you did. I’m sure we’ll meet again soon, once I’ve got some things sorted out. Then we can be friends again and everything will be okay.” The creepiness had freaked her out for days. “I blocked her number after that—no way did I need that crap on a regular basis.”

“Indeed.” Olivia sighed. “I hope she got help or gets it sometime in the future. She has issues, I think it’s fair to say.”

“Yeah. Jeez, what a mess that was.”

Olivia looked up at her and kissed her chin. “It was, but we survived.”

“And thrived.” Jenny leaned down to kiss her properly, and they were soon lost in skin, fingers, hands, mouths…

“Hey, I’m home!” Carl called as he entered the apartment.

Jenny looked up from where she lay on the couch, some paperwork from a presentation strewn over her belly. “Hey! Long time no see, roomie.”

He laughed. “Yeah, sorry about that. It’s been one of those weeks. How was your night with Olivia?”

Jenny grinned. “Pretty good.”

Carl leaned against the back of the couch. “Only ‘pretty good’?”

“I never kiss and tell.”

Carl smiled, then his face fell into a frown. “Do you have a minute?”

“Sure.” Jenny wriggled upright, scooted her papers over onto the floor, and motioned to the seat next to her.

He sat and placed both hands on his knees. “So, here’s the thing. Solomon and I were talking last night, and he’s asked me to move in with him.”

Jenny’s brain took one second to register what he’d just said, then she leaped across the couch and caught him up in a big hug. “Oh my God! That’s so good!”

Carl’s arms wrapped around her. “Really?” His voice was close to her ear.

She pulled back to look him in the eye. “Of course! Why wouldn’t it be? I mean, you do love him, don’t you?”

“Yes! I guess I thought you might be upset at me moving out.”

“Nope! I love this. I’m so happy for you.” She eased back from his arms. “So, are wedding bells ringing any time soon?”

Carl’s eyes went so wide she snorted. “Whoa! Let’s not rush things, okay?”

“I’m only teasing. Chill out.”

He scowled at her, then laughed. “So, you’re okay with this?”

“I am.” She sat back. “When is this all going to happen?”

Carl ducked his head. “Um, this weekend.”

“Wow, you don’t waste any time, do you?” She grinned at his sheepish expression. “Hey, it’s all good. I’ll help you pack.”

“What will you do? You know, with the apartment? Get a new roomie?”

Jenny stared at him, realizing she hadn’t put that part together yet. She could probably just about make rent on her own, now that she earned more in her new role. But it wouldn’t leave any spare cash for holidays and other nice things. So, yeah, maybe advertising for a new roommate made sense.

Or…

She sat bolt upright. Was it too soon? Would Olivia freak?

“You could just ask her,” Carl said. “The worst she could do is say no.”

“Am I that obvious?”

“Never, ever play poker. That’s all I’m saying.”

Olivia constructed the first of the boxes, taping both the seams and the corners, then loaded it with her books. She’d had, for once, a quiet day at work. She loved her new job, no doubt about it, but sometimes the days were long and tiring. Still, at least today had one notable success: Maxwell had confirmed he would stay on. Olivia had reworked his position so he was doing all the things he loved, and after a couple months’ trial period, he was happy once more. She valued what he did, so retaining him had been high on her list of priorities when she took over the production manager role. And while it therefore would have been easy to slouch on the balcony with a glass of wine and toast herself, she’d decided she’d better make more use of the evening.

“Do you want any help?” Broderick asked as he came into the room.

“You know, I think I’m fine. I don’t exactly have a huge amount to pack.”

He smiled. “I guess not.”

“How was your day?”

“It was okay. I saw Mom.”

“How is she?” Once again, it hurt Olivia to think of Katherine; she hadn’t seen her since Christmas.

“You know, I think she’s getting there. She actually asked after you.”

“She did?” Her heart beat a little faster.

“Yes.” He stepped closer and gave her a quick hug. “I think it’ll be okay.”

“Truly? I mean, I know I don’t have to be friends with her, but it feels wrong not to be able to, if that makes sense.”

“It does. And I think she feels the same way. You might want to expect an invite to lunch one day soon.”

“Oh wow.”

“I know.” He rubbed a gentle hand down her arm.

Tears pricked at her eyes. This was the one thing about the divorce that sat sourly in her stomach.

Philip and Mallory had been great about it. She and Mallory had met a couple of times at their apartment in the last couple of months, ostensibly so that Olivia could coo over the baby, a gorgeous girl they’d named Katie. But Mallory had made a point of telling Olivia she still expected them to be friends and that she believed Broderick when he said their split was amicable. To achieve that with Katherine too would be wonderful.

“Okay.” Broderick cleared his throat. “I’ll leave you to it. But shout if you need anything, okay?”

She nodded and he left the room. “All right,” she said aloud. “Stop dawdling. Let’s get this done.”

The doorbell rang when she was partway through packing the second box.

“I’ll get it!” Broderick called.

Olivia tuned out the muffled voices coming from the hall a few minutes later and continued packing.

“Hey,”