When she called Mac, Olivia simply told her that she and Jake had fought, and that she needed to get back to her house so she’d have some time to think. It wasn’t a total lie.
“You’re leaving?”
Jake asked, his eyes locked on hers. He somehow managed to look like a hurt little puppy and a pissed-off pit bull all wrapped into one.
Ignoring the little voice inside her head telling her she should stay, Olivia said, “I need some time alone, Jake. To think about everything.”
“Uh, I’ll just...take these,” Mac said as she reached for Olivia’s suitcase and bags. To Olivia she said, “I’ll meet you in the car.”
Olivia just stood there awkwardly, looking everywhere but at Jake.
“Olivia, look at me.” After a few seconds, he added a sincere, “Please.”
Hesitantly, Olivia’s eyes found his, and she saw what Mike had been talking about. Jake did look like he’d lost his whole world.
She felt the same way. The only difference was, good intentions or not, Jake had brought this on himself.
His voice was low and overflowing with anguish. “The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you.”
“I know.”
Olivia’s whispered response surprised her, mainly because it was true. Jake wasn’t a vicious person. She knew he cared about her and wouldn’t intentionally hurt her.
Except she was hurt, and like it or not, he was the cause.
He lifted his hand tentatively, but Olivia stepped out of his reach. If he touched her, she’d never have the strength to walk away.
Jake’s eyes started to glisten as he lowered his hand back to his side. He hung his head, and Olivia felt his pain clear through her own battered soul.
“Baby, I’m so sorry.”
His whispered words were so soft, she almost missed them. Olivia forced herself to ignore the hitch in his voice, but when Jake raised his head and those beautiful, sad eyes found hers once again...
God, were those tears trailing down his cheeks?
No, no, no.
She had to get out of here before she did something stupid, like grab hold of his shirt, pull him to her, and never let him go.
“Goodbye, Jake.”
The words felt as though they were being ripped straight from her heart. They were words Olivia never thought she’d say. Not like this.
She turned to leave, and this time, Jake did touch her. His hand flew out to gently grabbed her wrist.
“Liv, wait!” He sounded as desperate as she felt.
“I can’t.” She shook her head and felt her own cheeks becoming wet.
“I’ll make this up to you, Olivia. I swear to God I will. I love you so much. Just...just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”
Olivia looked up at his blurred image and said, “You can let me go.”
She knew her words held a double meaning, and they tore her heart in two.
Jake let her wrist go, but pleaded, “Baby, please. Don’t go. Not like this.”
She wiped her eyes, barely managing to say, “I have to, Jake.” She sniffed. “And you have to let me. I need some time to deal with...everything. Cetro. Carlos Hernandez. My brother. You. I need some space, and you need to give it to me. So, please don’t call me, and don’t come by. When I’m ready”—her throat worked its way past the giant lump there as she swiped at her tears—“if I want to talk, I’ll come to you. Until then, I just...I need to be left alone.”
Olivia turned and walked out the door, afraid that if she stayed there one more second, Jake would start begging again. She wasn’t strong enough to tell him goodbye twice.
Even with her vision blurred, Olivia found her way to Mac’s car. She buckled herself in.
When Mac asked if she was okay, Olivia’s only response was to softly whisper, “Please. Just drive.”
Chapter 11
Olivia had to hand it to Mac. The entire way home, the other woman never once asked what Jake had done to make her so upset.
When she pulled into Olivia’s driveway less than an hour later, she put the car in park and turned to her. When Mac started talking, Olivia realized she hadn’t asked, because she already knew.
“I’ve never been one to meddle in other people’s business, but I will say this. With my job, I understand exactly why Jake and your brother kept this from you all these years. I also know what it’s like to be betrayed by those closest to you. So, if you ever need to talk, about Jake or anything else, I’m here. And you don’t have to worry about me running off and telling the boss anything you say, either. I don’t play like that. Okay?”
Olivia nodded and smiled as best she could. Her tears had finally dried up, but Mac’s offer of friendship brought them precariously close to the surface again.
“Thank you, Mac. I’ll be fine. I just need some time to sort everything out.” Olivia exited the car, grabbing her bags from the back seat.
She started toward her house when Mac hollered to her from the car. Olivia turned back around to see that Mac standing half-in and half-out of her car.
“I’ll say this, and then, I’ll be on my way. What Jake did, he had a good reason to do. Yeah, he’s a man, and Lord knows they can all be idiots at times”—she rolled her eyes and paused—“but, here’s the thing. Trust isn’t something I give easily, Olivia. Especially when it comes to men. I trust Jake. And that man is head over ass for you. He’d do anything to keep you safe. So, whatever happens...whatever you decide, I hope you believe that. Because that’s one truth I’m certain of.”
Not knowing how to respond, Olivia simply thanked Mac again before climbing up her porch steps and going inside. Feeling both physically and emotionally exhausted, she locked her doors and set her alarm before heading for a long, hot shower.
Half way through rinsing the shampoo from her hair, she broke down again. Her body was wracked with hard, gut-wrenching
