I was pissed when I woke up and discovered that Olivia had cut and run. Pissed, but not surprised.

Reality had probably sunk in and scared the shit out of her. To be honest, it scared the shit out of me, too.

I hadn't been out of my last relationship for even a year. And here I was, rubbing elbows with the enemy. Or the alleged enemy anyways.

As I mulled this over, I thought, do we even have a relationship? Or are we just friends with benefits? I was never fond of that term. It always sounded sleazy to me.

If you're going to sleep with someone, at least have the balls to at least attempt a real relationship with that person.

I roll over, staring at the window, where the sun was already high in the sky. Shit. I look at my clock. It's almost nine thirty in the morning.

So much for opening up the bakery at eight o'clock today.

>>>>>>

I know this will make me sound like a coward, but I don't contact Olivia for two days. I needed some time to sort through my feelings regarding Olivia and myself.

"She's going to hate you and probably cuss you out when you finally do see her," Luke says.

"Wow, thanks, Luke. You're so helpful." I angrily sling the cake pans into the oven, accidentally slopping some of the cake over the sides.

"Shit!" I snap, reaching for a towel to wipe up my mess.

"Olivia really wormed her way into your heart," Luke comments, leaning against the wall, arms wrapped around himself.

"It's not that simple." I start to whip up the butter cream filling for the cupcakes I baked earlier.

I get everything ready and start filling up the center of the cupcakes.

"Man, It's NEVER simple when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex."

Luke leans over, swiping a cupcake and sinking his teeth into it, causing the cream filling to ooze our the other side.

"YOU owe a dollar fifty for that," I inform Luke. He flashes that cocky grin at me, but I ignore his sorry ass.

"Do you like her or not?" Luke asks me after he's devoured the stolen cupcake.

"Yes, I do. But I just got out of a bad relationship. I don't know if I'm ready to jump back into another one so soon."

"Geez, man!" Luke gives me a Look. "You're starting to give me whiplash here! First, you can't stand her! Then, you think that MAYBE you like you like her. Now, you go on one ONE date with the woman and suddenly you have cold feet."

"Look, I don't need YOU lecturing me about relationships, okay? Just let me handle things in my own time."

Luke shrugs and shakes his head.

"Okay, man. After all, it's YOUR damn funeral."

>>>>>>

I finally work up enough nerve to go talk with Olivia. I brace myself for a good tongue lashing. Or maybe even a throw down.

It's neither.

"Hey." Olivia turns, smiling a little self consciously.

"Hey. I..I wasn't sure if I'd see you anytime soon."

"I know. I'm sorry I didn't contact you sooner. I, uh, had some soul searching to do."

"I understand. Besides, I'm the one who should probably be apologizing. I..didn't mean to sneak out like I did."

Olivia grins ruefully.

"Maybe I had some soul searching to do myself."

"We don't have to rush into anything neither of us is comfortable with," I say.

"I know that, Eli. And I think that's sweet of you to be so cool about this." Olivia comes to me, reaching out and I take her into my arms.

"You remember how I told you that my last relationship ended badly." I pause, pressing my lips to her head. She smells like coconut and mint and vanilla.

"I guess I'm still scared that I'll screw up this one, too."

"I get it. I feel the same." Olivia takes my hand, clinging to it and gently pressed HER lips to my hand.

"But, Eli, I really do like you. Very much." I chuckle.

"I like you, too, Livvy. At least we can agree on THAT."

>>>>>

Olivia and I are curled up together on her living room couch, watching a movie. It feels good. And right.

Except I had those same thoughts when was with my ex. But with Olivia, it feels different.

Like we're meant to be together.

I know. That's super corny. Who the hell thinks that crap? (Me, apparently.)

Olivia squirms around as she tries to get into a more comfortable position. I laugh and gently tickle her. She laughs, tickling me back.

Within in minutes, we're in a full blown tickle fight. I finally get her pinned up against the back of the couch and she cried uncle.

I release her and Olivia immediately pins ME down on the couch. I grin. Olivia laughs again. But then, she's pressing her lips to mine.

We kiss for a long time. I gently stroke Olivia's long, dark hair. Then...she's pulling away, sitting up.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I'm just still...leery about us getting too serious." I pull Olivia back into my arms and she willingly nestles into my arms.

"Me too."

"What ate we supposed to do?"

"Just take it a day at a time."

Chapter 8-Eli

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