Then he stood up, grabbed Oliviaâs wrist, and said, âLetâs get out of here!â
Olivia thought it was perhaps time to talk.
She shrugged off his grip and replied, âFine!â
Neither of them wanted to cause a scene in public, so they didnât argue in the cafe.
They got into Dylanâs car, and he glanced at Olivia before hitting the gas.
When the car stopped, Olivia noticed they were at that old apartment building.
The place they used to call home.
From the passenger seat, she said flatly, âI donât want to go inside that apartment again.
We can talk here.
â
But Dylan was already unbuckling his seatbelt and getting out.
Olivia wasnât going to play along but Dylan grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the building anyway.
At the door, Dylan reached under the mat to grab the hidden key.
As Dylan opened the door, Olivia saw that everything was just as she remembered, except it was covered in dust.
âs BunnyBookery
But there was no time for nostalgia.
The next second, Dylan pushed Olivia against the door and kissed her like he had something to prove.
Olivia resisted but Dylan gripped her chin, forcing her to accept his kiss.
He held the kiss for a long time but Olivia stayed cold and still.
Dylan finally stopped to catch his breath, resting his forehead on her shoulder.
Then he lifted his gaze and said, his voice raspy, âI can explain, Olivia.
Thereâs nothing between Gina and me! Why havenât you asked me about it?â
âAsked you about what?â Olivia replied with a bitter smirk, leaning back against the door.
âDylan, you said youâd be gone for five days when you left! But you were away for almost two months.
You werenât just comforting Ginaâs dad-you were taking care of her, emotionally and physically.
So why canât I go on a blind date if you can jet off to nurse some stranger? Huh? Tell me, what on earth is the relationship between you and me? If you still care about me, why would you be at Ginaâs side and leave Leyla and me hanging for almost two months?â
Dylan met her eyes and said flatly, âBecause Gina doesnât have much time left.
â
His voice was hushed.
âThe cancer has spread to her brain.
She might only have three or four months left, maybe less.
Iâm sorry, Olivia.
â
Oliviaâs eyes filled with tears.
But she held them back, refusing to cry.
Instead, she gave a weak smile and said, âSo youâre going back to her, huh? Youâre planning to stick by her side because sheâs dying, right?â
Dylan didnât argue.
Oliviaâs hand shot up, slapping him across the face.
âYouâre such a jerk, Dylan! You stayed by another womanâs side, yet you asked me to wait for you; said weâd start a family together.
But you know what? I deserve better!â
She shoved him aside and started to leave.
But Dylan yanked her into his arms, like he was afraid sheâd vanish if he let go.
He whispered sorry in her ear, his voice low and urgent.
He told her he wouldnât leave, not until Gina was really dying and breathing her last breath.
Olivia just stood there, listening to him ramble, feeling a bit dazed.
She believed Dylan didnât even realize his feelings for Gina had already gone beyond just friendship.
The way he cared for her reminded Olivia of the past, back when she was only twenty.
But now she was in her thirties.
Olivia didnât fight him off.
She just stood there.
Olivia stepped back, giving him a calm look.
âIâm done with you, Dylan.
You donât need to explain anything to me.
â
She headed toward the door but Dylanâs low voice stopped her as he spoke.
âOlivia, youâre the love of my life!â
But Olivia didnât seem to care about his confession anymore.
She had already given Dylan another chance, even pictured the three of them as a happy family.
It could have been wonderful.
But reality had other plans.
After two years apart, Dylan had a new, younger admirerâ¦
Maybe he and Gina clicked because they shared beliefs and a similar background, and he forgot all about his past with Olivia.
If this were back in their happiest times, maybe Dylan wouldnât have turned his back on her.
He wouldnât have promised Gina anything.
He wouldnât have crushed Oliviaâs heart like this.
Olivia paused, but she didnât turn around.
Her voice was soft as she said, âMaybe youâre right! But it doesnât matter to me anymore.
â