The Funny Thing about Love: Feel Good Sweet Romance stories

by Laura Burton

Kayson’s mouth went dry. Here was his shot.

  The door opened wider, and there stood Olive, scrunching her damp hair with a towel. She was dressed in pajama pants and an oversized t-shirt with the word Securitech stamped on the front. Her eyes widened as she took in his attire.

  Her lips twitched and lifted. “Kayson, what are you doing here?”

  Kayson looked up at the man who stood behind Olive. He was a head taller than Olive, so he had the perfect perspective to view Kayson’s destruction. “Can I talk to you?”

  Olive’s brows pinched together. “You already are.”

  “Alone.” Kayson shifted under the stare of the visitor.

  Understanding dawned on Olive’s face, and she twisted to push the man into the apartment. She closed the door behind her, leaving them alone in the hall.

  “I know you like that outfit, but wearing it two days in a row is a bit much.” She snickered.

  “Olive, this is serious.”

  She pulled a straight face. Her voice lowered a few octaves. “Oh. Well, then, go on.”

  “I think you should stay,” he blurted before he could control himself.

  Her features fell. “I told you, I can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Aren’t they the same thing?”

  Kayson released an exasperated sigh. “You know they’re not. I think you should stay because we have something special.”

  Olive’s bark of laughter threw him.

  “What do we have, Kayson? Pray, tell me.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. Shoot, he hadn’t expected her to ask that. He had envisioned this going in a completely different direction.

  “Potential.”

  That made her pause.

  “I can’t promise you that if we start something, it won’t turn into heartbreak. I can’t promise you that you won’t regret the time you spend with me. All I can promise is that if we don’t at least test the waters, we’ll never know.” He released a shuddering breath.

  “Kayson, you don’t even know me.” She folded her arms and glowered at the floor.

  He lifted her chin with his finger. “I know you don’t like doing dishes and you think dish soap is interchangeable. You use humor to cope with chaos, which usually increases the madness that surrounds you. Having fun is one of your biggest priorities.”

  “Kayson.” Her soft voice pleaded.

  He continued. “You have a sweet tooth, if your choice of snacks is any indication. You look as stunning in a t-shirt and leggings as you do in a glittery evening gown. You love feeding ducks.”

  “Kayson, I just can’t.”

  “You know how to fix things. You help people. You… helped me.”

  She pulled away from his touch. “I don’t know how else to explain it to you.”

  Frustration boiled in his chest. Why wasn’t this working? Why couldn’t he change her mind? “What is it? Were you lying to me?”

  Olive’s brows shot up, and her eyes widened. “What?”

  “That guy in there… is there…someone else?” Pain ripped through his chest. That had to be it. The way the guy looked at him, like he didn’t have a chance. She was already involved with someone else. Maybe she was moving to be with him.

  “It’s not what it looks like. I—”

  “Save it, Olive. I finally get it. You didn’t want to hurt my feelings. But guess what? Too late.” He took a few steps down the hall before spinning and shoving the bag of pastries into her hand. “Here. You can share these with your boyfriend.”

  “Kayson—”

  He stormed toward the stairs. It served him right for falling for such a catch in the first place.

  Chapter 14

  Olive went back into the apartment, tears brimming in her eyes. Hunter looked up from his seat on the couch. “Who’s the Grinch?”

  “Doesn’t matter,” she muttered.

  Hunter put his magazine down on the table. “I can tell when you’re lying, Olive. I’ve been able to tell ever since you lied about breaking my GI Joe when you were four.”

  Olive slumped onto the couch next to him. “He’s the guy who lives downstairs.”

  He smirked. “That doesn’t give me much to go on.”

  Olive groaned. “I flooded his apartment on Tuesday.”

  Hunter folded his arms and tipped his head to the side.

  “Fine. He came up to my apartment to put me in my place—which I totally deserved—and I pretended I thought he was the maintenance guy. He ended up cleaning the mess.”

  He whistled. “That’s pretty devious, Olive.”

  She ignored him. “To say sorry, I gave him some awesome tickets to a football game coming up. Then I helped him study. And yesterday we played hooky and hung out.”

  “Okay, so where’s the part that ‘doesn’t matter’?” He used air quotes.

  Olive rolled her eyes. “He kissed me.”

  “Ooh, the Grinch has guts.”

  She punched him in the arm. “It doesn’t matter, because I’m moving to Idaho to be closer to you.”

  “Why would you want to do a stupid thing like that?”

  Olive stiffened. “What?”

  “If the guy is willing to wear that get-up, he’s got a thing for you. And if I’m as good at reading you as I think I am… you care about him too.”

  She pursed her lips. Hunter didn’t understand. Maybe he never would.

  “I think you should stay, Olive.”

  Glancing up, she met his bright blue eyes, the ones that looked like Grams. “I need to grow up, Hunter.”

  “What idiot told you you’re not grown up?” Hunter’s brows lowered over his eyes. “Point me in their direction, and I’ll give them a piece of my mind.”

  Olive sighed. “I’m not married, I still live in a run-down apartment, I flood my place because of the stupid choices I make, I turn everything into a joke—”

  “You have a good job, an even better heart, and you’re drop-dead gorgeous. You’re just waiting for the right guy. Moving to Idaho won’t fix that.” He put his arm around her and pulled her in for a hug. “Whatever you did to that poor guy to make him fall in love with you so fast is pretty wicked, but running away from him would be reprehensible, and I won’t stand for it.”

  Her mouth popped open. “I didn’t—”

  Hunter pushed his finger to her lips. “You’re staying here to see how this plays out. You might not know what’s good for you, but I do. If it doesn’t work out and you need a place to run away to, you can escape to Idaho anytime you want. Trust me, you’re perfect the way you are. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise—not even yourself.”

  She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. “But what if he doesn’t want me anymore?”

  “Now why on earth would you say a silly thing like that?” He placed his chin on her head.

  “Because he thinks I lied to him. He thinks you’re my boyfriend.”

  A low laugh rumbled through his chest. “Sorry, sis. I’ve got my eye on someone else.”

  “Me too,” she murmured.

  Chapter 15

  Kayson passed his test Saturday morning with flying colors. Olive had been right. He knew everything, he just had to get out of his own way and relax. She’d been right about a lot of things. After the test, he took a trip to the park and fed the ducks. It wasn’t the same without her.

  He found himself agonizing over their conversation from the day before. He’d done everything he could. He shouldn’t be weighed down with regrets, but he was.

  As he lay in bed that night, staring at the stain on the ceiling, he went over every detail of their time together. He’d never find another girl like her. She was one in a million. If she wasn’t moving to be with her boyfriend, he would suggest a long-distance relationship. It wouldn’t be ideal, but it would be better than feeling so empty inside.

  He closed his eyes, willing sleep to come. He needed the escape. As his thoughts melted together, swirling into a mixture of Olive m
emories, something cold and wet pummeled him on the forehead.

  Kayson’s eyes shot open. He couldn’t make anything out in the darkness. Maybe he’d imagined it.

  Plop.

  He shot up in bed. Maybe not.

  Another drip.

  Kayson threw the sheet aside and jumped out of bed. He ran to the bathroom and retrieved the bowl. He snatched the pillow, tossed it across the room, and replaced it with the dish. Waiting for the ping in the bowl, his whole body practically hummed.

  Clink.

  He grinned before he reminded himself she was taken. Was she rubbing it in his face? One last flood before she left forever?

  Kayson sighed as he pulled on a pair of pajama pants. What a cruel joke to play on him. Why couldn’t she leave things the way they were?

  He trudged up the stairs. It was nearly ten o’clock, but most of the complex was still up. Saturday night in LA meant parties until at least midnight, although most of his neighbors had manners. All of them except Olive. He got to her door and sucked in a deep breath before releasing it and knocking.

  A muffled “come in” sounded through the closed door. Kayson rolled his eyes and pushed the door open.

  “Olive? This is a bit over the top, isn’t it?”

  He stepped inside but didn’t see her. Bits of white foam spilled out of the kitchen and into the living room. Kayson groaned and shut the door behind him. “Olive, you’re aware the more you flood this apartment, the more damage you do structurally, right? I can’t even imagine what kind of fees you’re accruing from the landlord.”

  She could probably afford it. He headed toward the kitchen, turned the corner, and froze. Olive stood in the center of the room, surrounded by white foam, wearing the sparkly silver gown from a couple days before. Her hair flowed in ringlets over her shoulders and down her back.

  He gaped at her. “What in heaven’s name are you doing?”

  Olive twisted her hands in front of her. “I was hoping you’d come.”

  Kayson’s next sentence froze in his throat.

  “I didn’t know how I was going to be able to face you again after yesterday.” Her voice was quiet. “This was the best I could come up with.”

  “I don’t understand.” Kayson swallowed hard.

  “The way we left things yesterday…” She took a step closer to him but stopped.

  “You made it pretty clear—”

  “I think I might love you.”

  His heart stopped. Eyes widening, he scratched at his cheek. Love?

  “I know it’s too early to feel what I’m feeling. I know I’m crazy for even suggesting it, but there it is.”

  Kayson’s face pinched and he stared at the bubbles, at the sink—anywhere but at her. “But you have a boyfriend.”

  She laughed quietly. “That was Hunter—my brother.”

  His eyes shot to meet hers. They looked nothing alike, but that didn’t mean much. Siblings didn’t have to share traits. He rubbed the back of his neck where heat was rising. He’d shown up at her place in a Grinch costume—in front of her brother.

  “What about your move? I mean, I’m okay trying for a long-distance thing…” He didn’t dare hope she was offering to give him a chance.

  Olive smiled. “I think I’m going to stick around here for a while. There’s this guy I sorta like.”

  Heart thundering, he took a step toward her. “You said we couldn’t fall in love…”

  She shrugged. “You know, the funny thing about love is you can’t help who you fall in love with.”

  In two strides he was beside her, enveloping her in a hug. He lifted her and spun around, laughing as the bubbles floated into the air. Setting her down, he framed her face with his hands and placed his forehead against hers. “You’re giving me a chance?”

  “I think I have to,” she whispered.

  He grinned and placed an eager kiss on her lips, then pulled back. “You are absolutely crazy, you know that?”

  She winked. “Not as crazy as you.”

  About the Author

  Kari Shuey is a resident of Idaho with her family of six. She’s a master creator so you can almost always find her drawing, baking, sewing, or writing. Clean romantic suspense and sweet contemporary romance are her favorite genres. If you like emotional tension, the perfectly placed red herring, or sweet happily ever afters, then you’ll love her other works. Don’t miss out on her bi-monthly newsletters for fun updates on her books, crazy life, recommended reading, and more. Sign up using the link below and you’ll get her current FREEBIE!

  https://sendfox.com/lp/mp5jxd

  If you liked Olive and Kayson’s story, follow along with other characters who work for Securitech Inc. Click here to learn more about Gavin Saxe and his Last Housekeeper. https://books2read.com/u/bQarB7

  Fighting our Love by Audrey Rich

  Lilliana

  On a cool summer night inside the Stonehaven Marina, the cacophony of plates hitting the marble floor could have blown out my eardrums.

  Most likely not a real possibility based on what a doctor would say.

  And maybe I exaggerated a bit but it sure sounded loud enough to injure my eardrums when a server dropped the dinnerware filled with tomato sauce on the beige colored floor and another server slipped spilling the metal covers for the lobster and crab leg meals. The plates shattered into thousands of pieces ten feet away from our table and luckily nobody seemed hurt.

  My eyes focused on the tortellini spinning to the bottom of my crystal glass turning the water a pinkish color.

  The messy scene prompted a memory from the first week of classes my freshman year at Stonehaven High.

  Despite that more than a decade had passed, I could never forget the fateful day that I first saw Matthew Brenken.

  My friends had been laughing as they watched a silly video but my vision focused on Brenken when he entered the cafeteria and strode to the serving area. I’m not even sure what made me stop watching the video and focus on the entrance of the cafeteria.

  A sixth sense, maybe.

  Usually I didn’t even care for guys with long hair but his hair just brushed his shoulders and it somehow fit him. The length passed the school’s strict rules for wearing it loose instead of a ponytail.

  Despite his hair, glasses, and braces I thought he was cute.

  At least, I thought he looked like a teen Clark Kent with a slightly rebel look and did I love Clark Kent.

  Who is he?

  His tanned skin could have been from anywhere in the south or maybe even Southern California. While his stride seemed more like someone from New York City, who didn’t care what others thought, his look was South Florida.

  He wore a bright teal colored polo shirt, which matched his eyes, with the tannish shorts that fit in with the classic uniform of all Stonehaven guys but they fit him just right.

  Every couple of seconds, I’d peek over to see if he had finished paying for his food. I pulled out my agenda and wrote, “Remember,” with a red pen and drew a star next to the date.

  Standing at the end of the payout line, he paused. He seemed too unsure of where to head to next.

  That ruled out that he had graduated from Stonehaven Middle school. Certainly not Newton Middle. If he had I would have had him in one of my classes or at least passed him in the hallway a couple of times.

  While he scanned the room as if looking for a friend to sit with and eat the large plate of ravioli on his tray, my eyes didn’t waver.

  He must not know anyone.

  I knew how that felt earlier that week. Searching for an empty table until that one person waved me over and relief that I wouldn’t be sitting alone, while everyone chatted away.

  Something tugged at my heart.

  Will they think I’ve totally lost him if I wave him over? Do I risk it? Will they mind if he sits with us? It’d probably give him clout sitting with eight girls.

  While I pondered what to do, I continued to gape at him as if he was one of my favorite
singers. Luckily, my friends still giggled over another video and didn’t catch me.

  These weren’t my long term friends from middle school but my less-than-a-week friends that invited me to sit with them.

  Our gazes met, causing my heart to race as if I had run up the stairs to the third floor of the math building but when he winked my heart stopped beating.

  Snap! This guy is cute. And he winked at me with those gorgeous green eyes.

  I leaned forward to tell my friends I wanted to invite him over but froze when out of the corner of my eye a tray flew in the air and I closed my eyes as it landed in front of me with a huge clank.

  Luckily, the food stayed on the plate and didn’t splatter on the table.

  I turned my head and I saw him talking to the football player, empty handed.

  Not cool. Certainly not cool enough for this group.

  Not sure if I want to risk upsetting my friends by inviting him over when his tray flew across tables and ended up here.

  They’ll probably label him in the geeky category despite his cuteness.

  Do I dare befriend him later, even though he would fail in their eyes through no fault of his?

  Maybe I should get new friends if they’re really so picky. But making friends in a school with rich kids out of my league was super hard. I was lucky the girls had accepted me without caring that I lived in Newton and only made it into Stonehaven High based on my SAT scores.

  Everyone turned their head and the snickers resounded in the large room.

  Jerks!

  “He’s cute but talk about being a light weight,” one of the girls at my table said and they all laughed.

  “I was going to invite him over because he’s kinda cute but not anymore,” a girl from another table said and everyone laughed.

  “Another guy added to the geek squad,” a girl from my table said and triggered another round of laughter.

  I wanted to reach out and ask him to sit with us but the expressions on my friends’ faces stopped me.