by Blythe Stone
I looked out at Olivia and Nat again and smiled.
“She's very capable of making people smitten herself. I know she's gotten under my skin and she already was under Nat’s,” I explained.
“Has her whole vacation been like this,” Farrow asked, wondering about the laughter and the pool and the company.
Nat and Olivia got out of the pool and started to walk around toward the house, probably to get some food or more wine.
“Most of it,” I shrugged.
Well, the parts when we weren't having sex. I couldn't say that. It was not fair.
“And the other parts?” Farrow asked, searching me.
“Just quiet times,” I answered.
“Sounds nice,” Farrow said.
Nat and Olivia came back out with more wine in their glasses and a new bottle to open.
“Okay. I cooled her off. She can be normal now,” Nat said. She scooted into the chair beside me and drank a little wine.
“You should try the pool Farrow. There's even a hot-tub on the roof,” Olivia said.
“I promise I will,” Farrow smiled. “Just wanted to eat first. This is good by the way.”
“Mmm,” Olivia said, reaching over to look at it.
“Want some?”
“Maybe,” she confessed.
He tugged her chair close and moved his plate in front of her.
“You're such a great host Olivia,” Nat teased.
“Shut up,” Olivia smiled. She bit into the sandwich and rolled her eyes because it tasted so good. “Mmm…”
“So Farrow. What's she been like these past few years. Any less aggravating?” Nat asked.
“She certainly has her moments,” Farrow flirted.
“Well, please tell us about those,” Nat challenged, looking over at Olivia.
“Or don’t,” Olivia said, challenging back.
Farrow laughed and let his eyes land on mine. In a way he was asking for help.
“Okay, she gets a temper sometimes,” he chuckled.
“Lies,” Olivia said calmly, picking apart the remainder of his sandwich.
She stared at me and placed a piece of tomato in her mouth to taste and swallow.
“I need to talk to you,” she said.
“Please tell me your temper stories of Livia,” Nat laughed. “I need to compare.”
“Okay,” Farrow chuckled, giving in. “You call her Livia? That’s cute,” he said, prodding her likewise.
“Yeah, we go way back,” Nat said. “I think I was probably her first real relationship.”
Ignoring them easily, Olivia got up and slid her fingers along mine, taking my hand. “Come on,” she said, wanting me to follow her.
I let her pull me along, wondering the whole time what in the world she could want to talk to me about. What could be so important with her friend only here for one day.
She led me inside and walked me a few steps in where Nat and Farrow couldn't see. I felt her push me back against the wall and stare at me carefully, her facade was fading. Then she led my hands to her cool naked hips and stepped up on her toes to slowly begin to trap me and kiss me.
I leaned into her and kissed her back. I was craving her, and needing to know how she felt. I felt her hand move along my side and I pulled her closer and finished the kiss.
She breathed me in and seemed a little emotional. “I love you,” she whispered, in the empty house where we were obviously all alone.
“I love you too,” I replied. “Are you okay?”
“Me?” She said, touching my face and checking on me.
“Yes, you,” I said.
“Yes,” she said, nodding. “But I'm worried about you. Its. He's just Farrow. He’s like a brother,” she mumbled.
“He doesn’t see you like that though,” I pointed out.
“Well. What the hell am I supposed to do about that,” she asked quietly. “I can't control that. And besides. He has a fiance. And he knows that I can't love him the way he wants me to. Okay?”
“Please don't hate me,” she asked, nervously.
“I could never hate you! There's not even a reason. I know, logically, that he's not going to take you away but he's impressive. I'm sorry it rattled me,” I admitted.
She's so sweet trying to reassure me when I'm thinking like a crazy person.
“Don't worry about me. Just enjoy his visit,” I told her.
“Are you sure you're okay?” She asked, already knowing me somehow.
“I'm fine. You're sweet to check though,” I said, kissing her cheek.
It did help that she stole me away but it was just that general fear, of her leaving, come back to fruition. It liked to inhabit me at the worst times.
“Kiss me,” she asked. “Just a little bit. I don't want you to forget I love you when we go back out there. Nat told me I was probably scaring you. Being so happy with him. I am happy. But not for the reasons you think.”
She pushed into me a little, looking down on my breasts openly.
I kissed her and tried to ignore my guilt for doubting. Nat always knew. She could just look at me and know my thoughts.
“I'm sorry,” I said.
“I’m sorry too,” she said, hugging me. Red wine stained her perfect lips.
“Maybe after he goes we can all have a movie night and cuddle on the couch and then have insanely hot sex,” I suggested.
“I’m sure that will happen,” Olivia said truthfully.
“Shall we go back before Nat flusters him too badly?” I asked.
“Only if you want to,” she said, stroking my body and staring at me. “It’s kind of fun to fluster him, no?”
“I just like watching it happen. I don't want to go anywhere now that you're pinning me to a wall but I also don't want to be rude to your friend. He came here for you,” I said, stroking her face.
“Yeah and he’s fine,” she smiled, kissing me again. “Okay,” she gave in, brushing her front against my body as she moved to the side. She took my hand and started to lead me back out.
I pulled her back in for one last kiss. Then I let her lead me back out. I didn't let go of her hand though. That connection sustained me.
Nat was sitting next to Farrow, listening to him talk. She was probably grilling him.
“No, she’s amazing,” I heard him explain as we approached. “You should see these rooms of people when she speaks. It’s insane. They all leave knowing she’s brilliant.”
“I wish I could,” I heard Nat say.
Olivia sat down and pulled me to sit on her lap, she wanted to keep me. Her arms hugged around my waist.
“Everything okay?” Nat asked me. I felt Olivia’s chin on my shoulder.
“Yeah, all is good. So, Olivia commands entire rooms, huh?” I said.
I was very comfortable and happy to be in Olivia’s arms. There was also a touch of smugness that I got to be the one touching her. I fought that childish feeling but it remained.
“Alright. Olivia hasn't told you much about her life, has she,” Farrow searched between Nat and I.
“There's nothing to tell,” Olivia said.
“Livia’s secretive,” Nat said honestly.
“I’m really not,” Olivia scoffed a laugh.
“Why are you shy about your success,” Farrow wondered.
“I don't know,” Olivia said. “Perhaps I need to separate things.”
“You’ve been living and breathing our world for years Olivia. Never taking a break.”
“Do you want a sandwich baby?” Nat looked over and asked Olivia. Something told me she was trying to temper the conversation a little.
“No. I'm good thanks,” Olivia said, slightly uncomfortable since the attentions had all turned to her own emotional issues.
“Alright fine,” Farrow said, giving in. “I'll go swimming.”
He got up and started to peel his shirt off.
“Farrow,” Olivia whined, surprised at him.
“You don't want me to talk to your friends
,” he smiled, raising an eyebrow at her as he took his pants off.
“I just don't want to talk about work,” she explained.
“And we won't,” he said, peeling his socks off and diving into the water.
“Great,” Olivia mumbled. I felt it as she rested her forehead between my shoulder-blades and sighed.
“He’s gorgeous,” Nat said. She was watching him swim.
“He’s okay,” Olivia said quietly, not watching, and instead feeling me.
“So, why don't you talk about work,” Nat wondered.
“Why is everyone on me today,” Olivia asked.
“Answer my question,” Nat said.
“Don't you think if work made me happy I'd be working right now,” Olivia posed.
“I don't know what to think,” Nat explained. “You ignored me for years.”
“Baby…” Olivia mumbled.
“Guys, seriously,” I scolded.
I rubbed Olivia’s knee and frowned.
“Let’s just chill and have a good time,” I said.
“We have to talk about these things,” Nat said. “Maybe not now,” she sighed and got up, stretching and watching Farrow do laps like he was some past Olympian.
“What should I do,” Olivia asked. Nat had walked away from us to stand near the edge of the pool. “He’s here because I couldn't hurt him anymore. I always hurt everyone.”
“Olivia, that’s not fair. You have told him what the deal is. It’s his responsibility to take care of himself and the same goes for me and Nat. We’re adults. Stop worrying about hurting us, baby. We’re fine and we’re not going anywhere. Neither are you for that matter. He’s fine and Nat will calm down. You know how she gets sometimes,” I said, trying to make it all better.
Olivia stayed quiet and just held me awhile.
Eventually Nat got in the water and started talking again to Farrow, asking him questions about his world and about Olivia. If she wouldn’t answer, he would. They could figure her out together and she wouldn’t stop that.
“You okay?” I asked her.
She was feeling very sad and uncomfortable. I could tell just from being so close to her.
“I dunno,” she said. “He’ll be fine when I tell him I'm not going back soon. I just need to do that tonight and despite what you said, I do feel bad. About having to hurt him. This goes beyond just saying no about being in a relationship. I've left him in charge of the company. Alone. It wasn't nice.”
“It’ll be okay. I know you feel bad but you can talk it out. I’m sorry though. I don’t feel like we made this easier,” I apologized.
“I understand why you're both curious. You have every right to be. I just can’t listen to him talk about me like that. Like I'm some… I don't know,” she sighed.
“Like you’re what?” I rubbed her skin and tried not to wonder what we were taking her away from.
“It's hard to explain,” Olivia said.
“Will you try for me?” I asked carefully.
She was floundering and I wanted to understand. I wanted to help. I probably couldn’t.
“He acts like I'm the only one who can do what I do. Like I'm some god.”
“That’s because he’s in love with you and he wants you around. He probably relies on you to some extent,” I said.
“We rely on each other,” she said. “Help each other.” She sighed sadly and rest her forehead on my back again. “I can't quit but I can't see myself wanting to go back and work like I once did. I carried that place and I think I'm done with that level of personal investment. Because I can do it doesn’t mean I should do it. Ya know? I love being here with you… I love having freedom again, and having you. Not having to sink all my time into a company that’s just a thing.”
“Then find a way to work from here. I get that you might have to go for some things but you could do most stuff here and turn the day-to-day over to Farrow,” I suggested.
“I dunno,” she said. “I'm thinking of really stepping back. I don't know if it'll be short term or long term but I have to at least tell him that I can't be there anymore.”
“Then you’ll do it. It’ll all work out. This might be what you need and I know I won’t complain if you stick around,” I said, smiling.
Really, I was breathing for the first time since Farrow showed up. This was a bit reassuring but it still made me feel guilty. She had a whole life elsewhere and if stepping away from that was what she truly needed then I was all for it. I just didn’t want it to just be because of us.
Farrow and Nat were now acting like kids and trying to dunk one another under the water. Maybe they were really going to get along. I hoped I could settle down and like him, for Olivia’s sake.
“They’re cute, aren’t they?” I commented.
“Yeah,” Olivia looked and then laughed a little. “You're cuter though.” Her hands were roaming a little, being generous again. “All stolen.”
“No way, Nat and you are way cuter,” I said.
I settled into her and enjoyed the feeling of her hands on me.
“I don't know about that,” Olivia said, hands pushing down the tops of my thighs. “I think you're just used to you.”
“I am in some ways,” I said.
“I wish you could see you the way I do.”
“And I wish the same thing about you,” I replied.
“Well. I know you're pretty fond,” she said. “You've been a tiny bit vocal about that.”
“Pretty fond is an understatement,” I said, feeling her hands.
“How would you label it,” she wondered. I could feel her warm breath on my back.
“Love... I'm in love with you,” I said.
I leaned back and luxuriated in her.
“You don't know me yet,” she said. “But I love that you're addicted like I am. You make me want to do things.”
“Do things? Like what?” I asked.
“Explore you,” she breathed. “Learn more.”
“Please do,” I encouraged.
“I can't yet,” she sighed. “We have company and I'm a very bad host.”
Nat and Farrow were talking and laughing. They were both getting out of the pool. “I'm going to take a shower,” Farrow said.
“Okay. I'll take you out,” Olivia commented.
“Sounds great,” Farrow beamed.
“I better get ready,” she mumbled.
“And what's going on here,” Nat asked, looking down on us and judging.
“Just enjoying the sun,” I said.
“Uhh… Yeah, you're lying,” Nat said.
“What are you talking about?”
“I can tell you two are hitting on each other,” Nat rolled her eyes and smiled.
“We’re just sitting here,” Olivia lied.
“And flirting in low secret voices,” Nat said. “I like Farrow. He seems to know you a lot.”
“I've been with him more than myself for the past few years.”
“It shows,” Nat said. “He knows everything about you.”
“Not many do,” Olivia mumbled.
“I know what it means,” Nat reminded.
“What's that?” Olivia asked.
“That he's been paying attention,” Nat said. “Do you want us to go to dinner with you?”
“I should do it alone,” Olivia said. “Farrow deserves answers.”
“He does,” Nat said. “But I'm sad we can’t go with you. Even if it’s just one night. We need to get out more. Stop being creepy sex hermits.”
“If you really want to, you can.”
“No. You're right,” Nat said. “You should be with him alone. You'll talk better that way. Decide what you're doing.”
“Don't do that,” Olivia said.
“Do what?” Nat asked.
Olivia stayed quiet to keep from fighting with her.
“I better go get ready,” Olivia whispered, speaking only to me.
“Sometimes I feel like you two are speaking in code,” I teased.