Party of Two (The Wedding Date #5)(49)

Olivia pulled her little sister into an enormous hug.

“It’s a deceptively large bag—looks like a briefcase, but I can fit a weekend’s worth of clothes in it. Plus, I know if I buy anything and need to bring it back, I can steal one of your many tote bags.”

They smiled at each other as Olivia tossed her bag into the back seat of Alexa’s car.

“Good to have you home. I’m a terrible little sister for not coming down to visit you yet—just give me the best weekend to come and I’m there.”

Olivia relaxed into the front seat of the car.

“You’re not terrible, but we’ll sit down with our calendars while I’m here and figure out a time. I’m just glad you were free this weekend for this last-minute visit.”

Alexa glanced at her as they drove out of the airport.

“Speaking of, that was unlike you. I’ve never known you to do a last-minute anything, unless it was for someone else, whether it’s a celebration or some sort of a crisis.” She raised her eyebrows. “What friend are you in town for this weekend?”

Damn her sister for knowing her too well.

“Um. So, actually . . . it’s not exactly . . . there’s something . . .”

Damn it, why was she struggling with this so much?

Alexa laughed.

“See, I knew it. What is it?”

Olivia took a deep breath.

“I’m dating someone. He’s in town this weekend for . . . work, so I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone and get to see you and him, too.”

Alexa squealed, just as Olivia knew she would.

“Livie! That’s so exciting! Who is he? How’d you meet? How long has this been going on? I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on me, I need all the details.”

Olivia was glad her sister had to concentrate on the busy road in front of them and couldn’t see her face.

“So. Well. As to how we met. The thing is . . . you remember? When I first got to L.A., and I called you from my hotel, because I met this guy at the bar, and he turned out to be— ”

“YOU’RE DATING MAX POWELL? SENATOR MAX POWELL? ARE YOU SERIOUS?”

Alexa yelled so loud Olivia was sure half of Oakland heard her.

“I’m serious, and it’s . . .”

Alexa didn’t stop yelling.

“I CANNOT BELIEVE MY SISTER IS DATING MAX POWELL, HOLY FUCKING SHIT, NOT ONLY IS HE A SENATOR, BUT HE’S HOT AS HELL.”

Olivia held up a hand.

“Alexa! You’re married!”

Alexa glared at her.

“I may be married, but I’m not dead! Hold on, I can’t have this conversation while I’m driving.”

She pulled into the parking lot of a Dollar store and turned off the car.

“Okay.” She took off her seat belt and turned to face Olivia. “Someone finally kept a secret from me. Now, tell me everything.”

Olivia shook her head and laughed. And then she told her. Everything.

“He told you he loved you?” Alexa yelled. “And? What did you say? Do you love him?”

Olivia didn’t meet her sister’s eyes.

“He said he was falling in love with me, not that he loves me.”

Alexa brushed that aside.

“That’s a distinction without a difference. Answer the question.”

Why had she let her sister go to law school, damn it?

“I . . . I didn’t say anything. That was around a month ago, and I still haven’t said anything.” She dropped her head in her hands at the expression on her sister’s face. “I know, I know. I KNOW. But even he acknowledged that it was early, you know! And you know I need time to make my mind up about these things! He said he didn’t need me to say anything back, but . . .” She looked at her sister, a tiny smile on her face. “I might. Soon.”

Alexa threw her arms around her.

“Oh, Liv, I’m so happy for you!”

Olivia let her smile get bigger.

“I’m still not ready to say . . . that, but, Lex, I really like him. More than I’ve liked anyone in a long time. I’ve been hesitant, not just in telling you, but in everything about him. It was just . . . it all seemed too good to be true, everything about him did. I think I’m starting to believe it’s all actually true.”

It felt scary to say that. But over the past few weeks, she’d finally let herself think it.

“Even though it’s hard for me to really . . . let go in that way.”

Alexa nodded.

“I get that. It was hard for me, too. Even after Drew moved up here and everything. It was hard to really trust him. Trust us. I’d had so many bad experiences before, I guess I started to believe that kind of love wasn’t for me—that no one would fall in love with me. So when Drew did, it took me a while to really believe it.”

Olivia looked at her little sister. She’d had no idea.

“That sounds . . . familiar.” She laughed. “It’s weird, but he gets me in a way no one has really seemed to. And the more he sees the real me, the more he seems to like me, which is pretty incredible—I can talk to him about work, or volunteering, or how much I love using power tools, or things I’m worried about, and where other men wouldn’t like all of those sides of me, or get bored, or talk down to me, he listens, really listens and wants to know more. The two of us are very different—he’s sort of an idealist, while I’m the conventional one, which is funny enough in itself—but it feels like we complement each other?” She bit her lip. “Things feel good.” She let herself smile. “Really good. I’m not sure I knew things could feel this good, actually.” She shook her head. “Oh God, I hate that I said that out loud, I feel like I’m jinxing things, but . . .”