It's nearly three am on what's now the fifth of July as Oliver and I step out of a cab onto the city sidewalk.
All the high-rise buildings and the streetlamps are pretty, lighting up the dusky sky. Only a few people are walking around this late, but I assume in a few short hours, the sidewalks and streets will be packed with people.
It was such an impulsive thing for him to ask me right after I asked for clarity. It felt like fate. But Oliver fell asleep an hour into the flight, and I started overthinking it.
"Kinsey, you, okay?" Oliver asks. He stops, as do I, and he studies me carefully.
"Not really. I don't exactly jump on planes in the middle of the night that often," I say nervously. "And if I'm being honest, I'm wondering if this is something I should've run by Hunter first."
"Why? It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, and you'll have your own room at my penthouse."
That's a relief. I was hoping his apartment here was bigger than his in our town.
"I guess that's true, but I still got on a damn plane with you."
"Just tell him it was a sudden thing, and it was," Oliver says. "I got a call at the party that they need me here for a meeting, and it seemed like this perfect chance to have you come. This city is where I became who I am, but you never saw it or got to be part of it. I want to show you now that we're finally friends again."
"Oh, gosh, Oliver, I love that, and I'm excited to get to know you here," I say, and I do relax at his words and I'm sure Hunter will get that, right?
"Come on," Oliver leads us inside a humongous skyrise, with a bunch of glass windows that reflect like mirrors. "My penthouse is in this building, and my company headquarters is too."
He scans a card, and the door beeps, then opens automatically for us.
"You don't own the building?" I ask as I follow him inside, and my eyes widen.
"Oh no," he laughs. "I don't have that kind of money."
"What kind of money do you have?" I ask curiously. "Are you a billionaire?"
"Nowhere near that," he says, as we walk through a small lobby. "I have assets totaling in the millions, but heavy debts and expenses too, it's all a balancing act. Like math every day, literally."
"Right up your alley," I say, and he chuckles.
He opens another set of double glass doors with his key card, and we step into a gorgeous atrium.
There's an oak counter that a security guard is sitting at by the door, and he nods at us as Oliver flashes a card at him.
The floors are all beautiful white marble with gold trim, and the ceilings seem like they go on forever. There's a large fountain in the center of the space, and several elevators along the back wall. Oliver leads us into one and pushes the button for the top floor.
When we reach the top, we step unto the top floor, which looks different than the lobby area. The floor is carpeted in a thick grey carpet, and the walls are painted a soft white. We walk several feet before I finally see a door.
"There are only a few apartments up here," Oliver explains. "Mine, the owner of a trading company on the third floor, and a few others."
"So, the rent is high?" I guess.
"Very, but I rent two floors here in addition to my penthouse, so I get a good deal on it," Oliver confirms as he opens his door, and I step in.
He waves his hand over a sensor on the wall and the living space lights up.
The penthouse has a modern city look with dark wood floors that are designed in a parquet style, and huge windows. As we walk further inside, I see it's an open layout concept. The kitchen is something Julian would salivate over, with shiny black sparking counters including a big island and modern-looking cabinets and appliances. A crystal chandelier hangs down over the kitchen.
The kitchen walks right into the sizable living room, that's decorated minimally with navy blue couches and a plush rug. It's cleanly designed with minimal decor, but the floor-to-wall windows provide a view of the city scape that's breathtaking. That view is probably the only decor one needs in a place like this, I suppose.
It has a masculine feel but classy, very Oliver. Not really my style. I prefer something cozier and more colorful, but I can appreciate how nice his place is.
"This place is amazing," I compliment him.
"Thanks. My room and the guest room are upstairs." Oliver comments as he motions to a wide stairway that goes up. "I asked my assistant to get a bed ready for you, and she hopefully was able to get you some clothes too. I don't know what would've been open, so she probably lent you some of her own."
"What? When?" I am bewildered as I follow Oliver up the stairs. He leads me to the first bedroom on the right and opens up the door.
"I texted her earlier from the airport. Listen, Kinsey, about that..."
I lose focus as I take in the bedroom.
This is a guest room?
Once again, the back wall is covered in windows, but there are creamy-colored curtains that can be closed. This room is a little more feminine, which makes me wonder if that's by design. A pretty peach colored fluffy bedspread sits atop a four-poster bed, with tons of pillows. On either side of the bed are two end tables with glass tops, empty other than an alarm clock. The wall across from the bed has a flat-screen television mounted up.
There is a coach-style duffel bag on the bed and a smaller one next to it. I walk over and open the smaller bag first and find it full of toiletries, makeup, and a package of new underwear. So, his assistant found something that was open. I'm relieved for that.
I open the bigger bag and find quite a few clothes, folded neatly inside. There are a few pairs of jeans, some leggings, several blouses a few dresses. Even a couple of pairs of shoes. Hopefully, they fit because there is a pair of black ankle boots that are super cute.
"Wow, this is so fancy," I hold up one of the black dresses. It's pretty though, a short halter style silky dress, with little glittery decals in the skirt.
"I told her to try to keep it casual, but that's not exactly her style... um, about that..."
"About what?"
"My assistant..." Oliver shifts on his feet looking a little nervous. "You kind of know her."
"What? How?"
"It's Erin, Kinsey."
"What, Erin as in Hunter's ex?" I ask as I shake my head slowly. "She's your personal assistant?"
"For years now," he confirms.
"What why? How did that happen?"
"Kinsey, come on, you can't be mad about this."
"She was my arch-rival!"
"She was not!" Oliver looks to be holding back a laugh at that which only further angers me. "You are still so overdramatic."
"She hated me."
"You were into her boyfriend, of course, she didn't like that," Oliver says. "But she and Hunter had a mutual breakup, and she was over all that by the time school ended. All she cared about at that point was going to LA and modeling."
"Why didn't she stay in LA?"
"Didn't take off there so she came here. Unfortunately, she never took off here either," Oliver explains. "She had no idea she was interviewing for me until she showed up. I didn't hire her because I knew her from high school. I hired her because she was the most qualified. She takes organization to a level... beyond."
"She always was such a perfectionist," I agree. "I still can't believe she works for you though."
"Well, believe it. I manage a lot of things at once, and I literally couldn't do it without her help. I get that you had issues back then, but please be respectful to her here."
"I'm going to see her?"
"Yeah, I want to show you my office later. She took time out of her holiday night off tonight to get this room ready and get clothes for you, and she just got engaged a few weeks ago. I'm sure it put her out to leave for a work errand. She wouldn't have done that if she had any ill feelings toward you."
I feel a little embarrassed over my reaction and my cheeks flush. I can't honestly be angry with Oliver for hiring an old friend from high school, no matter how I felt about her. Erin may have been a snobby person, but like Amber I'm sure a lot of her reaction to me was because of how I was around Hunter.
"You're right I was being a little melodramatic. I'm not going to be rude to someone who works for you," I tell him and see his face relax. "This is why you were defending her the other day, then. Do you two talk about the past stuff like with me and Hunter?"
"I mean, we have, it's come up, but it's not something she and I sit and talk about on the regular," Oliver says. "Like I said, she moved on a long time ago..."
"And so, did you?" I fill in for him.
"Yes," Oliver says. "Until recently, all of it was behind me, and I had moved on."
"And now?" I prompt.
"And now it's nearly four in the morning," Oliver says. "I'm wiped, and it's not the right time to talk about us, but we will. We'll talk, this weekend, okay?"
"Okay," I agree, stifling a yawn. Funny how you don't even realize you're tired until someone says it's four am.
"There's a bathroom en-suite here and it has a nice soaker tub," Oliver gestures to the door. "Enjoy it. Consider this your room."
"Thank you."
"Of course," Oliver says. "We'll go out to breakfast when we get up, and then we can do some sightseeing."
"Okay. That sounds fun, night Oliver."
"Night, Kinsey."
He leans in, and we hug briefly there's a sort of awkward moment as we pull back and our eyes meet. He offers a small smile and then turns and leaves as the door clicks shut, I let out a breath.
I find a pair of pajamas in the bag, a matching shirt, and a pink pant set that are silky soft, likely expensive. I change into them, and they feel so luxurious on my skin, too bad they're on loan.
Wow, Erin Hanover working for Oliver. I can't help but wonder if they ever hooked up. Isn't that like a thing sexy personal assistants and hot bosses in suits do? He did say she's engaged though, but also said its recent. Olly may have been shy as a teen, but he was a guy. I saw him stealing looks at her sometimes. It piques my curiosity, but it's not like I'd ever ask him.
I didn't even think to ask him if Cassie is still a part of his company, I kind of assume not since he said it got so complicated after. Was the complication, Erin? Or someone or something else?
He's got a whole story out here and I am so curious about it. It's weird picturing Olly with other women, but he's not my Olly anymore. He's this new confident, suave and successful man who moved on from me, and I'm more curious about all that than I am, uncomfortable over it.
Why is it that though? Why does Oliver's connection with Brandi bother me so much, more the idea of him with women out here, or even Amber's long looks? Which weird me out more then make me jealous.
"You are worth more than that, and you are the kind of girl any guy would love to be with."
"Oh, come off it. I'm sick of your stupid words that don't mean shit. You know what, Olly? You're worse than Wade!"
"When you look back with an open mind you see things with fresh eyes."
It hits me like a ton of bricks. The feeling with Brandi is different because It's not jealousy. It never was.
It's guilt.
I screwed it up for her and Olly, and then I broke his damn heart just like she warned me not to and because of that, he left, not just me. Her.
He left her too, and she still needed him she was still healing, and Olly was her safe space. I imagine how I'd have felt if someone had taken Hunter from me when I was healing, and my pain doesn't even begin to compare to Brandi's.
She never had another successful relationship, I always told myself that's just Brandi, she's happy being single.
Whatever helps me sleep at night, right?
The facts are the facts, Brandi got back with Wade because, with one kiss on New Year's Eve, I shattered the self-confidence Oliver worked so hard to build in her.
"Fuck," I mutter as I sink into the bed.
**
I sleep till nearly noon and then take my time in the soaking tub.
I decided to wear the little black dress with the ankle boots. The dress isn't quite my style, but it's cute, and the boots are perfect. They even fit. I wonder if Erin would notice if they don't make it back into the bag?
Once I'm dressed and ready, I find Oliver in the main area seated on his island, looking at an open laptop. He smiles as I walk in. "You look nice."
"Thanks, so do you," I comment. He's back in a six-piece suit again, this one black and with a checkered tie.
"Sleep, okay?"
"That bed is like a cloud," I confirm. I walk over to the windows and look out. "The view here is insane, but do you ever miss nature?
"At times," he says. "It'll be nice having a place in Sweet Haven too. But that apartment is a closet compared to this one. I have a rooftop balcony with a small garden, too. We can check that out later. But first, coffee!"
"Yes, please," I agree gladly. "Where is it?"
"We're going out for it. I didn't ask Erin to stock my kitchen, and there's nothing in it."
"Gotcha," I grab my purse, and we quickly head out.
The building is full of life today as dressy people walk around hurriedly, isn't it Saturday? Why are so many people working?
We step outside and the sidewalks are cluttered with people, and the streets are full of cabs and busses.
It's all so busy and fast. Does anyone here ever relax?
The energy of it all seems to bring Oliver right to life though and he nearly glows in it, and I find it contagious as I follow him.
"Come on, this coffee cart is amazing, and the cronuts are to die for." He says as he hustles down the sidewalk.
"What's a cronut?" I ask as I hustle to follow him.
**
We spent the entire afternoon sightseeing, I tried a cronut, a New York bagel, and a hot dog from street carts, all awesome, and all lived up to their hype.
We did a ton of sight-seeing and window shopping, and after that, we checked out Central Park and took photos by the fountain so we can hang them up in the 'friends' part of the bookstore at home.
Oliver is on cloud nine showing me everything. He's really in his element here, and I love seeing how happy he is.
As we head back into the buildings for his meeting, he brings me to tour the space, it reminds me of something on a TV show with all the huge offices, with glass walls and big windows.
Oliver's office is a big, windowed corner office, and it's so cool, he even has a leather couch inside it! After we tour it, we head back out just as Erin comes in and makes her way to the desk in front of Oliver's office.
She is still so incredibly beautiful. Her long raven hair is styled in loose waves that cascade down her shoulders. She's dressed up in a tweed blazer with a white blouse and a grey pencil skirt with black heels. She offers a smile that appears genuine as her eyes fall on me.
"Erin, you remember, Kinsey," Oliver introduces us.
"Hello, Kinsey," she greets me with a polite smile as she sits down in her chair. "Were the clothes, okay? If not, I can give you the company card."
"Oh, no need for that. They were fine, thanks. I love these boots," I look down at them.
"I thought you would," Erin says. "They looked a little like your style from what I remembered. You can keep them. I never wear those."
"Really? Wow, thanks."
"Sure," she says, then looks at Oliver. "Mr. Bradshaw is already here. I met him on the elevator. I have him in the conference room."
"Of course, he is," Oliver says dryly and then looks at me. "He's my neediest client. That's why I had to be here in person for this meeting on a Saturday. I'm going to try and wrap this up as fast as I can, but feel free to use the apartment, the balcony, whatever you want. Erin, did you book the rooftop terrace at Luna?"
"I did," she confirms. "I'll let her know how to get there."
"Thanks, and take off after this, you've put in enough overtime this weekend."
"You're making it up to me," she says with a little smirk. "Jack and I need a wedding venue that doesn't cost us our entire life savings."
"Send me your top five choices and I'll get you the best price I can," he tells her and then looks at me. "I'll meet you there later as soon as I can, Kinz."
"Take your time," I say. "I can keep myself entertained."
After he dashes off, I awkwardly meet Erin's gaze. "Oliver said you took time away from your night off to get me the clothes and stuff. Thanks for that."
"Sure, it's nice to see Oliver connecting with you. He missed you," she says and then adds. "All of you, actually."
"I'm glad we connected again too," I say.
There's a pregnant pause and I get the feeling she maybe wants to say something, but she doesn't. Her eyes falter to her computer screen, then back up to me. "I have some emails I need to attend to. But it was nice to see you. Luna is a restaurant right across the street from here. Head on over around five. They'll have apps and wine ready for you. You can go up the stairs, through the back alley, and head up to the terrace. We're frequent customers there. They're used to us doing that."
"Alright, um thanks, nice to see you too, Bye Erin."
"Bye, Kinsey, tell Hunter I said hi."
Shit, Hunter, I still have to call him. I've been avoiding my phone all day.
***
I have several missed calls when I get back up to Oliver's, I return Brandi and my mama's calls with texts, then take a brave breath and dial Hunter.
"Kinsey," he answers right away. "The hell is going on? Brandi said you're in New York?"
"It was all really sudden..."
"Yeah, no shit, I just saw you last night. How the hell are you there? Why are you there?"
He's pissed. Fuck. He's never been pissed at me, my stomach ties itself into a giant knot, as I clutch the phone to my ear.
"Oliver has a meeting and he thought it would be a good chance to show me his life here a little, it's a big step for us getting back to being friends, you know? Because this is a part of his life, he kept me out of until now," I start pacing as I speak, hoping he gets it.
"No, that's not it. This is Oliver, he has some plan."
"Not this time it really was sudden."
"Bullshit. I know him. He's going to make some grand gesture there," Hunter snaps. "Before I even get a chance. Again."
"It's not like that, really..."
"You made this whole deal about not sleeping in my camper the other night, and now you're shaking up all weekend with him?"
"I have my own room, Hunter," I say tersely. "I'm sorry I didn't run this by you, but it just came up, and it's just a weekend. You and me can go somewhere next weekend..."
I hear Harley in the background, and Hunter sighs. "I got to go. I'm making Harley dinner, just... I don't know, call me later or something."
"Hunter..."
He hangs up, and I groan out loud.
"I can't keep doing this," I tell myself.
I need to figure this out, but right now, I need a damn drink.
***
It's getting close to five, so I head across the street and then to the alley like Erin said. It takes me a while to find the little ladder up to the terrace hidden amongst some rose plants that vine around the balcony. I climb up and am stunned. The rooftop terrace is really small, a lot smaller than I thought, with how Erin described them always coming up here.
It's set up very romantically with a table set for two, with candles, red roses, a little box of cupcakes, a bottle of champagne with two glasses, and a fancy-looking bottle of tequila with two shot glasses.
Tequila? Not really Oliver's thing. Where are the appetizers Erin talked about?
Oh my god, was Hunter, right? Is Oliver about to make a grand gesture?
"Oh no," I feel my anxiety start to rise at the thought of it. "Please don't be."
That tequila calls my name, and I sit down, popping the top and pouring it into the shot glass. I down it, and holy hell! It's the smoothest tequila I've ever had! I pour another one for myself eagerly after that.
"Excuse me?" A female voice makes me jump and I look up to see a beautiful petite blonde walking through a small door. "This was a private balcony I booked for my husband's birthday. What are you doing up here?"
"I um... they told me to come on up," I mumble.
"Who told you to? Are you a reporter or something? You are, I bet! How dare you come up here to pester my husband during his private birthday dinner. Can't he have any privacy?"
"Huh? Uh no I'm not a reporter...I was supposed to meet someone here... I don't know your husband." She is making me a little nervous and on instinct I down the tequila I just poured.
"That's one of his presents, it's a fifteen hundred-dollar bottle of tequila!"
"Wha-"
Fifteen hundred what!? I carefully slide the bottle away from me. Shit this was not Oliver's grand gesture set up it was hers for her husband. I am an idiot.
"I am so sorry. I was told to go to the alley and right up to the terrace at Luna. I think. My head is a jumbled-up mess so maybe I screwed up. I'm here with my ex-boyfriend for the weekend, and I think he is about to make a grand gesture and I don't know what to do, because the other guy I'm seeing, is back home and pissed that I came here. I need to figure this out, and I thought tequila could help, and then it was so smooth, and.... Shit, lady I'll pay you back. How much to replace the shots?"
She stands there for a long moment, then laughs, but stops herself, "I'm sorry you are clearly very distressed, and I shouldn't laugh but after all that, girl have at the tequila."
She sits down, "I'm going to need the tea on these men, so pour me a shot too."
"But your husband and his birthday..." I say even as I pour her one that she downs quickly.
"He loves a good bit of gossip, too," she says with a little grin. "This isn't Luna it's next door. This is called The Hideaway, and we come here for this private balcony when we're in New York."
"I notice a twang, you're not from around here either are you?" I guess.
"No, ma'am, we are all over now, but I was born and raised in Georgia,' she says with a sweet smile. "So when I see a fellow southern belle in need of an ear, I am here for her."
I smile and instantly feel at ease. "I'm Kinsey, Tennesse."
"Kelsey," she says with a smile. "My husband is from Tennessee too! Okay, so we have the ex and the guy at home, right?"
"My never was," I say softly.
"Okay... so why was he never, and why is the ex an ex? Let's start there."
"Those are both long stories."
"I'll pour us more shots," she says.
"I like you," I say as she does just that.
The door opens, and we both look up; Kelsey grins, and my jaw drops as a very familiar man steps out to join us.
"Farmgirl!?"
*Surprise and Suprise! And this is a double update! The next one is coming right up!