Chapter 137
-OLIVIA-
:
Bags hit the floor. Tessa claimed the balcony before anyone else finished climbing the stairs.
88
55 vouchers
Caleb asked about the wifi before he asked where the bathroom was. Mom opened windows. Dad walked the deck like he was inspecting a border.
I waited until the bags were in the rooms before I asked.
“Did Roman say if he was coming?”
Ethan did not look up from his phone. “He canceled. Said he has practice.”
The disappointment hit so fast I had to turn toward the window.
Practice. He was not coming. He was going to stay in the city with his training and his girlfriend.
I couldn’t believe it. Why did I pack all those sexy bikinis?
The beach house suddenly felt too empty even though my entire family was here. I had spent the entire drive thinking about ways to get him to kiss me again. For nothing. He had chosen practice.
There was a possibility he didn’t even have practice and only said it to get out of spending time with me.
I couldn’t believe him.
Blair shot me a look, which I ignored.
I went upstairs, shut the door to my room, and stared at my phone.
I wanted him here.
I wanted more kisses.
I could not resist it.
I typed before the better version of me could talk me out of it.
If you do not come to the beach house, I am inviting Luca to stay in the room that was supposed to be yours. Extra room now. Shame to waste it.
I sent it.
I waited and waited.
No reply.
I sat on the bed and watched the screen stay blank. Maybe he was in the gym. Maybe he had muted me.
1/5
15:00 Thu, Sep 17
The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
Maybe Luca was no longer a threat that moved him.
I hated how much I hoped it still did.
388
56 vouchers
Blair knocked once and came in without waiting, because she was Blair. She closed the door with her hip and looked at my face, then at the phone in my hand.
“He canceled,” I said.
“I heard.” She sat on the other bed. “Practice. Very convenient. Very I kissed you against a wall and now I need a court to hide in.”
“I texted him.”
Blair’s eyes narrowed, delighted and alarmed. “Olivia.”
“I told him if he does not come I am giving Luca the room that was supposed to be his.”
She put both hands over her face, then dropped them, laughing under her breath. “You are going to give dad and Roman a heart attack in the same weekend.”
“He is not answering.”
“He is probably throwing a basketball at a wall.” She leaned back on her hands. “Or driving. You should see your face right now.”
I flopped backward. The ceiling here was different from the one in the city.
“I wanted more, Blair. I cannot sit in this house for three days thinking about his mouth and watching Ethan grill fish. I wanted him here with me. I thought the kiss meant something.”
“It meant something,” Blair said. “He kissed you. Then he ran. Now you poked at him with that message. If he is half as gone as he looked for the BBQ, he is already on a highway.”
“Or he is with Eden.”
“Then he is an idiot, and we will drown him another time.” She poked my ankle with a smile. “Come downstairs. If you stay up here staring at a delivered message you will drive yourself insane. Tessa is already in the water. Mom wants help with the fruit basket. I want you where I can supervise your next risky idea.”
I smiled. “You are supervising nothing.”
“Downstairs. Now.”
Hours later the house had settled into noise and fun.
Mom on the deck. Dad on a call like always even on vacation. Tessa already in the water just like when we now came, screaming at Caleb about a wave he had shoved her into. Grayson was carrying bags like he was preparing for a disaster. I was in the kitchen telling myself to calm down. The phone had stayed blank. Not a single message.
2/5
15:00 Thu, Sep 17
The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
My heart slowed down. I couldn’t believe he was ignoring me after that kiss.
Blair sliced mango and watched me wipe the same counter twice.
88
55 vouchers
“You are cleaning like a woman who expects the doorbell to ring anytime soon,” she murmured. “Can you relax a little? We came here to have some fun.”
“I am being helpful.”
“You are being obvious.” She glanced at the foyer. “If he comes, do not faint. If he does not come, do not call Luca. We have established that dad owns a phone and a list of grooms.”
“I know.”
“You do not know. You know how to press send.”
I opened my mouth to argue.
The doorbell rang.
I froze with a glass in my hand.
Blair’s knife paused over the mango. Her smile was slow and mischievous. “Well.”
Ethan crossed the foyer.
I heard his name.
“Roman?”
My heart skipped a beat.
The glass went slippery. I set it down before I dropped it.
Ethan opened the door, surprised and pleased. “What made you change your mind?”
Roman stepped in with a bag and no Eden.
No girlfriend. Just him. Tall. Tight-jawed. His eyes found me over Ethan’s shoulder like he had come through the door already looking for the person who had threatened him with giving another man his room.
I blushed so deeply it was humiliating.
Blair took in the scene and very quietly mouthed good job at me with a grin I wanted to throw a pillow at.
Ethan waited. “Practice suddenly clear?”
Roman looked at me another second, jaw tight, like he could still see the text on my face. Like he wanted to put me against another wall and also wanted to turn around and drive back to the city.
“Something came up.”
3/5
15:00 Thu, Sep 17
The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
“Well, good. Room is still open. You can put your stuff-”
“I know where it is.”
He said it to Ethan. He was still looking at me.
88
55 vouchers
The kitchen suddenly felt too small. The kiss rushed back so fast I had to hold the counter. He had not answered the phone because he was racing to get to the beach house.
Did he leave as soon as he saw the message? I shivered at that thought.
He had that look that said he knew exactly why he was here and he was furious about it and he had still driven to the coast.
Ethan clapped his shoulder and started talking rooms and dinner and whether he had eaten.
Roman finally looked away from me.
I did not.
Blair bumped my hip as she passed, whispering. “Never say never. Also, I want details later.”
Details? About what exactly?
I picked up the glass again because I needed something in my hands.
He was here.
I was glad I’d packed all those bikinis. Sexy, revealing ones. I hoped they gave me the reaction I was hoping for.
And I was already wondering how long it would take before the deal asked for another payment.
4/5
15:00 Thu, Sep 17
,83
88
The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
55 vouchers
Dex Morgan
Dex works to elevate each story with clean writing, emotional balance, and thoughtful flow for readers.