Chapter_295
Tyler paused when he heard Olivia’s soft voice, his breath catching in his throat. He had no intention of disturbing her, but in that moment, the warmth of her proximity made him falter. His hand lingered on her arm as she pushed gently against him, unsure of how to react.
“Olivia,” he murmured again, his voice low, but there was no mistaking the quiet tension in the air.
Olivia’s heart raced, but she remained still, not knowing whether to pull away or stay where she was. She didn’t want to seem cold or distant, but every inch of her body was telling her to keep her distance from him. She had learned the hard way that his presence—while comforting at times—was often followed by confusion and emotional strain.
“Tyler, please,” she whispered, trying to keep her voice steady, “I don’t want to… don’t want to make things harder than they already are.”
Tyler hesitated, his face close to hers in the dim light of the room. He could feel the distance in her words, yet he couldn’t bring himself to fully pull away. Instead, he slowly adjusted his position, resting a hand on her back, his fingers lightly brushing her skin.
“I’m not trying to make things harder,” he said quietly, his voice tinged with something unreadable. “But it’s hard not to want to be close to you.”
Olivia’s breath caught in her throat. She wasn’t sure whether to believe him, and the doubt gnawed at her. Could it be true? But then, her mind wandered back to the phone call she had overheard, to Naomi’s voice, and the way Tyler had responded with so much detachment. Why did he even need to reassure Naomi?
Before she could voice her thoughts, Tyler’s lips were close to her ear, his warm breath sending a shiver down her spine.
“I know you’re scared, Olivia. But I’m here, and I want to take care of you,” he whispered, his voice softer now, almost pleading.
Olivia bit her lip, resisting the urge to believe him. She had been told so many things by him and others, but the truth always seemed to slip through her fingers, like sand through an hourglass. She didn’t want to be another moment of uncertainty in his life, and yet, her heart pulled her in a direction she couldn’t ignore.
“I don’t know if I can,” she replied, her voice almost breaking. “I don’t know if I can trust you.”
Tyler was silent for a long moment, and Olivia felt his hand slowly leave her back. The weight of his absence was palpable, yet she couldn’t bring herself to reach for him again.
“I understand,” Tyler finally said, his voice low but firm. “But just know, Olivia, I’m not going anywhere.”
Olivia turned her head away, facing the wall, the overwhelming feelings of uncertainty and confusion swirling inside her. She didn’t know how to move forward, but for tonight, she allowed herself to simply breathe and hold onto the fragile peace of the moment.
Tyler, sensing her reluctance, didn’t push any further. Instead, he lay back on his side of the bed, staring at the ceiling. The tension between them was thick, but for now, it was the only thing they could share.
The silence hung heavily in the room as both of them lay awake, their thoughts racing in different directions.
Outside the window, the night deepened, and the sound of a distant breeze was the only thing that broke the stillness.