It Was Always You

The Reset

Lucas’s POV

I woke to the warmth of her body curled into mine, her bare legs tangled with mine beneath the sheets. The soft morning light spilled in through her window, casting gentle shadows across the room. It was everything I had hoped this room would be one day. Olive let out a quiet breath and shifted slightly, her skin brushing against mine. My arm tightened instinctively around her waist. She felt perfect there.

She stirred a little more, and I kissed her shoulder, letting myself savor it—her, us, this.

“Mm,” she mumbled, voice thick with sleep. “I probably need to get ready.”

Her muscles flexed as she stretched, but she didn’t move to get up. I grinned into her hair.

“You can stay right here, you know.”

She let out a lazy hum and rolled onto her back. “Tempting. But you know as well as I do that we have to get some work done today.”

She stood, bare and beautiful, and padded toward the en suite bathroom. She turned just before stepping in, her fingers curling around the edge of the doorframe.

“You might as well join me, I can turn it on, but I’m still not brave enough to go pushing any of the buttons.” she said with a smirk.

I laughed, throwing off the covers and following her without hesitation.

The water was already running, steam curling through the air. She stepped under the water raining from the extra large rain shower I had carefully installed years ago. Back then I would have never believed that she would be the woman I would be following into it. Her fingers trailed down my chest as she reached for the soap. Her touch was teasing but sweet—more playful than lustful this time.

I rested my hands on her hips and leaned in to kiss the side of her neck.

She giggled. “If you start something, we’ll never make it to breakfast.”

“Fair point. In that case, we’ll have to save the buttons for later.” I murmured and I left a soft kiss on her lips.

We washed each other slowly, hands lingering but careful not to wander too far. It was gentle and intimate, more about connection than temptation. The kind of closeness I’d been craving for a long time without even realizing it. I found myself smiling like an i***t as she rinsed shampoo from her hair.

She stepped out first, wrapping herself in a towel before walking across the bedroom toward her dresser. “I guess I’ll wear my new work clothes,” she said. “Can’t exactly roll into the day looking like I’ve just been ravished.”

I raised an eyebrow, watching her tug on a thin green T-shirt that hung on her curves and dark jeans that fit her in all of the right places. “Can’t imagine why you’d say that.”

She laughed and tossed a sock at me.

I pulled on the same clothes from last night, grateful that at least my shirt hadn’t wrinkled too badly. We finished getting ready in sync, and when we were both dressed, Olive reached for my hand. We walked together across the gravel path that connected the houses, sunlight warming our shoulders. My thumb brushed the inside of her wrist, and she leaned into me just slightly.

Thankfully, Owen and Sofia weren’t outside yet. We slipped quietly into my cabin through the back door. Olive sat on the edge of my bed as I changed into a clean shirt. She looked around my space with curious eyes.

“You’re really tidy,” she said.

“It’s easy to do when you don’t have a lot.”

When I finished dressing, we headed out the back door again—and right into Sofia setting up breakfast on the patio table.

She glanced up at us and smiled. Not a surprised smile—something softer. Knowing. Supportive.

“Good morning,” she said. “Hungry?”

“Starving,” I answered. Olive nodded beside me, and Sofia motioned for us to sit.

I leaned in. “Is Owen still inside?”

“He’s in the living room putting on his boots,” she said, gently. “He knows.”

I sighed, then stood. “Alright. I’ll go talk to him.”

Inside, Owen was tugging the heel of his left boot on, sitting on the edge of the couch. He looked up when I walked in and sat across from him.

I cleared my throat. “We need to talk.”

“Yeah,” he said, resting his elbows on his knees. “I figured we would.”

“I should’ve told you sooner,” I started. “I lied when I said nothing was going on with Olive, and I shouldn’t have. I just didn’t know what it was yet, and I wasn’t ready to talk about it until she and I had.”

His jaw tensed. “So, what is it now?”

I didn’t hesitate. “It’s serious.”

He leaned back, arms crossed. “How serious?”

“As serious as it gets. I’m not messing around, Owen. I’ve known her for years, and I didn’t plan this, but it’s real. I’m in it for the long haul.”

He stared at me for a long moment. “You know I’m pissed, right?”

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I’d be pissed too.”

Owen looked away for a second, then stood. “It’s not just that she’s my sister. It’s that you’re my friend. And if this goes south—if it gets messy—this whole setup we’ve built becomes a damn nightmare.”

“I know. And I’m telling you now, if it doesn’t work out, I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Olive’s still comfortable here. This place is just as much hers as it is ours.”

Owen took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “Alright. But you better not hurt her, man. You know what she’s been through.”

“I’d rather lose the farm than lose her,” I said.

He nodded once, sharp and slow. “Then don’t screw it up.”

We walked out together, and Olive looked up as we stepped onto the patio. Sofia was pouring juice, and her eyes flicked between us.

Owen looked at his sister and said, “I’m not going to be in the way, but I’m telling you both now—there’s no turning back from this.”

She nodded, eyes steady. “We know.”

…Olive’s POV…

The second Lucas disappeared inside to talk to Owen, I took a steadying breath. I’d been quiet all morning, but my nerves had been screaming since we walked out of my house together. This felt big. Permanent.

Sofia passed me a stack of forks, and I helped her finish setting the table.

“So?” she whispered.

I broke into a wide smile. “We’re figuring it out, together.”

Sofia grabbed my hands and gave them a squeeze. “I knew it. I saw it in his eyes as soon as Owen mentioned you moving out here. I was wondering how long it would take.”

“You’re not mad?”

“No,” she said, almost laughing. “Honestly? I’m excited. You two together just makes sense.”

I laughed, relief and joy swelling in my chest. “It feels different. Right. But also terrifying.”

“It’s supposed to be both,” she said gently. “And I’ll help however I can—especially if Owen gets overprotective. Which, let’s be real, he probably will.”

We worked in sync to finish setting the table. When the boys came out, I caught Lucas’s eye. The way he looked at me, steady, proud, and soft, was everything I needed to know.

Owen gave his warning, and Lucas and I gave our quiet agreement.

We weren’t going to run from this, even if we had wanted to, we were too far in.

We were going to build it.

Together.