After dinner, Olivia said her goodbyes. “Thanks for having me, Maddie. Dinner was delicious and I had a great time,” she said with a charming smile.
“Oh, anytime!” Maddie said warmly. “Let’s catch up properly soon.”
Lucas gave her a quiet glance, his expression unreadable. Olivia returned it with a soft smile, her eyes hiding the storm brewing underneath.
Once outside, the evening breeze hit her skin, cooling the heat of all the unspoken tension. She got into her car, slid into the driver’s seat, and exhaled deeply.
“Pretending is exhausting,” she muttered to herself with a tired smile as she drove off.
By the time she got home, the city lights had dimmed and silence settled into her apartment. She kicked off her heels, poured herself a glass of wine, and sank into the couch.
She was
