I looked at Oliver, my eyes softening as relief flooded through me.
"Ollie…" I opened my arms, silently demanding a hug, letting him know everything was okay now.
He didn't hesitate. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close, and I felt the tension in his shoulders melt as he buried his face against mine. I held him just as tightly, letting him know he was forgiven, and that I was here.
He surged forward, wrapping his arms around me while still on his knees, pulling me toward him so forcefully that I slipped halfway off the bed and into his embrace. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his body trembling with the release of two days' worth of frantic, soul crushing tension. He held me so tightly it was almost hard to breathe, one hand tangling in my hair, the other pressed firmly against my back as if he were afraid I might disappear if he loosened his grip. I could feel the frantic pounding of his heart against my own chest.
His voice was a muffled, broken whisper against my skin. "I thought I lost you. Both of you. I'm so sorry. I love you so much."
From the desk chair came a loud, disgusted groan. "Oh, for God's sake. Get a room. Oh wait, you're in one. My room. Knock it off, you too. You've got five minutes before I start throwing things."
"Jake… thanks. For… letting me through," Oliver said.
"Shut up. I didn't do it for you," Jake snapped.
Oliver chuckled softly into my hair, the sound a mix of relief and amusement. He didn't pull away, keeping his arms wrapped firmly around me as he turned his head slightly toward Jake. "Understood. Loud and clear."
He then turned his full attention back to me. Taking my hands in his, he gently pulled me up from the chair until I was standing right in front of him. His gaze was intense—deep, burning, and completely focused on me.
Watching this play out in real time was apparently the final straw for Jake. He shot up from his desk chair, looking utterly done. "You know what? Fine. I'm out. If I stay here any longer, I'm gonna need a lifetime of therapy."
He snatched his phone off the desk, muttering under his breath as he stomped toward the door. "Behave. And I mean it—if you don't, I'm coming back in." He opened the door, then paused to glance back one last time. "Clara, scream if he gets stupid. I'll be in the living room."
Click. The door shut, and the sound of his footsteps faded down the hallway. Finally, it was just the two of us.
In the sudden silence, Oliver's eyes dropped to my lips before meeting mine again. The look in his eyes was so heavy with emotion that I felt a flush creep up my neck. Needing to break the tension, I spoke up first. "Ollie... do you want to go to my room?"
Oliver glanced at the closed door, then back at me, his ears turning a faint shade of red. "Oh. Uh... yeah. I'd like that. A lot."
It took me a second to realize how my words must have sounded, and I let out a startled laugh. "No, Ollie! I didn't mean it like that... I just meant I wanted to show you my room!"
He let out a small, embarrassed cough, but he didn't let go of my hand. Instead, he threaded his fingers through mine, squeezing tight. "I know. I just... I want to be wherever you are."
He followed me down the short hallway to my room. His eyes were immediately drawn to the soft pink walls and the large, inviting bed. My room was everything his wasn't—warm, feminine, and lived-in. He looked around in quiet wonder, then back at me with that same shy smile. "It's perfect. Just like you."
"You think so?" I kissed him softly, lingering just for a moment before pulling back. "You can come over whenever you want… from now on." I smiled, brushing my thumb over his cheek. "And um… what do you think about having dinner together? The three of us? You, me… and Jake."
He melted into my touch, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment before opening again. "That sounds amazing. Honestly? I want to do everything with you from now on. Everything."
He leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. "I'm so happy right now."
I smiled, my heart swelling as I rested my forehead against his. "Me too… I've never been this happy. I want to be with you all the time."
He tilted his head slightly, pressing his cheek against mine as his arms wrapped around me. "Then we'll be together all the time. I promise."
"Ollie..."
He grinned at the nickname, squeezing me a little tighter. "That's my Clara..."
The two of us stayed wrapped in each other's arms, lost in quiet happiness. But after a few peaceful minutes, Oliver shifted slightly, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes. "So... dinner? Should we go find your brother?"
I nodded, still holding his hand. "Yeah… let's see if Jake is ready. I think he's probably starving by now."
We shared a soft laugh, the tension from earlier finally melting away as we headed out together.
Hand in hand, we made our way to the living room where Jake was sprawled on the couch, controller in hand. The moment he saw us emerge from the hallway, he paused his game and sat up, raising an eyebrow. "Oh great, the lovebirds are back. Come to serenade me again?"
"Jake, what about having dinner together? The three of us?" I asked him.
He stared at us both for a long moment, then let out a resigned sigh. "Fine, whatever. It's dinnertime anyway. I'm not in the mood to cook for just myself tonight. But I'm picking the place. Somewhere with huge portions and decent prices."
Oliver's face lit up, a grin spreading across his face. "Your favorite restaurant? Sounds perfect to me. I'll drive for you two."
Jake gave a curt nod. "Fine by me. Let's go."
The three of us headed out together, with Oliver driving. The restaurant Jake had chosen was a cozy, well-liked local place known for its generous portions and reasonable prices—the kind of place that valued quality over fancy atmospherics. As we pulled into the parking lot, I could already see a decent crowd.
We parked and stepped out of the car, the three of us walking toward the restaurant. Laughter and easy conversation filled the air as we headed inside, leaving the tension of the past days behind. For the first time in a long while, everything felt light, safe, and right.
As I entered, I glanced at Jake and Oliver, both smiling in their own ways. My heart felt full—this was what family, trust, and love looked like. For now, everything was okay.
The hostess led us to a comfortable booth by the window. Menus were passed around, and conversation flowed easily as we all decided what to order.
Jake watched Oliver lean over to help me decide, his protective instincts still close to the surface. "Alright, you two figure out your lovey-dovey food choices. I'm getting the loaded nachos and the double bacon cheeseburger with fries." His tone was gruff, but there was no real edge to it anymore.
"Are you sure that is all? It's on me," Oliver said, looking at Jake.
Jake scoffed, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Nah, man. Your treat? I can get behind that." His voice carried a mix of sarcasm and genuine appreciation.
I chuckled, and Oliver gently brushed my hair back, his eyes full of love.
The food arrived in generous portions, steam rising from the plates. Jake immediately dug into his loaded nachos, while Oliver watched with quiet amusement before turning his attention to me.
"Go ahead, dig in. You must be starving."
Jake paused mid bite, looking between me and Oliver with something that might actually have been fondness. "You two are something else. The way you look at each other... it's disgustingly sweet. But I guess... if you're gonna be this sappy about it, I can't exactly hate on you."
He went back to his food, a small smile tugging at his lips despite his gruff words. Oliver and I looked at each other and laughed. I nudged Jake playfully and said, "You know what? Oliver says he only agreed to come out tonight because you scared him into it."
Jake nearly choked on his drink, his eyes going wide before narrowing at Oliver. "Oh, that's rich. So you only dragged yourself here because you were terrified of me?" He paused, considering. "Well, fair enough—I'm a pretty intimidating guy."
He pointed his fork at Oliver. "But listen up. If you hurt my sister, there won't be anywhere in this city you can hide from me. Crystal clear?"
Oliver nodded seriously, meeting Jake's gaze without flinching. "Completely clear. Actually, that's a relief—means you'll be looking out for her when I can't be around. I just... I want to make her happy. Always."
Jake's expression softened just a fraction as he noded, seeming satisfied with Oliver's answer. The rest of dinner passed in comfortable conversation and laughter. It was the first time in ages that all three of us had been this relaxed together—no tension, no secrets, just three people who cared about each other finally on the same page.