Chasing Olivia (Trace + Olivia #2) (8 page)

I pulled out the carton of eggs and set about making scrambled eggs.

By the time Trace came out of the bedroom, the eggs were ready and I’d fried bacon.

“I’ve been thinking,” he started, leaning against the doorway to the bedroom, his hair sticking up adorably in every direction.

“About what?” I asked, placing our plates on the bar-top that overlooked the kitchen.

“I—
we
—need to get away.”

“We do?” I raised a brow.

“Yeah,” he rubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw before stifling a yawn. Rumpled and straight out of bed, he was still the sexiest man I’d ever seen…it probably helped that he was shirtless and my mouth was watering at the sight of his bare chest. Seriously, how did guys get that V? It was a woman’s undoing. It made smart girls do stupid things…I would know. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been anywhere. You’ve graduated and I know Marcy wouldn’t care if you took off for a bit,” he shrugged. “Pete understands and Gramps…well…he’ll have to get over it.”

“Where would we even go?” I questioned.

He smiled. “Nowhere. Everywhere. It doesn’t matter.” He strode across the room until he was in front of me. He grabbed me by both arms and bent his tall frame so he could look me in the eye. “We’ve both been going through the motions for so long, Olivia. We need to get our spark back.”

“Our spark back?” I looked at him like he was crazy.

“Our spark for life. I miss all those crazy adventures we had when we were crossing things off your list. The spontaneity, the craziness, I
miss
that.”

“I miss it too,” I admitted.

While the past two years had been great, I understood what he meant. We’d become like an old married couple, content to stay in and do nothing. But when we’d been crossing things off my Live List, we’d had so much
fun
, and had so many crazy adventures.

Yeah…I wanted more adventures.

“But what would we do?” I asked him.

He surprised me by grabbing my cheeks and smacking his lips against mine. I’m pretty sure he slobbered on me too. Ugh, that was Trace for you.

His green eyes were full of excitement. “Let’s go on a road trip.”

“A road trip?” I repeated, mulling over the idea.

He nodded giddily, dancing on the balls of his feet. “Yeah, we could head north. Maybe visit the lake house in Maine.”

“This is crazy,” I shook my head. “We both have jobs, Trace, and what about Ace?” I pointed to the dog currently sprawled on the floor licking his paw.

“I already told you, they won’t mind if we take off. As for Ace, Trent will take care of him. The freak has a ferret, I’m pretty sure he can handle a dog. Please, Olivia,” he begged, even jutting out his lower lip. He wasn’t fighting fair.

I decided not to think about it. Sometimes, thinking got you in trouble, and you needed to jump in feet first and think about the consequences later.

“Let’s do it.”

“Really?” He lit up, but there was hesitancy in his eyes, like I might pull the rug out from under him.

“Really,” I smiled.

He grabbed me again, dipping me down and kissing me until I thought I’d pass out from lack of oxygen. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I murmured, clinging to his arms so I didn’t fall.

“We’re really doing this?” He asked.

I nodded. “You, me, and a road trip. What could possibly go wrong?”

“We’ll conquer those bumps along the way together, because that’s what we do,” he grinned.

“Now,” I pulled away, looking at him sternly, “if we’re doing this, we do it right.”

“What do you mean?” He grabbed a piece of bacon, taking a bite.

“No fancy hotels and five star meals. I want this to be a
real
road trip. I want to rough it,” I placed my hands on my hips, daring him to argue with me.

A huge smile spread across his face. “I knew I fell in love with you for a reason.”

“What?” I shrugged. “In my mind, staying in fancy hotels does not constitute a road trip. I want to stay up late looking at the stars and sleep in the car. I want to go into dingy little diners and meet normal people. I want…” what was the word he used? “Spontaneity, that’s what I want.”

“I’m so glad I stopped to help you with your flat tire,” he whispered, his eyes growing dark with an emotion I couldn’t decipher. “Best decision I ever made.”

“I’m glad you stopped too,” I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, hugging him. “Even if I did sound like a bumbling idiot when I talked to you.”

He chuckled, his chest rumbling against me. “It was adorable. Especially when you called me Prince Charming.”

I blushed, burying my face against his shoulder. “You
are
my Prince Charming, even though you drive me nuts sometimes.”

“Gotta keep things interesting, babe,” he grinned crookedly.

“So,” I gazed up at him, “when should we leave for this road trip?”

“I’d say tomorrow, but you’d probably kill me,” he winked. “How about next week? That should be enough notice for Pete and Marcy. Gramps will be pissed at first, but he’ll understand.” He took a shaky breath. “I need to get away. I can’t be here when he tells them, Olivia. I know I have to be strong for them and I
can’t
do it right now.”

“I understand,” I cupped his stubbled cheek. I could see how it pained him to admit that to me and it broke my heart. “Next week sounds perfect. How long are we going to be gone?”

“Two maybe three weeks, tops,” he shrugged.

I had several interviews lined up in July for teaching positions, so we’d be back in plenty of time. I’d been afraid, knowing Trace, that he’d say two months.

“Well, Ace,” I bent down to pet the dog, “I’m going to miss you, bud.” He looked at me with sad gray eyes.

“He’ll be fine,” Trace bent down beside me, scratching the dog behind his ears. Ace’s tail thumped loudly against the floor.

“What are you, the dog whisperer now? We’ve never left him for this long. I hope he’ll be okay,” I frowned.

“Trent will do fine with him, he’s an animal lover. I’m surprised the kid isn’t off somewhere preaching about saving the whales or some other shit. He used to drive my mom nuts when he was little because he was always bringing stray animals into the house. She wasn’t happy when she found the snake in her bathroom.”

“I wouldn’t be either,” I laughed.

“It was a garter snake, it wasn’t like it was going to hurt anyone,” he chuckled. “She ended up on top of the bathroom counter wielding a hairdryer as her weapon of choice. She wouldn’t get down until the snake was out of the house.”

I snorted. “That’s funny.”

“There’s a picture somewhere,” he stood, walking around the counter and sitting in front of his plate of food. It was bound to be cold by now. “Unless she’s burned them all…which is possible.”

I grabbed his plate before he could snag another bite and popped it into the microwave, then did the same with mine and sat down beside him.

“Good?” I asked him, pointing to his plate.

“Delicious,” he leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Thank you.”

I smiled, nibbling at my own breakfast. I wasn’t very hungry. While I was exited at the prospect of a road trip with Trace, I couldn’t help but wonder if now was a bad time. I understood what he’d said about needing to get away. When it was time for me to go to college, I’d picked a school in Virginia, about as far away as I could get from my home in New Hampshire. So, I knew running when I saw it, and that’s what he was doing…running from his problems.

But I’d already agreed, and I
was
excited.

There was nothing I could do now but go along for the ride.

Lily, Trace’s mom, pulled me into a hug. “It’s good to see you. I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk more at your graduation, but Trace—”

I held up a hand to silence her. “I know. Trace is Trace, and he had a plan, which left little time for chitchat. Although, my mom didn’t help with her endless picture taking.”

“You’re her only child,” Lily shrugged, “of course she wanted lots of pictures.”

“I won’t be an only child for much longer,” I laughed.

“No, I guess not,” she guided me into the dining room.

“Look! It’s my favorite granddaughter!” Warren exclaimed as I entered the room.

My heart clenched and tears threatened to fall, but I dammed them back, because Trace wasn’t supposed to tell me and I’d hate to ruin dinner. Trace was already bound to ruin it with his announcement that we were leaving for a few weeks.

“Hey Gramps,” I left Lily’s side and made my way to the head of the massive dining table, where Warren sat. I bent and kissed his wrinkled cheek. He grabbed my left hand, inspecting the ring. “Bought time my lousy grandson put a ring on your finger.”

I laughed, squeezing his hand.

“When’s the wedding?” He asked.

“We haven’t talked about—”

“Gramps!” Trace groaned, coming into the room. “Don’t scare her, I just proposed.”

“When you’re as old as me, these questions are important,” he coughed.

I looked up at Trace and saw several emotions war across his face. He met my gaze and tried to hide his frown.

I knew what he was thinking, because I was thinking it too, Gramps might not be alive to see us get married. I couldn’t imagine not having Gramps there…since I didn’t have my own dad, and had never met my grandparents, I’d assumed Warren would walk me down the aisle. If that didn’t happen…it would break my heart.

Trace stopped beside Gramps chair, on my other side, and patted his shoulder. “I’m sure we’ll talk about it soon.”

“Make it snappy.”

“Will do, Gramps,” Trace chuckled, taking a seat.

I took the seat beside him as Cecilia brought out the food. My eyes widened at the sight of the food. It was always a feast at the Wentworth’s.

“Where’s Trenton?” Lily looked around the room, realizing that her youngest son had yet to arrive.

“Probably sleeping,” Trace shrugged.

“It’s one in the afternoon!” She shrieked. “I’m calling him and he better get his butt here.”

Before she could get her phone, Trent breezed into the dining room. “Sorry I’m late,” he grumbled, pulling his baseball cap low over his eyes. “I was up late studying last night.”

Lily narrowed her eyes. “Your classes ended a few days ago, Trenton. What could you possibly be studying?”

“The female anatomy,” he smirked.

“Trenton Carson Wentworth! Don’t speak that way!” Throwing her hands in the air, she mumbled, “I miss the days when I could put you in time-out.”

“I don’t,” Trent chuckled, sliding into a seat. “You used to forget about me and I’d spend hours sitting in a corner. Some people would consider that child neglect, mom.”

“Oh please,” she rolled her eyes, fighting a smile.

“It’s true,” he grabbed a roll, slathering it in butter, and sticking half of it in his mouth. “And I’d hate for you to go to jail. Orange is definitely not your color.”

“You’re so kind to me,” Lily laughed, joining the rest of us at the table.

Ellie, Trace’s grandma, watched Trent with an amused smile. The Wentworth boys were one of a kind.

Sometimes it still blew my mind that Trace and Trent had grown up in this mansion and were so…normal. You’d think the kind of wealth they had would have gone to their heads, but the whole family was completely down to earth.

I nibbled on a piece of roasted chicken, trying not to moan in pleasure. Cecilia made the most delicious meals. Even Trace couldn’t top them.

Trace and I tried to have dinner with his family every week. It was something I always looked forward to. I’d heard horror stories from other girls about their boyfriend’s family not accepting them, but the Wentworth’s had taken me in with open arms from the moment they met me.

As the meal wound down and Cecilia brought out a homemade cheesecake, Trace cleared his throat.

“So—uhm—there’s something Olivia and I need to tell you guys,” Trace said, draping his arm across the back of my chair.

Everyone looked up in interest. I stared down at the table to avoid their curious stares.

“We’re going on a road trip. We leave Monday.”

Well dang, he didn’t waste any time sugar coating it. I waited with bated breath for the uproar that was bound to ensue.

I wasn’t prepared for what Lily had to say though. “Oh thank God,” Lily breathed, “for a second there I thought you were pregnant.”

I blushed, taking a huge bite of cheesecake so I wouldn’t have to say anything.

“Calm down, mom. No babies for like…another year,” he winked at me.

My eyes widened. A year? Was he crazy?

I began to choke on my cheesecake and he beat my back.

“A year?” I squeaked when I could talk.

“You never know,” he grinned.

To avoid a panic attack I ate more cheesecake. Yeah, that was better. I was sure cheesecake could solve all the world’s problems.

Trace slid his desert plate my way. Smart man.

“Where are you going on this road trip?” Lily asked with interest.

“North,” he shrugged. “I don’t know where we’ll stop along the way, but I thought maybe we’d head to the lake house and stay for a bit.”

“You should, it’s lovely there. I’m sure Olivia would love it. How long will you be gone?” She asked, taking a sip of wine.