Ambushed by M.E. McAndrews
Chapter 9
Olivia
the lounge chair, savoring the warmth of the sun on my skin. We're both wearing sunglasses, and the gentle hum of the bees working on the surrounding flowers fills me with a sense of peace. The surrounding blooms are a kaleidoscope of colors. pinks, purples, and yellows. I breathe in the sweet scent of the blooms, enjoying the contented peace of the moment. “You dyed your hair, Bella,” I say. “I thought you looked wonderful as a blonde.”
“I needed a change,” Bella replies. “I used to be a brunette back in college, and when I met you I realized how much I missed it.”
“Well, you’re a pretty lady, and I’m sure it looks great.”
“Thanks, Liv.” She folds her arms behind her neck and rests her head with its dark hair tied up in a bun, in the palms of her hands behind her. Her eyes are closed and she has a contented smile on her face.
If only this moment could last forever. I soak in the perfectness of the moment. I'm wearing a simple black one-piece bathing suit that hugs my curves in all the right places. The material is soft against my skin, and I close my eyes to appreciate the sun on my face and the gentle breeze blowing the ends of my hair across the nape of my neck. Between us is a small table, and on it are two glasses. I pick one up and take a sip of my margarita, relishing the tangy sweetness on my tongue.
After my run-in with that creep in my garden, I've been living in constant fear that he'll come back or send someone else after me. Austin has no concept of personal privacy. I think about it all the time. Even when I'm at work or out with friends, it's always there in the back of my mind. But here today in this garden, with Bella by my side, it almost feels like everything could be okay.
Bella shifts beside me and opens her eyes to look at me thoughtfully.
“These are delicious,” she says, taking another swig of her margarita. “What's in them?”
“Lime, a splash of orange, and a secret ingredient,” I reply with a smile.
Bella takes a sip, then nods in agreement. “Let me guess… Tequila.”
“Two shots.”
She laughs, raising her glass. “two is better than one, then.”
We sit in comfortable silence, both lost in thought. I close my eyes, the margaritas making me feel relaxed and content.
Bella takes off her sunglasses and meets my gaze steadily. “You know,” she says. “I’m really glad we're spending the day together.”
I open my eyes and turn to face her. “Me too. It's been a long time since I've felt this relaxed.”
She smiles, and I can see the genuine kindness in her eyes.
“I know what you mean. It's been a tough time, but I think we're going to get through it together.”
I nod, recognizing the comfort in her words. For the first time since Seth's death, I have someone who understands what I'm going through, someone who can help me through the tough times. I take another sip of my margarita, feeling grateful for this moment and for the friendship that's growing between Bella and me.
“It's beautiful,” she says, beholding the surrounding flowers. “You have a real talent for growing things.”
“Thank you,” I say, with a sense of pride for my garden. “It took me almost the whole day to rip up all the weeds, and there’s still a mountain of work that needs to be done. It's one of the few things that brings me peace and happiness these days.”
“I know what you mean. It's important to have something that brings us joy,” she says. “Like sunbathing and margaritas.” She raises her glass into the air.
I beam, grateful for her friendship. I rock the ice cubes back and forth in my glass for a second, then turn to face her. “So, I had an unexpected visitor in the garden,” I say, taking a sip.
She turns her head to look at me, her eyebrows raised in interest. “Oh yeah? Who?”
“Austin Blackwater,” I say, emphasizing his name with a roll of my eyes.
She bursts out laughing. “You're kidding me, right?”
“I wish I was. But I’m not. It was literally yesterday. I was out here, working, doing my thing, and he just showed up out of nowhere, trying to strike up a conversation. It was so awkward.”
“Men.” She rolls her eyes. “They just don't know when to take a hint.”
I nod in agreement, feeling a sense of relief that she understands. “Exactly. I mean, he's good looking and all, but he really doesn’t understand when to leave people alone.”
“What’d he want?”
“He had the nerve to say, 'Hey there,' all smooth and suave like he was trying to pick me up or something. God, I swear sometimes all he does is stare at my tits.”
“Well, you do have a banging body.”
“Awe, thank you. It’s because I spend all my time on my feet, working.”
She settles into the chair, leaning back. “What’d you tell him?”
“I told him I didn't have time for this and to leave me alone.”
“Oh, he must have been disappointed.”
“I don't care. I'm not interested in him. He can try all he wants, but I'm not going to change my mind.” Just thinking about him makes my blood boil. “And of course, he had to ask the most intrusive question.”
Bella raises an eyebrow, intrigued, listening as I continue.
“He asked if I planned to stay in the house after what happened to Seth,” I say, mimicking Austin's deep voice. “I told him it was none of his business, of course. I'm not going to let him push me around.”
Bella nods, taking a sip of her drink. “Good for you, girl. Don't ever let anyone get the misunderstanding that you answer to them. You do what's best for you.”
“That’s right. Screw him.”
“Screw him.”
We clink our glasses and laugh.
I stretch out my legs, savoring the sunlight on my skin. It's been a perfect afternoon spent with Bella, lounging in my garden, sipping on homemade margaritas, and chatting about life. The sky is turning shades of orange and pink as the sun threatens to dip below the horizon.
Bella stands up, slipping her slender legs into her jean shorts. “I'm afraid I have to head out,” she says, a hint of sadness in her voice. “I have an early morning tomorrow.”
I stand up too, feeling a bit of disappointment. “Alright,” I say, giving her a hug. “We'll have to do this again soon.”
“We will.” She smiles and nods in agreement as she gathers her things in her canvas bag, shoving her oversized sunglasses back on and letting down her hair from the tight bun at the back of her head. For the first time, I’m able to see that her hair is the same exact length and style as mine - two identical cuts with a few layers framing our faces. Her once-blonde, but now brown hair, that used to cascade all the way to her waist, now barely touches her shoulders. I can't help but notice the obvious. It looks just like mine.
“Oh, You didn’t tell me you cut it too!” I exclaim.
“Don’t we look just like sisters with the same color? And cut?” she exclaims.
“I guess we do,” I reply, unable to contain my surprise.
She shakes her head, running her fingers through her short wavy locks. We stare at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter.
We stand there together in silence for a few moments, admiring our twin-like reflections in each other's eyes before breaking into laughter once again.
“When did you get it done?” I ask.
“Oh, just the other day. I went to that place you recommended.”
“So, you saw Veronica?”
She nods, tousling her hair once more. “Yes! She was super cute. So sweet.”
“She’s the best. It does look good on you, if I do say so myself.”
Her nose crinkles as she places her hand on her heart and blushes. “Stop it. The cut looks so good on you, I figured why the hell not.” She heaves the bag over her shoulder, glancing down at her cell. “Well, I better get going before it gets any later.”
“Okay,” I say, “I'll walk you out.”
We walk to the front of the house, and Bella turns to face me. “Thank you for a wonderful afternoon, Olivia,” she says, giving me a warm smile.
“Of course. You know you’re always welcome here.”
She gives me one last squeeze goodbye, and I watch as she walks down the driveway to her car and disappears into the night. I stand there for a moment, taking in the quiet of the evening. It's been a long time since I've spent an afternoon like this. A sense of peace washes over me.
I turn to head back inside, reveling in the camaraderie of my afternoon with Bella. As I reach for the door, a strange nagging uncomfortable feeling rushes through me.
The sound of a loud car engine at the end of the driveway reveals the source of my discomfort. I turn to see Austin pulling up to park his sleek, black sports car right beside mine. What had been complete peace only a few minutes ago becomes an aching sense of dread.
“Hey, neighbor!” His dark, salt and pepper hair is styled in a messy, just-rolled-out-of-bed way that somehow still looks perfect on him. He's dressed in a custom tailored suit, his tie loose around his neck, and I can see the hint of a tattoo peeking from under his sleeve.
The confidence and power he exudes make my heart rate increase. Just being near him is uncomfortably invigorating. He's not my type, of course. Not in the least. But there's something undeniably sexy about him. As he parades toward me, my defenses rise. I need to be careful around this man. He's dangerous, in more ways than the obvious, and I need to stay on my guard.
“You can’t just pull into my driveway!” I say flatly, crossing my arms over my chest.
He glances at his car and shrugs. “It’s just for a second.”
“This is my house.” I’m thoroughly annoyed, but I try to keep my voice even. “What do you want?”
He eyes me for a second, resting his hands on his hips. He chews on his bottom lip, glancing around the yard. Then he takes in the sight of me, standing there in nothing more than my goddamn bathing suit. In this moment, I feel more vulnerable than I ever have in my life.
Did I even shave my legs today? Wait—why the hell do I care? He hesitates before a small smile plays on his lips. Some dark thought lingers behind those haunting eyes, and I can only wonder what sick, piggish thoughts he has playing out. Men disgust me.
Of course, I doubt I’m his type.
“How's your week been going?” he asks.
I give him a tight smile, the tension in me rising. “It's been fine,” I say, my voice cold.
He notices my tone and hesitates. “I just wanted to check in and see how you're doing.”
I wave my hand dismissively, not wanting to engage in conversation. That’s the biggest line on the planet. God, he’s pathetic.
“I'm fine, Austin. Thank you for your concern, but I have to go.”
“What are you in such a rush for?” He smiles again, probably thinking himself clever.
“To get away from you.”
His cool composure falters for a moment, then he inhales, centering himself once more. “Listen, I'm having a little get together at my place tonight. I'd love for you to come. It'll be an excellent opportunity for us to get to know each other.”
I shake my head, not caring about anything he has to offer. “I'm sorry, but I'm not interested,” I say, my voice firm. Is he out of his mind?
A disappointed frown forms on his lips, but he doesn't push. “Okay,” he says, taking a step back. “I understand. But if you change your mind, the invitation stands.”
I watch as he gets into his car and drives out of my driveway, my mind a jumbled mess of conflicting emotions. Part of me is relieved that he's gone, but I want to know why he’s suddenly being so nice. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I have more important things to think about than Austin Blackwater and his stupid get together.