19 I will always protect y*u

I wake up before he does. I’m still wrapped around his arms, I move slightly to change my position, my legs feel numb. He doesn’t wake up. A warm feeling floods my chest, he looks so cute when he sleeps. I watch him for a while until I can’t hold the need to pee any longer. I’m not the kind of person that walks around with no clothes, especially in another person’s home, but he’s soundly asleep so I take my chances and run to the bathroom. It shouldn’t be a surprise, but I’m still pretty shocked by how neat the place is. It looks like a photograph from a magazine. Everything it’s in its place, the towels are perfectly aligned, the toothpaste and soap seem almost as new. There’s no hair on his brush like he just brought it from the store. I’m afraid to move something out of place, this man clearly is a neat freak.

I hear Stefan’s cellphone ringing and his raspy morning voice when he answers. Great, now he’ll see me walk back totally nude. Not that I don’t like my body, I’m just not used to walking around without my clothes. I peek outside and see that Stefan is not looking my way so I walk back to bed and cover myself with the sheets. 

“Yes, everything is fine... I’ve taken care of that... the shipment arrived as scheduled, you can relax now... yes, she’s here... well, you asked.” Stefan hangs up and turns his body towards me. 

“My dad calls you a lot, doesn’t he?” I comment. 

“Yes, but that wasn’t your dad, it was mine. Have you been up for long? You should’ve wakened me up.”

“Your dad?” I ask surprised. 

“Yes, sometimes we speak. That tends to happen between parents and their offspring,” he mocks my surprise. 

“I know that,” I roll my eyes back. “But you mentioned me, so I assumed...”

“No offense, doll, you are great, but not everything it’s about you,” he replies on the defensive. 

I’m sure he was talking about me, he clearly said yes, she’s here, but I don’t want to seem nosy, so I decide to drop it. I curl up next to him instead. 

“What do you feel like doing today?” Stefan asks me. 

“I don’t know, are there any more secret places in this city only the Corvino family knows about?” I reply. 

Stefan grins. “Maybe. Let’s get on the move.” 

“I have to go home to change first and then I’m all yours.” 

“Oh, doll, you’ve been all mine since the first time I saw you,” he murmurs arrogantly. 

I shake my head while smiling, he’s really something. 

Stefan drives me home. I take a quick shower and then I panic for about 15 minutes about what to wear. I have no idea what the plan is for today. I finally decide to put on a pink shirt, a pair of skinny jeans, and white sneakers. I’m not totally convinced of my outfit, but I don’t want to have Stefan waiting any longer. I go downstairs and find Stefan calmly waiting for me by the front door, luckily he didn’t run into my mom during his wait. 

———

We go to an art exposition, I’m not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to art, but I enjoy the time spent with Stefan regardless of the activity. We then have lunch at an Italian restaurant nearby and have dessert at an ice cream shop across the street. We are walking back to his car when a cyclist nearly runs over Stefan. 

“Idiot,” he mutters. “I hate people who ride bikes.”

“Hey! We are not all bad,” I protest. 

“Oh, right. You’re one of them,” He says wrinkling his forehead. 

“Look who’s here!”

I would recognize that voice miles away. I turn around to greet Miranda. She approaches us in her baby blue bike, her pants and hoodie remind me that I’ve missed today’s CrossFit session. 

“Oh, I totally forgot...” I mumble. 

“Yep, I noticed. How are you? Having fun, I assume,” Miranda glances at Stefan and then looks at me with complicity. I smile at her. “Well, I don’t want to seem rude, but I have to get going. I’m meeting Barney and I’m already late. See you, Oli. Bye, Handsome Intruder!”

As the words come out of Miranda’s mouth I feel a pang of embarrassment in my stomach. I could just kill her right now. I don’t even get to lour at her, she rides away without giving me the chance. 

“What did she call me?” Stefan asks. 

A nervous laugh escapes me. “No idea, Miranda’s crazy.” 

My cheeks are burning with shame.

“I get the Handsome part, because, let’s face it, I am,” he says arrogantly. “But the intruder? What did she mean by that?” 

“Oh, the silliest thing, it’s nothing,” I reply evasively.  

“Ok, at least explain to me why you lied?” He scowls. I open my eyes wide with surprise, I lied? “You said Miranda was borrowing your bike, but according to your dad your bike is pink and yellow, your favorite colors since you were little, and she just rode away in a blue bike. So, you either lied to us or Miranda went through the trouble of painting your bike, for some reason.”

“Wow, you have a good memory,” I whisper.

Stefan folds his arms across his chest. Waiting for me to explain myself. My mouth twists into a grimace.

“I’m waiting,” he says impatiently. “I don’t appreciate lies, doll.”

“Technically, I didn’t lie to you, I lied to my dad and you just happened to be near,” I say with a smile. Stefan’s expression doesn’t soften, I sigh, I’ll have to tell the truth. “Ok, Miranda never had my bike. I said that because I didn’t want to explain what really happened.”

“Which is...?” 

“Someone wrecked my bike. I don’t know who, but I assume it had something to do with what my dad did to Sam. You already know about the online harassment and the other... incidents. This was just another episode in the never-ending story of hating Olivia for what her dad did.” 

For some reason, telling the truth feels liberating, like I’m no longer caring this weight alone, but Stefan doesn’t seem relieved at all. His eyes burn with rage. 

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” He asks choked with anger. “Someone damages your belongings and you keep quiet? Are you just going to endure every attack without blinking?” 

“No! You don’t understand. What can I do? If I tell my dad, who knows how he’ll react? He would probably make this worse than it is. And the police apparently, for some strange reason, is in cahoots with my dad, so they are useless too...”

“How about me?!” He asks angrily. It’s official, we are the kind of couple that argues in the middle of the street. “Olivia, I can’t protect you, if I don’t know what’s happening to you.” 

“Protect me?” I whisper feeling tired. It has been such a perfect day so far, why do we have to ruin it by talking about my problems?

“Yes, Olivia I can protect you and I will, always. But you have to promise me to be honest with me. I get that you don’t trust your deranged parents, but, please, trust me, because I’ll do anything for you to be safe,” Stefan grabs me by the shoulders and stares at me with intensity. 

I nod, intimidated by his powerful gaze. 

“I promise,” I murmur. 

“I need you to mean it, Olivia. I had it with this, I have to know everything that’s going on with you and you make it so hard, don’t force me to hire people to follow you.” 

I’m almost certain he’s joking, but his earnest expression makes me hesitate, so I don’t know if I should laugh or not. 

“You will hire people to follow me? You know how ridiculous that sounds?” I ask holding my laugh. 

“I don’t want to. But I have to do something to make sure you are safe, I can’t handle the thought of my future wife being at risk.” 

Ugh, now I know he’s joking. Again with this wedding nonsense. I’m in no mood for that today. I have to end this annoying practice of his. 

“Stop with that,” I exclaim exasperated. “I’m the one that had it with this. I don’t get this stupid marriage joke of yours, but it’s seriously annoying.”

“I told you a million times, it’s no joke,” he folds his arms across his chest. He looks as irritated as I am, but I have an ace under my sleeve. 

“Fine, you say it’s no joke? Probe it. The next time you talk about marriage, I want to see an engagement ring, if not, I’ll know you were lying this whole time.” 

I expect to see him fluster, but instead, he just smirks. 

“Fine, deal,” he calmly replies. 

My throat is closing up. I wasn’t expecting him to take it so well. 

———

Miranda is dying to know all the details about my new relationship with Stefan and I also want to hear how things are going with Barney, so we agree to meet Monday afternoon at our favorite cafe for a much-needed gossip session. As soon as we see each other, we can’t stop chatting, it feels like I haven’t seen her in ages and there’s so much to catch up to. I don’t mention anything about the engagement ring or Stefan’s reaction, it’s too bizarre and I’m sure the matter has been put to an end. 

“Hey, sorry to interrupt. I saw you from outside, how are you?” A voice cuts in on our conversation.

We both turn with surprise to see Laura standing next to our table. She hasn’t spoken to me since Erick’s party and she’s mainly looking at Miranda, but part of me feels relieved, maybe the rumors are starting to fade away and people will start treating me normally once more. My joy doesn’t last long, not after I notice Laura’s swollen eyes, she’s clearly been crying and I immediately feel sorry for her.

“What’s wrong?” Miranda asks.

Laura takes a seat at our table without being invited to. We don’t mind, of course, she looks upset and it’s obvious she needs comfort. 

“I had a terrible fight with Erick... I know it’s not my problem, but I can’t help to worry about them,” Laura explains. 

“For them? What do you mean?” Miranda takes her hand to show her support. 

“Erick and his family. The insurance employees found traces of gasoline in Erick’s house... well, in the remains.”

“So it was arson!” Miranda exclaims.

“Yes, but Erick’s dad met with the chief of police and decided to stop investigations. They ruled it an accident, but the insurance refuses to pay. So there’s no investigation and they have cero money to rebuild their house.”

“I don’t get it. Why are they not going ahead with the investigation? Don’t they want to know who did this?” Miranda asks confused. 

“That’s what I said! And Erick told me to mind my own business, he says his dad knows what he’s doing. But clearly, he doesn’t,” Laura exclaims angrily. 

“Maybe he has his reasons,” I intervene. 

Laura looks at me for the first time and it’s like she’s just realizing I’m here. She fidgets in her chair, suddenly uncomfortable.

“Yes, probably someone is threatening them,” She looks at me distrusted. 

“Threatening them? Who would do that?” Miranda asks. 

“I don’t know. We recently found out we are surrounded by evil,” Laura stands up with her eyes fixed on me.  

I gulp. Is she seriously talking about me? Am I the evil she is referring to? So my dad punches a guy in the face and suddenly we burn down houses too? All my sympathy for Laura goes out the window and I see in Miranda’s eyes hers as well.

“Then maybe you should stay away from those evil people. Bye, Laura,” Miranda says coldly. 

Laura exhales loudly and walks away. 

“I didn’t imagine that, right? Was she implying I’m evil?” I ask astonished. 

“No, I think she was referring to your mobster dad,” Miranda says before bursting out into laughter. 

I laugh along, not because I find it funny, but because there’s not much left to do. People are going to believe what they want and I can’t help it.