You Can Paint Me

Sequel Ch.15: A Long-Awaited Apology

Author's P.O.V.

The concerned tone in Lorenzo's voice made Chan's jaw tick. Menacingly, he craned his neck and saw the tall Italian running towards them. Towards Olivia.

Lorenzo's sudden appearance only worsened Olivia's coughing, now choking both on glitter and dry air. She tensed, her grip on Chan's collar tightened and he noticed it. His brows frowned.

"My dear, are you alright?" Mia's grandmother followed Lorenzo from behind. She sounded like every other concerned grandmother.

"Yes, yes I'm fine, don't worry about me. My throat feels a little dry, that's all," she straightened up and forced a smile.

"I could bring you a drink," Lorenzo offered worriedly.

Olivia hesitated, looking back and forth between him and Chan. An action that Mia's grandma noticed. "That'd be great, thank you," she smiled at him and before Lorenzo was able to smile back, Mia's grandmother had whisked him away, winking at Chan.

Chan grinned at the elderly woman, who despite her age, appeared to be as sharp as a newly bought knife. He grabbed Olivia's hand and steered her away. "Let's go."

"Where to?"

"To get you a drink," he smiled and Olivia's shoulders relaxed. "I noticed the way you behaved earlier. Is he making you uncomfortable?"

"He's not that bad. He just intimidates me a little," she puffed out a breath, following him close behind. Something in the way Chan noticed her body language made her feel all warm and fuzzy again. It was true that she wasn't feeling as comfortable around Lorenzo and by sending him to get her a drink was an excuse to leave her alone, but she never thought Chan would read her mind like that.

"Stay here, I'll be quick," he let go of her hand and reluctantly, Olivia leaned to grab on his hand again but held back. She watched as he strode towards the table and poured wine in two tall wine glasses.

Her point of view, however, was blocked by a tall figure in front of her. Lorenzo was back with a glass of white wine in his one hand, brightly smiling down at her. "Here," he offered.

"I..." Olivia gulped, glancing back to search for Chan, but he was nowhere in sight. She didn't want to accept his drink, she wanted Chan's. "I... I can't move my hands," she coughed, "They got numb from all the...dancing."

Nice way of rejecting someone's drink. I need an Oscar.

"Oh..." Lorenzo looked down at Olivia's immobilized hands. "It's okay, I can help you with it," he said and stepped closer, bringing the glass to her lips.

At that, Olivia inhaled sharply and involuntary choked on the liquid touching her lips. Lorenzo got alerted and pushed the wine glass away, pulling out his silk handkerchief to wipe her mouth. "Dio mio," he gently grabbed her face and patted the clothe around the corners of her lips and under her nose, where some wine had spilled. "Are you okay, tesoro?" He searched her gaze, but all he could see was the startled glint in her green eyes.

He was standing so close. Too close. Olivia felt weird, as if she was doing something she shouldn't. And she wasn't even doing anything, she was just standing as still as a stick. But the proximity was too small, too intimate. It felt wrong. It shouldn't be Lorenzo standing there, it should be someone else. Someone—

"Uh..." The someone coughed. "Am I interrupting anything?"

Olivia's head snapped towards Chan and her eyes went wide. Half relieved, half anxious to see him standing there with two wine glasses in each of his hands. "No! You're not interrupting anything!" She pushed Lorenzo away and jumped to Chan's side like a startled baby kangaroo. "Thank you for the drink," she gave him a wavering smile and grabbed one of the wine glasses, drinking the whole thing in a single gulp.