Begin Again (A Starting Over Romance)

5. Olivia

"You're staying with my brothers?" Lexi asks and I nod. "Yes, Luke was very sweet to offer. Once I save up enough money, I'll get out of their hair. But first I'll need to find a job." I tell her

"Luke was sweet? That can't be right. Are you sure it wasn't Ryan? People get them mixed up all the time." Lexi says and I laugh. "Nope, it was all Luke." Ryan says grinning at Luke from across the table.

At least he isn't mad that his brother gave out the extra room out without asking him first. He seems amused by it. Not really sure what that is about.

"Well, since Luke is being so uncharacteristically sweet, now would be the time to ask him for a job at his bar. We just lost two people." She says and I hear Ryan start coughing. He covers up a laugh.

"That's a great idea!" Mrs. Bennett says and looks at Luke.

Luke looks like a deer in head lights. "I don't know if that's a good idea." He says and Lexi says "Why not? You need employees, she needs a job. I need another girl to work with that isn't a bitch."  Lexi says and Mrs. Bennett sighs and says "Lexi, no bad language at the table. Luke, I think it may just be what you and Olivia both need."

"She doesn't need guys flirting with her and trying to touch her all night. We put a stop to it when it happens but it still happens." Luke states and Ryan laughs "She doesn't need guys hitting on her? Or you don't?"

I look down at my plate and out of the corner of my eye I see Lexi and Mr. Bennett smiling at each other. It's like there is a joke that I'm not in on.

"I can handle myself. I'm tougher than I look. I was a waitress back home. I know working in a diner isn't the same as a bar but every establishment has unruly customers." I tell him and he looks me in the eyes. "I'll think about it." He tells me and I nod.

A few minutes later, I'm full as I can be. Everyone gets up and starts clearing the table and taking the empty dishes to the sink. Mrs. Bennett is washing dishes. I walk up to her and ask "Can I help you with the dishes, Mrs Bennett?" She looks over at me and say "Normally, I'd say no but you look like you need some dish washing therapy" she hands me a drying towel and a wet plate. I get to work drying it and then ask her where it goes in the cabinet.

She hands me the last plate and it falls out of my hands, on to the floor and shatters everywhere. I flash back to when one of mom's boyfriends spanked me with a belt for dropping a glass. I had bruises on my butt for a week. I hurry up and get on the floor and try to pick up the pieces. "I'm so sorry, it slipped right out of my hand. I'm sorry." I almost cry. I feel her hands on me and I flinch, still remembering that night. "Honey, its ok, it's just a plate." She says soothingly. "No, its not. I can't seem to do anything right." I whisper. I'm picking up a piece when I feel a sting on my finger. Blood starts pouring out. I hiss. "Oh no, let me get a towel." She says as she gets up and I see Luke walk into the kitchen. He looks down and sees what has happened and he hurries over to me. "Shit, what happened? Are you ok?" He says getting down where he is level with me. I look up at him with glassy eyes from holding back tears.

"It slipped out of my hands" I tell him and he grabs the towel from his mom and she tells him the first aid kit is in the bathroom. He whispers "I'm going to pick you up, is that ok?" My heart soars at his gentleness and awareness that unannounced touches spook me sometimes. I nod and he gently picks me up, like I weigh nothing. He carries me down the hall and into a bathroom. He sits me down on the counter.

"It's really bleeding. We just have to apply pressure for a minute." He says and he applies pressure. We sit there in silence for a minute before he clears his throat. "Why were you so worried about a broken plate?" He asks and I tilt my head up to look at him. "One of many many times that I got punished from one of mom's boyfriends was because I broke a glass. I was eight." I tell him and he shakes his head. "I'm sorry that is how you grew up, and then what you endured while with your ex, but nobody is going to lay another hand on you as long as I'm around." He tells me and I nod. I don't know him but I believe him.