Begin Again (A Starting Over Romance)

9. Olivia

I'm in my room, putting away the clothes that I bought. I sit down on the bed and decide to video call Ava. It rings twice before her face pops up on the screen. It looks like she is sitting on her couch.
"Hey stranger! I was starting to think you moved away and forgot all about me." She says and I roll my eyes. "Ava, I've only been gone like three days." I tell her and she laughs. "Yeah, I know. Dumbass keeps calling me, wanting to know where you are." She says and I wince. "I'm sorry, I should just call him and tell him to leave you alone." I tell her and her eyes go big. "No way in hell are you calling him. He would track you down somehow just from the phone call."

"I'm not going to contact him but I feel bad that I left you to clean up my mess there. I know what he is capable of doing but I don't know how far he would go to find me. Just be careful around him, please " I tell her. She nods "You had to get away babe. He would've killed you eventually." She says and I nod sadly. "I know "

"Enough of that, tell me what's going on there?" She says, changing the subject.

"I dont even know where to start." I laugh " I found a job. I officially start tomorrow. I'm living with two brothers. Twins to be exact. One of them is fixing my car and the other is my new boss."

She chokes in her drink. "I'm sorry, did you just say you were living with TWO guys that you don't know?" She asks and I nod. "I am. They are really nice." I say and she shakes her head. "What in the world is going on? I never would have thought you would leave here and live with a guy, let alone two of them. Are they at least cute?" She asks and my face turns red.

"Oooooh spill the tea girl!" She claps and bounces up and down on her bed.

"There is no tea to spill" I roll my eyes.

"Bullshit! Your face wouldn't be flaming red if something didn't happen." She says and I shrug. "What do you want from me?" I ask her and she starts to say something but then there is a knock on my door. "Hang on." I tell her and I open my door.

Luke stands there in a black long sleeve shirt that shows every muscle and dark jeans. I almost groan. "Sorry to interrupt but Ryan called and said your car is ready. I can give you a ride over there whenever you are ready." He says and I nod. I hear Ava's voice coming from my speaker. " Hey, who is that? Is he one of the new roommates? Is he hot? Let me see, damnit!" She says and my face turns red again and I roll my eyes. "Sorry about her, she doesn't have a filter." I tell him and he gives me an adorable grin.

I move the phone to where it shows me and him on the screen together. "Ava this is Luke, Luke this is my best friend Ava." I tell them. Her eyes go wide and I know why. Because Luke is hot. Unbelievably attractive. "Hey Luke, are you treating my girl right? She's been through a lot and I will come down there and kick some ass if I need to." She says and I groan "Ava!" Then I turn to Luke. "Please ignore her. Her mom dropped her on the head as a baby." I tell him and he laughs. I feel his hand to my waist and I lean in automatically. His thumb runs back and forth over my hip. "I assure you, our girl is going to be taken care of." He says and I get chills, hoping there is a double meaning to what he said.

"Our girl huh? Hmm ok, Luke. I'm gonna trust you for now but I'm watching you." She says and does the finger movement from her eyes to his. He laughs and says "Noted. I'll let you finish up, come find me when you are ready." He says and I nod. He gives my hip a gentle squeeze before he walks out of my room and shuts the door.

I look at my screen and Ava is grinning like a fool. "Oh my God Olivia! He is hot! And there are two of them?! How the hell did you find them? And You can't tell me there is nothing between the two of you. You've only been there for two full days and he's already calling you his girl?"

"It's complicated. I literally just got out of a terrible long term relationship. I can't just jump in to something else right away." I tell her and she scoffs. "Why the hell not? You may have physically been there but you checked out of that relationship a long ass time ago. Don't let him ruin anything else for you. If you are ready, then go for it. Think about yourself for once. You deserve to be happy."