Silver Rain

Chapter 31

For the rest of that day, Olivia was floating.

She felt a lightness in her step, a kind of inner peace that she hadn't experienced in a long time. Every time she thought of Felix, a smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and the memory of their morning together filled her with warmth.

And it wasn't just because of Felix's ability to reduce her to an incoherent fool.

Felix, too, seemed to be in high spirits. His usual stoic demeanor had softened, and there was a playful glint in his eyes that hadn't been there before. He stayed close to Olivia, finding excuses to touch her, to brush his fingers against hers, to steal a quick kiss when she wasn't expecting it. It was clear that whatever had shifted between them, it had brought them even closer together.

Others soon started to notice as well.

Felix had declared that they should take a break for the day and try not to uncover any mysteries for at least twenty-four hours, due to the fact that they had nearly been killed in more times than they could count in the last four days. So after hours of laying around in bed, eating junk food, and being attached at the hip, Olivia and Felix had found themselves in the ridiculously large living room with Calvin, Mira, and Mira's mate, Peter.

The atmosphere in the living room was relaxed, a welcome change from the intensity of the past few days. Olivia sank into one of the oversized couches, feeling the tension melt away as she let herself unwind for the first time in what felt like forever. Felix settled beside her, his arm casually draped over the back of the couch, fingers occasionally brushing her shoulder.

Mira was sprawled across a nearby armchair, her feet resting in Peter's lap--who seemed like a great guy and complimented his girlfriend in every way imaginable--absentmindedly traced circles on her ankle. Calvin, on the other hand, had claimed the loveseat, leaning back with an air of contentment as he nursed a bottle of beer. 

It was like none of them knew impending doom was on the horizon.

The peaceful hum of conversation and the comfortable silence that followed felt like a balm for Olivia's frayed nerves. It was a rare moment of tranquility, and she savored it, letting herself be fully present in the moment. The weight of the past few days lifted slightly, and for the first time in what felt like ages, Olivia felt a sense of normalcy.

Across the room, Mira was chatting animatedly with Peter, her laughter bright and infectious. It was the kind of laugh that made everyone else smile, even if they didn't catch the joke. Peter, ever the supportive partner, was smiling down at her, his eyes filled with affection.

Throughout the day, Felix would touch her any chance he got. His knuckles brushed hers, an arm wrapping around her waist, or even now, fingers gently grazing her shoulder. She never protested, enjoying the soft sparks that lingered on her skin. She leaned into him, letting her head rest against his shoulder. Even from this distance, she could hear his heartbeat, steady and strong. A reminder that he was there, that they were both here, and that they had somehow made it through everything that had been thrown at them.

Olivia looked over towards Calvin, who's eyebrows raised slowly as he watched the two on the couch. She felt her cheeks burn as she repositioned herself and sat straighter.

Calvin's gaze held a knowing look, but he only offered a small, teasing smile before turning his attention back to his beer. It was clear he had noticed the change in Olivia and Felix's dynamic but chose to let it slide for now. The relaxed atmosphere of the room seemed to suit him well, and he appeared content to just enjoy the moment.

Mira, the one who always notices the little things and voices them, caught the exchange between Calvin and Olivia and raised an eyebrow. She nudged Peter and gestured with her head towards Felix and Olivia. "You two are disgustingly cute, you know that?" she teased, though her tone was more affectionate than anything else.