When I found out she only loved Elliot like a brother, it was like a huge weight was lifted off of me. I became more open, more daring. Daring enough, in fact, to tease her openly right across the room from him, as she laughs and swats me.
Elliot's watching us though, and he glares at me, but I can't find it in me to glare back, because it's not really my place. Not yet. But when Olivia comes up behind me and squeezes my hand playfully to get my attention, she sees what Elliot is doing. She walks around to be at my side so that she's no longer looking over my shoulder, and shoots a warning look right back at him that I'm almost proud of.
And I have to be really careful, now, because it's the pride of a hopeful lover that's threatening to bubble up from within.