Title: All or Nothing Chapter 3
Author's Note: For disclaimer, see chapter one.
Author's Note 2: You guys. You guys. You're all so kind and your support for this story just honestly floors me. Thank you so much.
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Chapter Three
"How was lunch?" Brian asks as soon as Olivia walks in the door.
Olivia sighs, hanging her purse and jacket on the hooks by the apartment door. "Good," she says, because it was, even if their discussion did not end well.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she says just a little too quickly.
Brian comes out of the kitchen holding two plates of chicken and rice and steamed vegetables. He sets the plates on the table and takes his seat. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Olivia sinks into the chair across from him and shakes her head, beginning to eat her dinner. "There's nothing to talk about, Brian."
Though he is unconvinced, Brian just nods and eats his dinner.
The silence that exists throughout dinner is tense and uncomfortable. Any attempt at small talk is brushed aside with one-word answers or simple nods. Attempts at full-length conversations are nonexistent.
It is a couple hours later, when they are enjoying an after-dinner movie, that Olivia decides to talk about her lunch with Alex.
She stares ahead at the tv, seeing it but not really watching it. Her stomach is in knots and her hands are shaking. "She, uh, she asked me to marry her."
The breath leaves Brian's body in a sudden rush. He forces himself to remain calm and think rationally, instead of acting on impulse and raw emotion. "What'd you say?"
"No."
"But you wanted to say yes." He says this matter-of-factly, as if it is the most obvious thing in the world.
A beat and then: "No."
Brian sighs. "I can be out of here by morning."
Olivia's brow furrows. "Brian—"
Brian shakes his head, forestalling Olivia's argument. "You know, Liv, I figured the kiss was a one-time thing. I thought maybe it was just the stress of a tough case or a heated argument, but then I remembered you two almost got married before she got shot, and I realized it could never be a one-time thing."
He sighs, running his hands over his face. "I was going to ask you to marry me," he says. "I bought the ring two months ago; I was just waiting for the right time. But now I'm glad I didn't. You're never going to love me as much as you love her, Liv. I know it and you know it. So you should just be with her."
He stands up and heads for the bedroom, turning around when he gets to the door. "I'm not mad, Liv, at all. I'm…disappointed and…I dunno. Tired, I guess. I wish this had happened before I was too invested."
"I'm sorry," Olivia says.
Brian shrugs. "What could you have done?"
Olivia nods. "You don't have to go," she says, standing up and walking to the bedroom. "None of this was your fault; I should be the one leaving."
"Liv—"
Olivia shakes her head. Walking into the bedroom, she rummages through the closet, tossing a duffel bag on the bed, followed by a few pairs of clothes and other necessities. She picks up the bag and crosses the room, pressing a light kiss to Brian's cheek. "I'm sorry it worked out this way."
Brian nods. "I know."
"Take care, Brian."
"You too, Liv."
Olivia closes the apartment door behind and stands in the hallway for a few minutes, the reality of what just happened hitting her hard. With a heavy sigh, she walks down the hallway to the elevator.
She does not look back.
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