Olivia couldn't understand Edgar at all. All those weeks. Her email, her texts all ignored. Radio silence. He had just turned back up as if nothing had changed. Well, actually he was acting as if everything had changed and he kept looking at Olivia as if they both knew it. Looking at her with longing and love. Olivia recognised that look when she saw it, she just hadn't expected to see it on Edgar's face. Not after how he'd left all those weeks ago…
He had just waltzed back in to the precient, back into Olivia's world and spun it upside down all over again. Or was that right way up now? Olivia couldn't keep track, her head and heart reeling from seeing the one person she had most wanted and least expected to ever set eyes on again.
It was now Monday and they were at work together after mot seeing each other since what happened after the text I want you was sent.
Edgar stands there saying "Olivia, I…" Edgar started to try to reach out for her, the only person he ever initiated and reciprocated physical contact with. He wanted to touch her. He needed to be sure Olivia understood that he had missed her. That was the reason he had come back after all.
"Edgar, no." Olivia blurted out. Stopping the hand that moved towards her in its tracks. Olivia wanted to feel Edgar's embrace more than anything. But she knew Edgar didn't feel the same way about her. How could he? He had known Olivia wanted him, loved him before he ran. He could spout that rubbish about needing time and space. He had known. Must have seen in every glance, felt in every touch between them that Olivia was falling in love with him. He had run because he cared about her. But he didn't love her. he could kiss her the way he had in their office and still leg it at the first opportunity. That wasn't love.
Olivia really had been so blind. Trusting this man and it was all a lie. Or was it? Olivia looked into those eyes. She knew them so well, could read every thought behind them. Edgar's hand had stilled but it stayed stretched out to her. It wouldn't take much for Olivia to close the gap.
"Olivia, please!" Edgar's gaze was as pleading as his tone. Olivia could see now that perhaps Edgar had hurt himself just as much with what he'd done.
"I…I can't do this, Edgar. I'm sorry." Olivia started to leave, she had already stalled too long. Almost got caught up in this spell he seemed to have her under. "You'll be glad to hear that there will be no more silly declarations of love on my part. Foolish woman that I am." Olivia had to do this. She wanted to forgive Edgar. She wanted to be with him. She had told him as much at this point. Oh God why couldn't Edgar stop looking at her like that? Her heart could betray her at any second if she didn't look away…
Why was she continuing to stand here when it was crushing her, breaking what was left of her heart? She saw Edgar put his arm back down to his side. Defeat radiated from him. he had lost Olivia, had ruined them before they even had a chance to be together. Olivia needed to touch him, kiss him. She was so in love with him that it burned her very soul to say what she said next.
"I've finally decided what I want." Edgar stopped staring at the fascinating stain on his shoe and his head snapped up towards the woman he loved. Hope began to stir in him but with the cold, unfamiliar expression on Olivia's face it died and turned to fear, dread.
"I want to be in love with someone who isn't a coward." Olivia walked away from him then, neither seeing the tears on the other's face.
Olivia had inadvertently revealed her true feelings without even knowing it though. Edgar was a coward, he knew it better than most. Had said it of himself as he had driven away from Olivia all those weeks ago. Olivia. Beautiful, kind, wonderful, brave, funny, honest Olivia. Who even in her rejection of Edgar had admitted that she was still in love with this particular coward…
Edgar felt that earlier hope rising to the surface again. Wiping the tears from his face, he knew what he had to do. He wouldn't run this time. Never again.
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