Hmm . . . the third fluffy chapter in a row? Well, mostly fluff. I'll try to move it along . . . try being the operative word.

I wake up in Olivia's bed, and I panic. How did I get here? Did I pass out? Did she –?

"Alex?"

I jump and start to tremble. "Wh-what happened?"

She sits down on the bed beside me and takes my hand. "You fell asleep in the car. I tried to wake you, but then I figured what the heck, and I brought you inside." She sees the fear in my eyes, and gives my hand a comforting squeeze. "I carried you in here. That's all. I didn't touch you."

I start to cry, ashamed that I'd even thought she might try something. Olivia's just not like that. "I'm sorry."

"Hey, it's okay." She gives me a sweet smile and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "You're beautiful when you sleep."

She hands out compliments like they're candy, and I'm not used to it. They still make me blush.

Olivia brushes away my tears. "Come on. I'll turn on some music. We can have a bottle of wine if you like – if you haven't had too much by now."

I smile through the tears still welling up in my eyes. "I only had half a glass."

She shrugs. "Different people have different tolerances for alcohol."

I roll my eyes. "I knew that."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to sound condescending."

I shake my head. "I have never had someone say that to me before."

"Yeah, go figure. Anyway, you want some wine? Or I could make you a daiquiri."

"That sounds good."

"Okay." She takes my hand and leads me out to the living room. "Sit down. Relax. I'll be back in a minute."

I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand and settle back into the cushions. Olivia is so good to me. I don't understand.

She comes back into the living room a few moments later with two strawberry daiquiris. She hands one to me. "Cheers."

"Thanks." I take a sip.

Olivia slides close to me so that our thighs are touching. "You okay?"

I nod and bring the glass to my lips again.

We sip our drinks in silence. When I finish, Olivia sets the glasses on the coffee table and takes my hand. "Dance with me?"

Hesitantly, I get to my feet. She presses a button on the CD player on the opposite side of the room and gives me a smile. "Here, sweetie." She guides my hands so they're resting on her waist. "Don't let go." As if I could let go of her. As if I'd want to.

I bite my lip as the music starts – something slow and romantic that I haven't heard before. I haven't done this in years, and I'm not sure if I remember how. I look down at my feet, concentrating on making each move precise.

Olivia chuckles lightly. "Don't worry. It's just a dance. Look into my eyes. Relax." As we start to spin around the room, never breaking eye contact, Olivia smiles. "Don't laugh. I know I'm not good at this."

"You are," I say, closing my eyes and just feeling the music, letting it – and Olivia – carry me around the room. It's like flying, and I'd be happy if we could stay like this forever, if she'd never let me go.

Two hours and many dances later, I'm ready to crash. "You can have the bed, and I'll sleep on the couch if you're more comfortable," she offers.

I consider, but shake my head. "No. That's okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." I give her a smile. "I want to be with you."

She smiles back. "Okay." She finds me a sweatshirt and sweatpants to sleep in, and lets me change in the bathroom.

I come back to the bedroom and lay down beside Olivia. She's just wearing a tank top and boy shorts, but I'm perfectly comfortable here with her.

She rolls onto her side. "Can I hold you?"

I nod and slide closer to her, and she wraps her arms around me. I flinch, just a bit, and she sighs. "Sorry," I say quietly and rest my head in the crook of her neck.

She threads her fingers through my hair and presses a gentle kiss to the base of my neck. "Don't be, princess. It's just – it hurts me to think of somebody hurting the woman I love."

I curl further into her embrace. Olivia always knows just the right thing to say.

"Alex?"

"Yes?"

Olivia hesitates. "Tell me about your mom."

I'm immediately on my guard. "Why?"

She kisses my hair. "I don't know. Just wondering." She starts to rub comforting circles into my back. "Well . . . you know about my mom. Sometimes I wish –" Olivia sighs. "Never mind. It's a stupid question. I shouldn't have asked."

I try to relax in her arms, and remind myself that I don't have to answer if I don't want to. "We weren't close," I say, being purposefully elusive.

She doesn't say anything – waiting, I suppose, for me to elaborate. When I don't, she says, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, Alex. I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable."

God, I love Olivia. I want to clone her.

"She hit me, sometimes. She thought – thinks, probably – that – that this is wrong." I sigh. "I haven't seen her in fifteen years."

Her eyes are full of sadness, and she hugs me even tighter. "How could she hurt you?" she whispers. "How could she hit my beautiful Alex?"

She's said this before today, and I'm not any more comfortable with it now than I was a few hours ago. But Olivia, my wonderful Olivia . . . she's so good to me. "We see it every day," I reply, matching her quiet tone.

"I know, but – it's different." She tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "It's you."

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