The Proverbial Mr. Universe (25 page)

“Hey, don’t get offended, but I don’t think it’s fair to make a man chase your heart just because you’re afraid to be alone. So get your shit together will you? If you like him more than just friends, then tell him. He doesn’t deserve to get his heart broken. I’m disappointed in you. You of all people know how that feels. Oh, by the way, Nick was a perfect fit … I guess it was meant to be,” Jessica said on her way out, not before a folded paper fell out of the sample pile she was carrying.

Olivia already knew what it was, even before it touched the floor.

“G
ive me your hand,” Nick said from inside the near-empty Café Orleans. Olivia sat across from him, wondering what Racheal might have told him. She decided she was going to be honest with him if Nick was going to question her, but he said nothing.

“No way, the last time you drew on my wrist it took nearly a week for your artwork to wash off.”

“Just give me your hand. I promise I’ll behave.” He leaned in closer to be able to reach for her, turning her palm upward. With a finger, he followed the lines on her hand.

“That tickles.” She laughed.

“See this line …” His eyes were soft and expressive. “This is your lifeline.”

“And how would you know this?”

“Long ago, I met this woman at an art gallery. She just took one look at me and felt compelled to do a reading of my palm.”

“Of course she did.”

“Olivia, you have nothing to be jealous about.” He smirked at her. “She was much older and very happily married.”

“I’m not jealous.”

Something about his face silently revealed to her that he was aware of what happened earlier with Racheal. Olivia wondered if he was disappointed in the fact she viewed them only as friends. If he was, Nick certainly didn’t show it.

He held her hand even closer to his body and moved it up into the light coming from the big window. He continued gently tracing the lines of her inner hand. When he touched her, there was a chill that ran up the length of her arms, all the way to the back of her neck, that made her wondered if he was aware of her reaction.

Olivia tried not to stare at him too long. She never imagined that the guy with the frumpy gray hat could ever have that kind of effect on her.

“See this line over here … this will tell you how long or short your life will be,” he said, his eyes fixed on hers. “Yours is a long one.”

“Well, that’s good to know. What about you?”

Olivia was skeptical when it came to these things, but she was curious especially when Nick hesitated. When he finally held out his hand to her, she realized it had meant something to him.

“My lifeline is short. It breaks in certain places … it means …” His eyes remained focused on his hand, not capable of continuing with words.

She realized there was something raw about him in that moment. He had been through something that he wasn’t ready to talk about.

Then, the thought of Nick having a short life saddened her.

“Is that what she told you? You can’t possibly believe that kind of crap? No, Montgomery, I don’t believe anybody has the power to tell us what our future holds.”

He studied her for a moment as though he might debate it, but for one reason or another Nick let it slide. “Maybe you’re right,” The gleam in his eyes insinuated something she couldn’t fully understand, but it was his demeanour that caused her some concern.

“Give me your hand,” Olivia demanded.

“Is it my turn now?”

She turned his hand over, pretending she knew what she was doing. “Wow, this is interesting.” She traced the lines with her finger. It made him shift in his chair.

“What?”

“Well, this line over here …”

“If you continue doing that, you’re going to put me to sleep.”

“I see in the near future you’re about to lose a bet.”

“Is that so?” He laughed.

“Yeah, big time. And this line over here means you’re going to be making an extraordinary meal for an exceptional, smart, beautiful brunette.” Her eyes danced.

“Really? I wonder who she could be.” He chuckled.

She narrowed her eyes and nudged his hand away.

“Tell me something. Do you see a passionate kiss with this beautiful woman?” His face completely changed, and he wasn’t being playful this time.

She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks. Without a thought, she said, “Nope. Sorry, no kiss.” She nervously laughed.

“Exceptional eh?” He smiled.

“Don’t forget beautiful and smart.”

Nick got up from his chair and slid on his black windbreaker. “More like a smart-ass, but I think I like your reading better. It’s a shame, though. I would have like to have kissed her.”

O
utside, Nick accompanied her back to her office, but before doing so he swiftly stepped in the direction of a homeless man taking shelter between the walls of her building. Olivia had recognized him. It was the man who had given her the first handwritten note.

“Hey, John.” Nick handed him the brown bag, containing a few items she saw Nick purchase at the café.

“Mademoiselle, I see you found your man,” John said to her.

Olivia turned to Nick, but he ignored the comment.

“How are you, John?”

“Thriving.”

The homeless man took a long look. “Is this your girl?” John asked.

Nick turned to look at her and smiled. “Not yet … but I’m working on it. Maybe you could help me out, give a good word on my behalf.”

John pointed his finger in Nick’s direction. “This boy has a big heart. Too big for his sake. Did you know this young man has been going up and down these streets for months, trying to figure out how to approach you?”

“Ah … John!” Nick laughed nervously.

“That’s how we met. He was so distracted by your presence that he nearly didn’t see me lying here. He almost toppled on top of me. So it’s really thanks to you, mademoiselle that we met.” He smiled.

“Okay, John, that’s enough. I’m grateful for your input, but I don’t want you to scare her off.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you, Nick. What can I say? Love … it’s always about love.” he said.

Olivia sensed Nick’s uneasiness. She wasn’t really sure if she ever saw him blush, and she found it endearing.

“I got to go, John, but I will be around later … okay?”

He nodded his head and escorted Olivia to the front door.

Olivia gave him a sideways glance. “Did that actually happen? How you two met?”

“Well, not exactly.” He smiled, but it was the kind where he wasn’t willing to convey the truth.

“I always wonder how someone gets to that point in their life. Did he always live this way?”

“Well, it’s a matter of series of unfortunate happenings. See, for John he lost his parents at a very young age and was in and out of foster care. One day he had enough and decided that life on the streets was best for him. He felt it was the only way to have his freedom.”

“How old is he?”

“Forty-two.”

“Wow, he seems much older.”

“Life on the streets can do that.”

“I see that you care about him.”

“Well, John is my friend. It’s important to have people in your life that matter.”

Olivia caught herself staring at him. The more she saw, the more she liked about him. He definitely had his priorities in the right places. That was probably one of the things she finds most attractive about him. Nick Montgomery was all heart, yet this feeling consumed her because she couldn’t see where this was headed. At that moment, it was very easy to fall for someone like Nick. Olivia just wasn’t sure if she would allow herself to.

N
ick shuffled the thick, wet snow with his feet, making a neat pile in front of him, stopping when the cold water seeped inside his black high-top Converse sneakers. The breeze was crisp and cold, but the air had already begun to change, the scent of spring lingering not too far. Maybe it was some ironic humor to wait for Olivia to arrive, standing in front of a rustic double heart sculpture outside the modern building. It made him think how brutally ironic life can be, like some sort of inside joke on his part. They spent a substantial amount of time together, but he felt he wasn’t getting any closer to her. She was holding back.

Was he stuck in the friend zone? His brother Dan had thought so.

“Stop playing it safe!”

“I’m not. Olivia is not the kind of girl who rushes into things. She’s not Chloe.”

“Well that’s a fuckin’ good thing. I don’t get it at all. It’s either you’re in a relationship or you’re not. If you didn’t grab that ass, then you’re stuck in the fuckin’ besties purgatory.” Dan leaned over and carelessly placed his mug on the coffee table. “You have to be clear about your intentions.”

“And grabbing her ass would be a way of showing his intentions?” Amanda placed a coaster under Dan’s mug.

“Yeah, sure … it worked for you.” Dan extended a loving hand to her, but she slapped it away.

“For once I agree with your brother.” Amanda slid next to Dan on the sofa.

Nick arched a brow. “Not the ass grabbing part.” She slapped Dan even harder this time.

“Ouch … see the abuse!”

“Maybe you’re unconsciously sending signals that you’re not attracted to her in that way.”