Chuck looked at Olivia again. “Liv needs money to help pay for her grandmother’s care, and I—” He cut off and swallowed hard, dodging the other truth. “I could use the cash, so we said yes. We’ve been here for five days so far.”
His parents continued gaping at them as if he’d confessed that they were eloping and going to live on Mars.
“Why didn’t you say anything before?” Barb eventually managed to ask.
Chuck guiltily shrugged. “I didn’t want to stress you guys out while Dad was recovering. The timing was bad for sharing the news.”
“Oh, honey,” Barb said, and reached across the table for his hand.
Olivia’s heart ached. She suddenly felt even more like the villain. “I’m sorry I brought it up so bluntly,” she said. She glanced at Chuck. “But we thought you should know.”
Silence settled back over them with an uncomfortable weight. Sam eventually cleared his throat.
“So, this—” He waved his hand at the cameras and spacious dining room. “All this is just…a game?”
“Yes,” Chuck answered. “It’s only temporary. We don’t really live here. If we can make it a month here together without leaving the house, we win.”
Barb still looked stunned. She lifted her napkin and dabbed her lips. “And then what?”
“What do you mean?” Chuck asked.
She nodded between them. “And then what happens to the two of you?” The hope in her voice speared Olivia in the heart.
The answer to the question had grown admittedly muddled what with the past few days pushing them closer together. But they still had three and a half weeks to go. Not to mention, the whole reason they were in the house at all was that they’d broken up for good.
“Oh, um…” Chuck said, and tapped his fingers on the table. “That’s complicated.”
“I don’t see what’s complicated about it. You two are obviously perfect for each other,” Barb said.
Olivia felt her face warm and was glad when Chuck was the one to speak because her voice had disappeared inside her throat.
“Because that’s what I wanted you to think, Mom.” He turned to look at Olivia. “Liv and I…Well, we have our share of problems. Let’s put it that way.”
“Well, what couple doesn’t?” Barb said with a flip of her wrist like the issue was trivial. “Your father and I—”
“Mom, we’re not you and Dad, okay?No oneis you and Dad,” Chuck snapped. He took a tense breath and calmed himself. “Sorry. What I’m trying to tell you is that I haven’t been honest about our relationship for a long time. I haven’t been honest about…a lot of things.”
The look of hurt on the Walshes’ faces was too much to take. At the same time, Olivia felt like she was intruding on an intimate family moment. The combination triggered her urge to run like she was being chased.
She stood from her chair and placed her napkin on the table. “I’m going to give you all a chance to talk. Please excuse me. Barb, Sam, it was really great to see you. Thank you for dinner. I hope you have a safe trip home.”
“Liv, wait—” Chuck tried as she headed from the room.
“I’m sorry,” she said with a shake of her head, shame heating her face and tears threatening to fall. If she stayed one second longer, Barb might leap out of her chair and give her a hug she didn’t deserve. “Good night.”
•••
An hour later, Chuck foundher in the backyard bundled in a hoodie and sitting on a lounge chair surrounded by flickering citronella torches.
“Are we voting someone off the island tonight?” he joked, and sat on the lounge chair beside her. He wore his own hoodie and sweatpants. He held out a bowl with a spoon sticking out from it. “Mom’s famous peach cobbler if you’re up for it.”
Olivia could smell the sweet, fruity dessert tinged with cinnamon and vanilla. There was no way she was turning it down, even if she felt like she didn’t deserve it. She untucked her knees from her chest and sat cross-legged to accept it. “Thank you.” The first bite melted over her tongue in the perfect blend of doughy crust and sweet, gooey fruit. “This is delicious.”
“I know. I had two bowls already.”
She scooped another bite. “Are they gone?”
“Yes.”