Read Online Oliver by Caitlyn Willows - Free Book Online Page B

ready.”
    Merideth helped herself to a mug of coffee, then slid onto the stool at the island and looked over in Lucas’s direction. “Thought you were going hiking.”
    “Grabbing something to snack on. Something that doesn’t require bread.”
    Lucas came out of the fridge with an apple and two mozzarella sticks.
    “The car keys are on the dresser in Oliver’s room. Could you grab a loaf today while you’re out?”
    Merideth tensed. She hadn’t driven in years. Another confession she didn’t want to make. Judging from the under-the-eyebrow look from Oliver, she had little choice. “I lost my license years ago. Too many speeding tickets coupled with a bad accident in Pennsylvania. No one was hurt,” she quickly added.
    She glanced from Oliver to Lucas. Admonishment was written all over their faces. She braced herself for the I-told-you-so.
    “Humph.” Oliver whipped the wooden spoon through the pan of eggs. “Imagine that.”
    “Who would’ve thought.” Lucas returned to scavenging for snacks. His target this time was the pantry.
    “I suppose when one goes tearing down the interstate at one hundred twenty miles per hour, it’s a given something bad’s going to eventually happen.” Oliver turned the burner to low.
    “She’s lucky no one was hurt or killed.”
    Merideth drummed her fingers on the counter. “I’m right here, boys.”
    “Thank God for that.”
    Lucas swatted her thigh as he passed by. Heat rushed through her.
    “I’m off.” He held up a box of crackers in triumph and snagged his backpack as he walked to the door.
    “Plenty of food for all of us,” Oliver called to his back.
    Lucas turned and walked backward. “I’m good.” He rattled the crackers, then stuffed them into the pack. “Got carbs now. Buy bread. Whole wheat. Many-seeded grain.”
    “Storms are expected this afternoon. Flash floods. Don’t make me have to come drag your ass out of a wash.”
    “Not me.” Lucas thumbed his chest. “ I follow the rules.”
    Another shot her way. “Aren’t you a good little boy,” she countered.
    Lucas snickered. “I’m damn good.” He grabbed his crotch. “But there ain’t nothing little about me.”
    Who was this man? Not the Lucas she remembered. Unexpected warmth flushed her cheeks. A comeback failed her. And then she didn’t need one as Lucas was out the door and gone. Her racing heartbeat dulled her hearing. She covered the lapse by reaching for the pan of eggs. Oliver beat her to it. His heavy sigh spelled doom. That she had a response for.
    “Screw the presentation, Oliver. I’m hungry now. They’re eggs.” She spooned up a portion only to realize there were no plates.
    “Very well.” He set the pan between them. “Would you at least like a fork, or do you plan to use the spoon?”
    She set the spoon down. “A plate and fork would be nice.”
    He provided both, then drew a stool opposite from her to eat his own meal. The eggs had it all—diced ham, potatoes, onion, spinach, with a bit of salsa mixed it. He added a sprinkle of Jack cheese over his. She refused to give him the satisfaction of asking for the same.
    “You’ve been out of control for a long time, haven’t you, Merideth?”
    She didn’t have the will to deny it. Besides, as thorough as Oliver’s research was, he’d find out everything eventually. Best to come clean now. “So it would seem.”
    “Why?” He slipped his fingers over hers.
    Merideth pulled away. “I don’t know.” Liar . “I wanted you to love us enough to come after us.”
    “I wanted you to love me enough to stay. I wanted you to love me enough not to make demands and pick fights and—”
    “I was pregnant.” There, she’d said it.
    Oliver set the fork down beside his plate and pressed his palms on either side of the plate.
    “I didn’t know,” she quickly amended. “Lucas still doesn’t know. I found out about two months after we got to New York. I started having problems. Doctors discovered an ectopic