Make Time For Me

Chapter 4

Olivia knew she should stay away from Jason that night, but she was drawn to him, over and over again, until she found herself sitting by the bonfire, beside him, almost touching but not quite. Nothing she could do was enough. Whatever she did, something pulled her to him.

After a beer, she was beginning to ask herself just why she was stopping herself.

Angela sat down beside them, leaning her head on Olivia’s shoulder.

“Livvy, I’m so sleepy.”

“Oh.”

“I don’t think I can drive back.”

“You drove here? I thought you didn’t have a car here.”

“I rented one. Take care of me, will you, Livvy?”

Angela became deadweight. Olivia wrapped her arm around the girl.

“I think I’d better take her home.”

“Home,” said Angela, definitely slurring more than a little. There was absolutely no way she could drive back. Olivia had just been thinking of a second beer and maybe seeing where things led with Jason. Maybe this was a good thing. She could put herself far away from temptation now.

“Let me see if Paul can take her home,” interrupted Jason.

Olivia shook her head.

“No. No, he’s the host, he can’t leave. Besides, it’s a girl thing, Jason. No matter how nice we think a guy is, we don’t let him take a drunk girl home unless they live together, or might as well. It’s just how things are. It’s a code. We don’t break that code.”

Jason looked disappointed, but then he shrugged and the smile was back.

“Well then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“I’m volunteering at the clinic, too. Women come with kids. It makes sense.”

“Oh.”

“So, I’ll see you.”

“Right. Let me just find Ellie and… There she is. Ellie!”

Ellie waved. Olivia pointed at Angela, mimed driving and pointed towards the road away from the beach. Ellie nodded. All women understood what certain things meant. You didn’t really have to say the words.

“Okay, so… No, I’ve got her, thanks, Jason. I’ve got her. Good thing I got everybody’s locations on GPS today. I can take her home. I’ll catch you later. Tell everybody I’m sorry I had to leave abruptly? Especially Paul.”

Jason nodded, and if it hadn’t been for an almost passed out Angela, he would have kissed her again. She knew it.

“There we go,” she murmured, and managed to get Angela up and walking.

“You’re the best, Livvy.”

“I know. Come on, here’s your car. And here’s your bag. And here we have the key. Can you sit in the front? Do you need to lie down in the back?”

“Front,” declared Angela, though not with enough conviction to inspire much confidence.

“All right, if you say so. Come on, let’s strap you in.”

“The bestest ever, Livvy. You’re my favorite. I’m so glad you came here. I got to meet my favorite.”

“That’s sweet, Angela. Okay, you’re all strapped in. Here, drink some of this water, and we’ll be on our way. Sip slowly, okay?”

“I love you, Livvy.”

Olivia chuckled. It was hard to be annoyed about the ‘Livvy’ bit when the girl was so adorably drunk.

“Sure, and I love you, Angela. Come on, let’s go.”

Olivia drove, as Angela sipped water and started singing Taylor Swift. It wasn’t exactly her thing, but why not? Olivia sang along, and by the time she got Angela home, she felt tipsy on the evening.

“Tuck me in, Livvy.”

“You’re a brat, aren’t you? You’re lucky you’re cute. Now, keys to the house. These? Great. Let’s get you in.”

They stumbled inside.

“You’re heavier than you look! Or I’m not as strong as I used to be. Either way, I’m beginning to feel it. Come on now, let’s get you in there and into bed.”

“Bed! Stay with me.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice? But I’ve got clinic tomorrow. I have to get home and get to bed and then make it to work. Now, shoes off, and here, let’s get your makeup off with this wipe. Wow, your skin really is that gorgeous, you’ve barely anything on your face. Aren’t you just the luckiest thing ever! Okay, we need to get a trashcan. And this one will do, great. Here’s a bottle of water, drink as much as you can. And I’m putting two aspirin here, so you should have that in the morning, too. Wouldn’t hurt to have one now, too.”

“No aspirin.”

“Okay, in the morning, then. You’re going to need it. Sleep now.”

“Stay with me, Livvy. I’m lonely.”

“You’ve got all of us, Angela. I’ll see you tomorrow, or the day after. Take care of yourself. Sleep late tomorrow.”

She was already falling asleep, mumbling something. Olivia grinned as she made her way out, pulled the door closed and locked, and got outside.

Well, now. She needed a ride back, didn’t she? She hadn’t thought of that! Her first instinct, really, was to call Jason. She pushed that one down firmly. She wasn’t going to dive into something so quickly like that. Besides, the last thing she needed was to get into the habit of depending on a guy. There were no cabs around. Ellie and she had both walked.

Well, then. She could walk.

It was dark. There wasn’t much of a moon, but the skies were clear and there were so many stars. You didn’t see stars like that in the city. Olivia felt surprisingly safe as she walked, following directions on her phone, so when she suddenly heard something behind her, it was a shock. She yelped a little and swung around.

“Who’s there?”

There was nothing, only silence.

A little spooked, she walked faster, and she must not have been paying attention to her GPS because she took two wrong turns in quick succession and found herself on what seemed like an unmarked footpath. It was definitely not on the map.

Something behind her, as if somebody was stepping on dried leaves or…

Her heart beat faster. Her palms tingled, and her fingertips began to go cold.

She knew what was happening to her body. She was preparing for fight or flight.

Fingers trembling, trying not to fumble the phone, she clicked through and called.

Jason answered on the first ring.

“I was hoping you would call, Dr. Leggett.”

“Jason. Jason, listen. I got a little lost coming back from Angela’s apartment.”

“Lost? Are you walking back?”

Jason cursed, loud and clear.

“Yes, well, I’m lost and I’m getting a little spooked. It’s probably nothing, but…”

“I’m already in my car. Can you tell me where you took the wrong turn?”

“I… I’d passed the bus stop and then I was supposed to take the second left, I think, but I might have taken…”

“The first left, and then another right like you’re supposed to on the other road. I know, I did it once. You’re on a dirt road that’s not on the map, aren’t you?”

“I… Yes. Yes, that’s where… Who’s there? Who’s that?”