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“I am, actually.”

I reach for my water, my throat suddenly drier than the Sahara. “You’re just saying that because I validated your restaurant choice for tonight.”

He gestures at my face. “Your whole expression changed and your shoulders loosened.” His attentive eyes stay on me as he says it, making warmth creep up my neck. “You walked in here tense, like you were bracing yourself to compare everything to home. Then you took one bite and suddenly you looked comfortable. You even started talking with your hands more.”

He mimics one of my gestures, his fingers moving in the air, and I laugh before I can stop myself. I glance down at my plate, pondering how right he is once again. “This place reminds me of home. The noises, the smells, the way Maria bosses everyone around. We have a similar restaurant close to my childhood house.”

“I’m glad you get to have that little piece of home here in Brooklyn.”

There’s added warmth in his expression like he understands this is more than just food. His thumb drags absentmindedly along the side of his water glass. “You miss California more than you let people see, huh?”

The question lands gently instead of prying. That’s the thing about Ollie. He manages to notice everything without making me feel cornered.

“Is this where you bring all the dates you’re trying to impress?” I ask to avoid answering him. I want to keep the conversation light for now.

“No,” he answers with one single word.

“Well,” I swallow, suddenly very aware of the way his knee brushes mine under the table. “I guess I’ll have to live up to the honor.”

“Trust me, you’re doing just fine.”

We eat our food in companionable silence after. Ollie steals a bite of grilled chicken from my plate and earns himself a soft kick under the table. He looks entirely unapologetic about it.

“Rude,” I mutter, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Finders keepers.”

“That literally makes no sense.” I laugh and cut into another piece of the meat before pausing. “Okay, try this one.”

I hold the fork toward him, fully expecting him to take it from my hand. Instead, Ollie leans forward without hesitation and takes a bite directly from it. Everything inside me short circuits. The movement is small, over almost instantly, but all I can focus on is the heat that rushes through me as his eyes flick up to mine while he chews. My fingers tighten instinctively around the fork. Ollie freezes too, like he realizes a moment too late what he just did.

“Sorry,” he says, though his voice sounds rougher than before. “That was kinda caveman behavior.”

I should laugh, but my brain is still painfully stuck on the image of his mouth inches from my hand. “It’s okay. I just thought you were going to take the fork.”

“Yeah, well…maybe I got distracted,” he murmurs, his gaze dipping to my lips before flicking away again.

The thought of my annulment presses at the edges of my mind, stubborn as a song stuck on repeat. Maybe that’s why this moment lands so hard. Every small thing with Ollie suddenly feels dangerous. Like my whole life is poised on the brink of changing again the second those papers become official.

I fold my napkin and place it beside my plate, fingers lingering against the fabric as if they can buy me another moment of courage.

“Should we talk about my annulment?” I ask quietly.

Ollie’s expression changes, serious but not alarmed. “What about it?”

“It’s in three days.”

“I’m well aware.”

“I don’t want it to be this looming thing like a storm cloud we just pretend isn’t there.”

Ollie’s eyes stay on mine. “Okay. We can talk.”

“I know Eli has told you about Nathan and Madeline, and what they did. Their betrayal explains why it’s been harder than I expected to get through the process of getting divorced and now annulled.”

His jaw flexes, the muscle ticking before he speaks. “I want to hear what happened from you, but only if you want to share the details with me.”

I take a deep breath to calm myself before speaking. “Nathan and I met when I was still in college and attended one of the charity fundraisers with my parents. He was charming, older than me and had a bright future in front of him. I remember thinking how he could’ve chosen anyone else, but he chose me. He made me feel so special.”