Free Chasing Olivia (Trace + Olivia #2) by Micalea Smeltzer

handle a dog.”
    “My townhouse has a one pet limit, sorry,” Trent argued.
    “That’s bullshit and you know it. Did you forget who’s paying for your townhouse?” Trace eyed his brother.
    “Shit.”
    “Come on, Ace isn’t a bad dog. You can handle it,” Trace pleaded.
    “But Bartholomew likes to run around on the floor. If Ace steps on him, that giant will kill him.”
    “I think Bartholomew will survive two weeks in his cage and you could always put Ace in your bedroom and let the little carpet shark run around,” Trace shrugged. “Problem solved.”
    “You have an answer for everything,” Trent snorted. “Fine, I’ll do it. But only because Ace is cute and I’ve always wanted a dog.”
    “I knew you’d come around, little brother,” Trace smirked.
    “Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever,” Trent took his hat off and twisted it around in his hands. “You owe me for this,” he pointed a finger warningly at Trace. “I don’t know what it is yet, but it’ll be big.”
    “You’re ridiculous,” Trace shook his head.
    “Boys,” Lily interrupted in a warning tone. “Stop it. I mean it.”
    “Sorry, mom,” Trace bowed his head.
    “Sorry,” Trent grumbled reluctantly. Despite the way they might sometimes act, I knew they both hated disappointing their mom. “I better get going,” he stood and kissed his mom’s cheek. “Thanks for lunch.” With that he brushed out of the room without a backwards glance.
    “What’s got his panties in a bunch?” Trace asked his mom.
    “How am I supposed to know? He’s nineteen, Trace. He hasn’t told me anything in a long time,” she sighed, finishing her wine.
    “I’m gonna go talk to him,” Trace mumbled, looking towards the doorway. “I’ll be right back,” he told me.
    “Mhmm,” I nodded.
    Trace had been gone a minute, when Warren said, “Olivia, can I speak with you?”
    Automatically, I felt like a small child who was about to get scolded, which was silly.
    “Of course,” I wiped my mouth free of crumbs and took a sip of water.
    He stood up and waited for me to do the same before guiding me out of the grand dining room and into his office located towards the middle of the mansion.
    He closed the door behind us and motioned for me to sit on the large leather couch.
    I’d only been in Warren’s office a few times, but I loved it. Every wall was covered in floor to ceiling built in bookshelves stained in a rich dark color. It was sophisticated but warm and welcoming. It was the kind of room that I would love to curl up in and read a good book.
    Clearing his throat, Warren sat down beside me.
    “There’s something I need to tell you, Olivia,” he started. “I’m sure Trace has already told you, even though I asked him not to, but in case he hasn’t I’m just going to say it.” He took a deep breath. “I have cancer.”
    Even though I’d been prepared to hear those words, having Warren say them brought back everything I’d felt when Trace had told me—only this was a hundred times worse.
    Not being able to help myself, I opened my arms and dove at him. He wrapped me in a hug, rubbing my back soothingly.
    “Please, don’t cry,” he kissed the top of my head. “I don’t want you to cry for me, sweetie. I’ve lived an amazing life and it’s time for me to go. There’s no need to mourn that.”
    I put a fist against my mouth to stifle my sobs. Gramps was the one dying and he was comforting me.
    “I need you to listen to me, sweet pea,” he took me by the shoulders and pulled me away so I was forced to look in his eyes. “Can you do that?”
    I nodded, taking deep breaths in the hopes to quiet my sobs.
    “I’ve known about the cancer for a long time now, more than a year, and I chose to forgo treatment. I didn’t want to…wither away. I wanted to enjoy every last moment with all of you. I hope you can understand that.”
    My lower lip shook with the threat of tears.
    “You and Trace are the only people that know. I’m not