Free Our Time by Jessica Wilde Page B

about what the hell was going on because I couldn't concentrate on
anything else.
    Just friends? Joss, you
dumbass.
    I had been concentrating on my
friendship with him so much that my frequent headaches had started to taper
off. That or I just didn't notice them as much.
    After the third week, he offered
to start coming over to watch Olivia for me while I put in a few hours of work
here and there. The first day made me a little nervous. I barely got anything
done because I was straining to listen for Olivia and hear that she was
alright. When Andrew came into my office holding a giggling Olivia out in front
of him, as far away as possible, with Monty nowhere to be seen, I could smell
her diaper before he even said anything.
    "Someone has a present for
you," he said, his nose scrunched up and his face turned away from the
offending gift.
    I told him I was busy and he
would just have to do it by himself, knowing that would make him squirm.
    "I-I don't know what to
do," he finally admitted with a desperate look on his face.
    I almost died laughing.
    That's when I started noticing
the sweet kisses they gave each other on each cheek anytime she was in his
arms. I ended up embarrassing myself even more when I couldn't take my eyes
away from his arms, wishing they would wrap around me, too. He had to call my
name a few times to snap me out of it, but he never said anything else about
it, just smiled and winked. Winked! He had no clue what that did to me. Or did
he?
    He found out a little more about
me after some well placed questions, but I still skirted around the questions
that I didn't want to answer. He was very patient and didn't seem to get too
upset about my reservations. One more reason to wonder why I said I only wanted
to be friends. I should have just changed my name to Dumbass because that's
what I kept calling myself anytime he was nearby.
    After the fourth week, we had
gotten into a routine and were practically inseparable. Neither one of us
knocked anymore. Every Monday had been pasta night, every Wednesday Olivia and
I went to his place to make cookies - only allowing him to do it himself once
with disastrous results - and every Friday Andrew took us out for pizza.
Saturdays that he wasn't working were spent at the pool attempting to teaching
Liv how to swim - and occasionally wiping the drool off my face due to his
shirtless form - or the park playing in the sandbox and wearing Monty out or
just staying home and having a barbeque with Madison - my new gossip queen
friend - and Ty.
    Sundays were spent lounging
around in our pajamas watching cartoons and Disney or Pixar movies with Olivia
sitting between us on his couch. Andrew worked most Tuesdays and Thursdays and
other random nights of the week, but he always made time to spend with us and
Olivia expected an 'Adoo kiss' hello and goodbye with many in between.
    My headaches had all but
disappeared by then, which pleased me greatly. I knew I was just being
paranoid.
    By the time July 1st came, Olivia
had looked forward to seeing Andrew almost every day and she would clap her
hands and run to him whenever he showed up or when we walked into his house. It
made my heart flutter and stop at the same time. She loved him and it
brightened my soul to see her so happy, but made me anxious about what the
future would bring. We were in this now and I admitted to myself that it wasn't
only Olivia's heart that was in danger. Mine was, too. He was funny, charming,
smart, sweet… everything a woman looked for in a man. We talked about anything
and everything and he made me feel like I could finally look up.
    We skirted around each other
carefully, only touching to give a brief hug or when he would lead me through a
door at the small of my back. There was one time that he accidently brushed my
breast when he took Liv out of my arms to carry her to bed. His cheeks had been
bright pink when he walked up the stairs after a quick, "Oh, sorry,"
and he left quickly after that.
    I