“i like the sound of that. just promise me that when you do find someone, you won’t forget about your buddy olly.” he grinned as he laughed out loud. “don’t worry, i won’t cockblock you or be a third wheel on your dates. that’s a little weird.” he kissed her on the head as she rested her head on his shoulder. “i don’t believe you’re boring. you’re one of the most fascinating people i’ve ever met, in my opinion. the way you light up when you’re talking about your favourite things, especially that book… the domino picture… something or other.” he gave a kind smile. “i suppose that’s true. people have this vision of you in their heads, and if you don’t live up to it, they just leave.” he’d spent the majority of his childhood having his family dictate how he should conduct his life, and when he rebelled in his teens, they no longer wanted anything to do with him. that’s why having addie, who saw all sides of him and still wanted to be a part of his life, was so wonderful. “i spent so many years alone, and i liked it because i didn’t have anyone to worry about,” he says. “but now that i have people in my life that i care about and actually want to be with, the idea of not having them around sucks.” he shook his head. “enough of this soppy nonsense, are you going back inside or are we going to that twenty-four hour diner because, i don’t know about you, but i’m hungry,” he patted his stomach.
“please, i’d let you third wheel any time. you know how single parents always say they’re a package deal and dating them means you now have a kid? i’m a package deal, anyone willing to date me has to accept i have you and will prioritise you at any given moment.” addie spoke with an almost permanent smile spreading across her face, she’d never been good at staying mad at olly. “dorian gray? picture of dorian gray? one day i’m gonna at least make you watch the movie with me. it’s not good, but i need you to understand the hold it has over me. and the books from like, before the creation of earth so it’s harder to just consume than the film.” she spoke with a laugh in her voice, she was almost forgetting that moments ago she was mad at him for forcing her out of a party for reasons that sounded like poorly formed excuses. “i don’t like the thought of you being alone. i know not everyone needs to be surrounded like i do, but the thought of you feeling like you had no one or that you chose to have no one isn’t fun. luckily we’ve both accepted you’re stuck with me.” sitting up straight, she let her gaze settle upon his face again, hands folded in her lap. “i think we know soppy is my default, but definitely the diner. nothing makes you aware of your stomach than a brief lived argument.”
