His eyebrows practically lifted of his regal face. “And?”
“It was very well received. It’ll be published next month in the Oxford Press philosophy journal I expect.”
He beamed a toothy smile. “I’m so very proud of you. Published at twenty—perfect for a future professor. I always believed in you.”
“Thank you.” I took a sip of my coffee and proceeded to try and make conversation. “Why are you still on campus? Shouldn’t you be at your country estate enjoying the Christmas festivities, rubbing shoulders with royalty?”
He laughed. “I should be, but I’m part of the archaeological team that found the royal remains. Mother wasn’t best pleased. She thinks I’m wasting my life digging up old bones. It’s been so amazing though. I’m now halfway through my first year PhD and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
I smiled at his super-posh English accent. I used to tease him for it, said he reminded me of Prince William, and by the playful narrowing of his eyes, he knew that’s what I was thinking about now.
“So where are you going to study for your doctorate? Are you staying in the States or coming back here?” Excitement grew in his voice as he asked the last part.
I shrugged, staring out the window, watching the odd student scurry by to get out of the falling snow. “I was thinking about the States, but… I don’t know now.”
Oliver tilted his head in contemplation and swallowed disappointedly. “It’s not everything you expected?”
“Expected? No. Life changing? Yes. I’m just not sure if it’s the life for me. It’s a whole lot different than living here, that’s for sure.”
Silence joined us at the table. I could feel his stare as I fixed my eyes on my cup. It was time for an apology.
“Oliver?”
Oliver clasped his hands on the table edge, a slight shake to his fingers. “Yes.”
I reached forward and laid a hand on top of his. “I owe you a long-overdue apology.”
He turned his head to gaze out the window. “Why did you leave me like that? Was I that bad of a boyfriend to you… and after… what happened between us? What did I do so wrong?”
A lump formed in my throat. “Nothing. You weren’t a bad boyfriend; you were lovely to me. I’m in the wrong here, Olly.”
Facing me once again, he said, “You broke my heart when you left. I heard from a few of your classmates that you’d joined Professor Ross in Alabama and couldn’t believe my ears. You’d had it planned for months and never said you were moving abroad for your master’s. You just up and leave after being intimate with me—no reason or explanation? I thought it was very cruel.”
“I was very cruel. And completely selfish. And you deserved so much more. I’m truly sorry for what I did to you, Olly.”
Oliver’s lips parted as he inhaled. “Molly…”
I held up my hand to stop him. “If you have the time now, I’d really like it if you could let me explain a bit about me, about my past. Maybe help you understand why I am how I am. I feel it’s about due.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, he smiled. “Nothing would give me greater pleasure.”
Over the next two hours, I finally shared my past, all of it, right up until my sudden departure after we’d made love.
When I was done, Olly sat back, eyes wide, releasing a pent-up breath slowly through his lips. “Wow, Molly. I had no idea.”
I gave him a tight smile, feeling better, lighter. Finally sharing something about myself had actually been therapeutic. “You deserved to know. I’m only sorry it’s taken me so long. It could have saved us a lot of sorrow.”
Oliver placed his elbow on the table, letting his head rest in his upturned hand, just staring at me, reading something within my expression. “Who is he?”
“Who is who?”
“The guy you’re in love with.”
“I don—”
He reached out and gently took my hand. “Do you know how much I wished you would think of me and look like that? Need me that desperately?”
“What?”
He dropped his gaze. “I loved you, Molly Shakespeare, but you never loved me back. I tried to break into your heart, but I failed. I wanted you to share your problems, your past, but you wouldn’t let me in. You didn’t love me enough and well, that was okay. I wasn’t the man for you. I get that now.” He glanced up with compassion in his blue eyes. “Whoever he is, he must be special. It’s like you’re a whole different person, not the shy, introverted girl I once knew. You’re stronger… changed.”