The taxi turned the final corner, pulling up to a sun-drenched southwest-facing building perched proudly in the heart of Coolidge Corner. From the street below, the building's clean lines and wide corner exposure framed a postcard view of Green Street and stretched all the way toward the iconic silhouette of the Back Bay skyline. Autumn light slanted low across the street, catching in the golden-red leaves that clung to the trees like fading memories.
The driver double-parked near the curb, shifting into park with a heavy exhale. "Here we are," he said, stepping out.
He helped Olivia gather her things—her rolling suitcase, the brown bag with the wine, and, most notably, the large rectangular FedEx box that housed a very special guest. Olivia handed him a folded bill with a generous tip.
"Thanks for the stops," she said, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Anytime. You're better than most of the Sunday night fares I get." He tipped an imaginary cap and slid back behind the wheel.
Inside the lobby, the building was immaculate high ceilings, quiet lighting, and the faint smell of polished wood and eucalyptus cleaner. Olivia wheeled her suitcase toward the elevator, her sneakers whispering against the slate-gray tile. The elevator chimed open, and she stepped into the glass-and-brass interior, pressing the top floor.
As she rose, so did her nerves but she couldn't help the grin that spread across her face as she eyed the sealed box beside her.
When the elevator doors opened, Olivia stepped into the jaw-dropping penthouse floor.
Everything was light. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded the corner unit, offering a tree-top view over Beacon and Harvard Streets. Far below, the glow of the Coolidge Corner Movie Theatre marquee flickered like a quiet heartbeat against the evening.
She moved quickly, box in hand. With the help of the concierge's small dolly—which she "borrowed" with a wink—she removed the life-size cutout and gently positioned Henry Cavill right in front of the front door, facing outward. His cardboard jawline looked heroic under the soft gold light from the hallway sconces.
Stepping to the side, Olivia smoothed her coat and knocked once.
The door flung open seconds later.
Haley stood barefoot in gray joggers and an oversized burnt-orange sweater, her long red hair pulled into a high ponytail. At 5'9", she was all limbs, warmth, and unmistakable joy. Her green eyes lit up as her smile stretched wide.
She let out a squeal of delight.
"Oh. My. God."
She stared at Henry Cavill arms crossed, looking smug as ever in cardboard form and then finally noticed Olivia standing off to the side, beaming.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GOT HIM!" Haley shrieked, stepping past Henry to throw her arms around Olivia.
Olivia laughed, hugging her back tightly. "I always deliver."
Just then, Daniel appeared behind her, his tall, broad frame filling the hallway.
"Ugh," he groaned, dragging a hand over his face. "I can't believe you got him."
"I promised I would bring him, didn't I?" Olivia said with a shrug, stepping inside as Haley lovingly lifted Henry and carried him through the doorway like he was part of the family.
"Oh, yes you did. Hmm, hmm," Haley murmured, casting a mischievous glance at her new cardboard companion.
Olivia stepped into the penthouse and whistled low. "This house is beautiful."
The layout was wide open and bathed in golden-hour light. The entryway spilled directly into a spacious dining area, seamlessly connected to the central kitchen. The countertops gleamed, and the copper sinks and fixtures caught the light like art. A large island stood like a ship's helm, surrounded by barstools, with an open view to the living room beyond.
Two deep leather couches one a rich espresso, the other worn oxblood sat opposite one another, separated by a massive ottoman topped with hunter green and cranberry-red throw pillows. A knitted blanket was tossed casually over the back. Floor-to-ceiling windows continued here too, giving access to a balcony lined with oversized beanbags and a polished tree-stump table.
Nearby, a half bathroom and a tucked-away laundry area sat just behind the bold, gear-decorated stairwell that wound upward.
The home's style was a unique blend of modern steampunk warm browns, burnished metals, and detailed mechanical décor. Brass accents gleamed against exposed wood, and large copper gears turned the stairwell wall into a striking industrial mural.
"I'm obsessed," Olivia said, spinning slowly in place.
Haley smiled. "Come on. Let me show you to your room."
She cradled Henry like a dance partner and led the way up the staircase. Olivia grabbed her suitcase only to have Daniel beat her to it.
"No, no," he said, smiling. "My mama would beat my hide if I didn't show a guest any kind of hospitality."
Olivia laughed. Daniel, always the charming Southern boy, loved Haley with his whole heart. She respected that about him. Underneath his easygoing nature was an anchor—the kind of man who made you feel safe just by standing in the room.
Upstairs, the motif shifted to a more Victorian version of steampunk worn leathers, deep colors, and personal flair.
The master bedroom took her breath away. A massive Victorian bed with dark oak wood sat beneath an old dismantled clock, its pieces arranged artfully like a shattered timepiece. The deep purple bedding was offset with red and copper details, and the nightstands were stacked vintage suitcases.
Haley stood Henry proudly by the bed and gave him a pat on the chest.
"Absolutely not!" Daniel said from the hallway, clearly outraged.
The women broke into laughter.
"Aww, babe," Haley cooed. "It's not like there's anything to be shy about!"
"Haley!" Olivia giggled, covering her face.
"What? I'm not lying! Anyway, he won't tell, will you, Henry?" she said in a mock-innocent voice.
Daniel, red-faced, turned to Olivia. "I'm taking your suitcase to the other room."
They followed him down the hall, still laughing.
The second bedroom Olivia's was decorated like an aviator's den, masculine and cerebral. An armchair with tufted leather sat beneath three tall bookcases crammed with books, vintage trophies, framed photos, and mementos. A drafting table served as a desk, complete with a brass-and-black monitor and a stunning retro typewriter-style keyboard.
"The room is gorgeous, Hals," Olivia beamed as she stepped inside.
"Thanks! Took us forever to settle on the theme."
Daniel was already pulling the curtains back from the private balcony, letting in the last light of day.
"And this is mine for the week?"
"Absolutely," Haley said. "Now come on, let's get back downstairs. I saw the other bags. Tell me what else you brought me."
Olivia raised an eyebrow. "You're gonna make me work for this?"
"Oh yes," Haley said, lifting Henry with surprising grace as she marched back toward the stairs.
As Olivia turned to follow, Daniel gave her a long-suffering look. "I'm sorry. I didn't actually think she'd carry him around the apartment."
"I didn't either," Olivia said, shaking her head.
He sighed. "It's fine, really. I think it's sweet… but now you owe me. And I love that even more than the cardboard British man."
"Owe you?"
"Oh yes," he said, rubbing his hands together. "You know what I want…"
Olivia raised an eyebrow. "What do you want?"
"Dirt. Liv. I want dirt. Past history moments. You know, the good stuff."
"Umm, Daniel, I don't think that's an even exchange."
Daniel stepped closer, towering at 6'4", chest broad, grin wider.
"Come on!" he groaned. "She's going to bring that thing into every room! Dinner, movies, showers he's already more involved in our lives than I am!"
Olivia opened her mouth to respond just as Haley popped her head back in.
"What's taking y'all so long?"
"Daniel thinks I owe him a juicy past story because I brought you a cardboard man," Olivia said dryly.
Haley waved him off. "Sweetie, that's not how this works. She's my best friend. Go find your own. She'll never sell me out."
"I might if the exchange was better," Olivia called after her, grabbing her wine bottle.
"What the hell, Liv?!" Daniel shouted as they followed her into the kitchen, all three of them laughing.
Once in the kitchen, Olivia pulled out her groceries and began arranging the snacks. Haley grabbed a tray, while Daniel opened the wine and grabbed glasses.
They moved to the living room, trays in hand, and settled in.
"Really, Liv," Haley said, clinking her glass with hers. "I'm glad you're here. I know you're still rebuilding stuff, but relax. Enjoy the week. We've got some activities planned I know you'll love."
"Do you need help with the housewarming party?" Olivia offered.
"Nope. I've got it covered. Actually, I'm going to be really busy with work and party stuff, so I've volunteered Daniel to be your babysitter for the week."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Hals, I used to live here. I don't need a babysitter."
"You do," Haley said. "Otherwise, you'll be in Mexico in two days if I leave you alone."
"Ugh, fine. But I'm not doing anything I don't want to do."
Daniel shrugged. "Hey, whatever Haley says, I obey."
He leaned over and kissed her.
Olivia looked away slightly, smiling but inside, she felt the tug.
She missed him.
She needed to text Grayson. But not yet. Not with Haley here. Not with this looming setup still hanging in the air.
She'd meet Daniel's friend this weekend. She'd be polite. Tell him she was seeing someone. End it.
But the thought made her chest tighten.
"Liv?" Haley said, nudging her. "What's on your mind?"
"Hm? Oh… just wondering if that bookstore by campus is still open."
"Brattle Book Shop? Yeah. Still open."
"Maybe I'll stop by this week," Olivia replied softly.
They talked and laughed a little longer. Eventually, takeout was ordered, sports were argued over, and Haley dozed off curled up next to Daniel. Olivia stood, announcing she was heading to bed. Haley nodded, already half-asleep.
Daniel walked her halfway, giving her a teasing glance. "Don't forget—you owe me."
She just shook her head and smiled as she climbed the stairs. In her room, the quiet surrounded her. Finally alone, Olivia pulled out her phone.
Four missed calls. Fourteen unread texts.
All of them were from him.
The door clicked shut behind her with a soft thud, muffled by the plushness of the thick carpet. For a moment, Olivia simply stood in the center of her guest room, the weight of the day settling over her like a silk robe light but undeniable. The rich navy bedding, the soft golden lamplight, the faint hum of city life outside her balcony doors it all wrapped around her in quiet luxury. But her thoughts were far from quiet.
She sat on the edge of the brass bed, the antique frame creaking just slightly beneath her. Setting her phone down beside her, she slipped out of her coat and scarf, toeing off her shoes before curling one leg beneath her. She stared at the screen for a moment, chewing her bottom lip.
Then she unlocked it.
4 missed calls. 14 unread messages.Her stomach fluttered.
The first missed call was from earlier that afternoon, right after her flight landed.
The second? Less than thirty minutes later.
The third… when she was at the wine shop.
The fourth… just before she knocked on Haley's door.
Her thumb hovered over the message icon. Then she tapped it.
Grayson Steel
1:48 PM: Boarding now. Hope your flight is smooth, Little Fox. 🦊✈️
2:26 PM: Landed safe. Miss you already. And yes, I know how ridiculous that sounds.
2:49 PM: George says I look like a lovesick idiot. I told him he's not wrong.
3:10 PM: Trying not to text you every 10 minutes. Failing hard.
4:02 PM: Did you land okay? Are you back in Chicago yet?
4:45 PM: You didn't take a detour and move to another time zone, right?
5:15 PM: Little Fox, if you're ghosting me... I will send out a search team.
6:00 PM: You're probably tired. Or you hate me. Or both.
6:27 PM: You left your hair tie on my nightstand. It's now a hostage situation.
6:51 PM: Now I'm texting just to hear myself think. Also: I bought Hot Cheetos. Regretting it.
7:12 PM: That "maybe" is still rattling around in my head, by the way.
7:34 PM: I miss you. No pressure. Just thought you should know.
8:10 PM: Actually — screw it — some pressure. Because I'm pretty sure I'm falling for you.
8:11 PM: No — I am falling for you.
Olivia inhaled slowly, thumb hovering over the screen, rereading those last two again and again. Her pulse thudded in her ears. Her heart was both melting and folding into itself at once.
She knew this feeling. She just didn't expect it to come this fast. Or hit this deep.
She finally typed:
Olivia Webber
9:32 PM: Made it back safe. I'm okay. More soon.
She stared at it.
Then added:
P.S. I think your pen is lying. I did not consent to the hair tie being taken hostage.
Send.
Her heart leaped as soon as the message went through, a fluttering sensation that sent a thrill coursing through her veins. It wasn't everything she had hoped for, but it was something significant, a spark in the darkness.
She gently slid the phone onto the nightstand, then curled onto her side beneath the comforting weight of the navy quilt, her eyes wide open in the soft, warm brass glow of the wall lanterns casting shadows across the room. Grayson Steel was falling for her, and despite every cautious instinct she had honed and sharpened over the years, like armor to protect her heart, she found herself irresistibly falling right back.
The room was still wrapped in shadows when Olivia sat up in bed, the cool air brushing her bare arms and waking her further. It was 4:03 a.m. The sky outside the balcony was ink-blue, and the city had not yet stirred. No movement. No sound. Just the low hum of HVAC through the vents and the occasional whisper of wind outside the glass.
Insomnia again.
She dressed quietly in leggings, sneakers, and a zip-up hoodie, then slipped out the door, careful not to make the old brass hinges creak. The hallway was silent. The staircase gears that decorated the walls caught a glint of moonlight as she passed them.
Boston at this hour was something sacred.
She ran through Coolidge Corner, each breath of the crisp fall air clearing her mind. Leaves crunched underfoot as she passed closed cafés and dim storefronts. A streetlamp flickered above her near Green Street, casting long shadows across a quiet sidewalk. The scent of rain from last night still clung to the pavement, mingling with the faint salt tang from the harbor. Her breath clouded in front of her as she ran, steady and quiet, the only sound her footsteps against brick and asphalt.
She was back at Haley and Daniel's building when the sun hinted at its rise in the east. She took the elevator up to the top and stepped out onto their private roof deck to stretch. The rooftop view was breathtaking in the soft gray dawn.
The Boston skyline stood regal in the distance, skyscrapers brushed with the pink-gold bloom of early morning light. Chimneys exhaled soft curls of smoke into the air, and trees below flashed with color — amber, garnet, and sienna. She could see the steeple of a nearby chapel and the Coolidge marquee, still lit like it had a story to tell even before the day began.
Olivia closed her eyes and lifted her arms to stretch, the air biting at her skin now. Goosebumps raced up her arms, and she knew it was time to head back inside.
The shower was hot and cleansing, steam curling around her as she let herself soften beneath it. When she stepped out, she towel-dried her hair, pulling it up into a messy bun. She slipped into a thick white cable-knit turtleneck sweater, dark denim jeans that hugged her hips just right, and a pair of chestnut Ugg boots that made her feel warm even before her first sip of caffeine.
She had plans today—book hunting. Antique shopping. Maybe a little retail therapy to go with the emotional recalibration she so clearly needed. But first: work.
She padded across the upper floor into the third bedroom the one Haley and Daniel used as a home office.
The space was a dream: walls lined with industrial-style bookshelves, leather-bound journals stacked with chrome paperweights, and Edison bulbs glowing beneath hanging metal shades. A dark wood desk with riveted edges stood at the center, flanked by a wheeled leather chair and a side table stacked with notepads, a Bluetooth speaker, and three different mugs that clearly belonged to Daniel. The room smelled faintly of cedar and last night's cologne.
Olivia settled at the desk and opened her laptop.
Her work was calm and methodical refilling medication orders, replying to emails from her team, organizing files for her virtual consults, and double-checking prescriptions for clients she serviced from home. The hum of the city waking below began to seep into the room as she typed.
And then… the smell hit her.
Coffee.
A perfect, rich, nutty, dark aroma with a hint of hazelnut.
She looked up to see Haley entering the room, her long red hair pinned half-up and her bright green eyes scanning Olivia's screen.
Haley was already dressed like a walking fashion editorial: a mustard yellow double-breasted blazer adorned with gold-tone buttons, paired with slim-fit trousers in the same vibrant hue. She looked like sunshine with a salary.
"I sometimes forget you're a robot," she said, setting the coffee down beside Olivia.
Olivia didn't miss a beat. She lifted her hands and moved them stiffly like gears.
"I do not compute. Coffee," she said in a mechanical voice.
Haley giggled, and Olivia grinned, finally accepting the cup.
"Oh, how I missed you," Haley said with a fond shake of her head. "The goofball version of you."
"Too bad I have to head to work, unlike you and my still-sleeping boyfriend. I actually have to show up to an office."
"Hey," Olivia said with a sip, "I go into the office twice a month. That's two more times than some people."
At that moment, Daniel wandered into the office, yawning. His dirty blond bedhead was wild, and he wore a white T-shirt with gray basketball shorts that looked like they were barely hanging on.
"Babe," Haley said, turning to him with a smirk, "that's not the same thing."
He wrapped his arms around her lazily, burying his face in her neck and mumbling something that made her giggle. Olivia looked away.
She sipped her coffee and focused hard on her email inbox, trying not to notice the way Daniel's hands lingered around Haley's waist.
"Gross, guys," she muttered. "If you're going to Hallmark it up in here, I'm going to bounce."
Haley laughed. "Fine. I'm leaving anyway." She kissed Daniel's cheek and strolled out.
Olivia stood awkwardly for a beat. Alone. With Daniel.
Before either could say a word, the sharp click of heels echoed back toward them.
Haley reappeared, her heels clacking across the hallway floor, Henry Cavill's cardboard cutout leading the way.
She set him right in the center of the room like he was guarding their morning.
She patted his shoulder and gave him a sincere, "Be good, Henry," then gave them both a finger wave and turned to go.
They listened as her heels faded down the stairs and the front door closed with a soft click.
Olivia stared at her computer screen, willing herself not to turn. She could feel Daniel still standing there.
"She brought him to bed with us," Daniel said flatly.
Olivia choked on her coffee, turning just slightly. "What?"
"She made me go downstairs to get him," he said, voice deadpan. "When we all went to bed. Placed him on my side of the bed like he was our nighttime chaperone."
Olivia clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle her laugh.
"Liv," he continued, "she also asked me which scenes I thought Henry looked best in."
That broke her. She laughed loud, full, and completely helpless.
Daniel looked at the cutout like it was his greatest nemesis.
"Liv," he said, eyes still on Henry, "I think this deserves at least one piece of dirt. A go-ass secret."
Still laughing, Olivia nodded. "Fine, fine. You win. But Haley has to be here when I tell it."
"Yesssss," Daniel said, doing a surprisingly smooth moonwalk out of the office.
She shook her head, amused, and turned back to her screen only to see her phone buzz beside her.
Grayson Steel9:08 AM: Hey, beautiful. I slept awful because you weren't there.
Her heart tugged painfully. She hated how much she missed sleeping beside him.
Little Fox9:10 AM: I'm unsure how that's possible since you sleep like the dead.
His response was instant.
Grayson9:10 AM: I know when you're next to me or not.
She swallowed, cheeks heating. A soft warmth spread across her chest.
Little Fox9:12 AM: I cleaned your kitchen, showered, and got back in bed last time. You wouldn't know unless I jumped on you.
Grayson9:13 AM: Promises, promises.
She pressed her lips together, trying not to smile. Her face was flushed. Her body felt too warm under her thick sweater.
Nope. Not now. She had a meeting in ten minutes.
Little Fox9:14 AM: LOL. Go to work.
Grayson9:15 AM: Work hard. Play hard later.
Her fingers hovered above the screen. What did that mean? And more importantly… did she want to find out?
No.
She had emails. A schedule. A meeting to join.
But her heart was already somewhere else entirely.