A/N I want to thank all my readers who let me know Dadi is grandmother and Dada is grandfather. I hope my mistake didn't offend anyone. I did google it 🤦‍♀️

Olivia didn't see Graham in the office on Monday. If she liked him, she would have sought him out. Instead, she kept to her desk and focused on the applications for the summer interns. She had defended herself for years about her internship, but what most people didn't know was hers was unpaid and Dwyer Mitchell had hired the same number of interns they always hired. She and Zach were extra.

Olivia had always felt she needed to prove herself. Long before the internship, she was the only girl in the family Kurt brought into their lives. Even his close friends, the Sumners, had two boys. So she was always trying to physically keep up. Then there was the dad factor, she always envied Ian. Growing up, she thought Andrew Gillespie was larger than life. He was extremely talented. She followed him on YouTube.

The one way she had failed to prove herself was with Max. She wasn't angry and not really sad. They had set the cycle in place and she would wait for the next time she saw him and let him decide how they would interact. Sometimes they were best friends and other times spatting siblings.

On Tuesday at quarter to five, Olivia cleaned up her desk. She wandered through the maze of offices and desks to Graham's assistant's desk. Haley was a recent graduate. Her eyes widened as Olivia approached. It annoyed her how the young assistants feared her. She could make a career, but her goal was not to ruin careers. She struggled with the work ethic of the young assistants. They called in sick for a hangnail and complained when they had to work on a contract for the assistant next to them who called in sick. Getting assigned nonfiction must have been deflating, but Olivia could move the hard workers. The assistant position was a revolving door and training them gave Olivia job security.

"Hi Haley. Is everything okay?"

"Yup. I'm fine."

As Olivia walked by she glanced at her desktop. Olivia knew Haley had been goofing off, probably shopping, or shutting down early. Either way, it was her lucky day because her boss was leaving before five.

Olivia rapped on Graham's doorframe. "Are you ready?"

He looked up and sighed. "I guess so."

Maybe if he had smiled, she would give him another shot. "It'll be fun."

He looked down at her. "I should have brought clothes to change."

She wasn't exactly dressed down. "I'm more comfortable in slacks. Get your coat." He stood and took off his tie before picking up his coat. "Perfect."

"Haley, I'll see you in the morning. Ms. Browning convinced me to volunteer tonight."

"Squashing rumors?"

He forced a smile. "I figured you would appreciate not being linked to me."

She stepped into the elevator. "Graham, that's not true."

He looked at her. "Will you come home with me tonight?"

Her heart pounded. This was why five dates were too many. If only she could be consensual. "It's a work night."

He smiled. "You're absolutely right about that."

The end was always awkward. She hoped Graham would end it. He was lucky because Mandy was waiting in the wings for him. She wouldn't keep him long, but she would give the guy what he wanted.

Graham walked beside Olivia. At least he wasn't dragging his feet. Lindy had the first time she joined Olivia. Her friend preferred to be charitable by sending a check. Olivia never felt sorry for herself on Tuesday evenings. She felt happiest using her time and a warm smile to help others.

When she turned the corner, Graham looked at her. They were on a side street in the shadows of Times Square, a part of the city the tourists and most residents walked right past.

"Do you walk here alone?"

"No, I get a ride, but I like the walk." She waved. "Hi, Phil. You hungry?"

The man curled up on the sidewalk sat up. "Almost time?"

"Almost." She turned to Graham. "He needs a warmer coat."

"He needs a job."

She frowned. "I don't disagree, but I've learned it's not so simple. Even if you remove the mental health and addiction components, it's hard to get up for a job when you don't have a home. It's hard to work when you sleep on alert all night like a cat."

"A cat?"

"My brother has a cat, two actually, but Felix will be asleep but at the slightest noise he'll pop his head up and look around. After he assesses there's no danger, he'll go back to sleep. We're here."

They entered the industrial building through a side door. "Put your coat in here." She stepped into a tiny office with hooks on the wall. "They lock it so you can leave valuables here too." She saw Kurt's coat and laptop.

Stepping out, she rolled up her sleeves as she entered the kitchen. "Hi Dad." Kurt smiled at her from over a steaming pot. He cooked every Tuesday night, so the paid cook could have the night off. "It smells good."

Graham whispered, "You call him dad?"

She nodded. "Not at work and not when I talk about him. He's the only father I have."

Her memories of Chip had faded. Once she told Ian, but her brother confided it was the opposite. He remembered everything about living with his first stepfather, but the early days of uncertainty with Kurt had faded. Kurt was a friend to Ian, but to Olivia he was the man who helped raise her.

A few others from the agency arrived surprised to see Graham. He stood talking to them as Olivia set up the serving stations. Junior, who ran the kitchen, helped her. The large man with mocha skin should have outgrown his name, but Olivia didn't know his real name.

"Miss. Olivia, you can work the dining room. I'll work the door." He raised his voice. "Gather round." The volunteers stepped closer. "I'm Junior if any of you don't know me. Need anything ask me or chef Kurt in the kitchen." Soft laughter rippled through the group. Junior ignored it and assigned everyone to serving stations.

A door slammed and Mandy rushed in. "I'm here. Don't dock me, boss."

Junior smiled. "Always late. Miss. Amanda. You'll get bread again with the newbie here."

Olivia chuckled. It was a game. Junior acted like Mandy was being punished, but she loved the bread station. It wasn't because it was the easiest. It was last in the line and she could talk longer to the chatty guests. She also tried to get the clammed up ones to talk.

Working the dining room, Olivia played hostess. She helped people find places to sit. She wiped down tables and made everyone feel welcome. Junior opened the door and a steady stream of people entered. For some it was their first warmth of the day. Not all were homeless or even jobless, but they were all hungry. Two young girls came in looking unsure and out of place.

Olivia approached them. "Get in line. Everyone is welcome."

Mandy spoke to them for a long time. Olivia watched Graham look at Mandy. He liked her, but it was still date number five. She brought the girls to a quiet table. They barely looked eighteen. Her gut told her they weren't runaways.

She smiled. "I'm Olivia. I see you met my friend at the bread station."

They nodded. "We heard we could get a meal. We have a place, but..."

"Rent is expensive. Do you work?"

"We're auditioning. We sing and dance. It's harder than we thought."

Olivia nodded. She took a business card out of her apron pocket. "Call Marie. She can give you work to do in between auditions. It may not be glamorous work, but work is work."

The girls beamed. "Thank you." They were beautiful, but Olivia knew being the star in a high school production won't get them on a Broadway stage. The sound of crying turned her attention away from the starlets.

Dean and Cami had arrived with baby Jayden. Olivia walked over with her hands out. "Go get some food."

Cami handed her baby to Olivia. Every week, she breathed easier when she saw the young couple. They left home when Cami got pregnant. They were just kids and their parents didn't want them together. Dean worked odd jobs, and they stayed in a family shelter.

She bounced Jayden to get him to stop crying, as she walked towards the kitchen. Kurt handed her a bottle. They always had warm bottles of formula ready. Her eyes pleaded with him. "We have to help them."

He frowned. "I promised you the next vacancy in theirs."

Kurt owned a multi-unit building. The small apartments were rented for next to nothing. All his tenants had to be clean and able to work.

The baby sucked eagerly on the bottle, as Olivia returned to the dining room. Some tables needed wiping down, so she called Graham over.

"Are you having fun?"

"It's interesting. You look good." He nodded to the baby.

She chuckled. Would Max think the same? "Could you wipe some tables? My hands are full."

Olivia loved the agency, but she could happily work the dining room every night. Many guests smiled and told her Tuesday was their favorite day. Occasionally, she stepped in on other nights, but most nights were corporate sponsored. It was part of the success and guaranteed funding.

Once his parents sat with their food. She handed Jayden back to Cami. "How's it going?"

Dean shrugged. "Marie's been keeping me working. We're saving but it's hard."

"I know. I see a bright future for you both."

She couldn't promise them a roof until they had one to offer. Olivia moved on and kept busy. She looked around and the crowd had thinned. Some had gone to the shelter attached to the dining room, others home or to another shelter. Hopefully, none went back on the streets. Olivia shuddered. The working girls ate early and were out there in the danger.

Mandy came up behind her. "Drink?"

She sighed and nodded. "How did Graham do?"

Graham shifted his feet. "He did okay for the new guy. The big question is will he come back?"

"I might. It was better than I expected."

"Are you two done? I have to wipe the tables and sweep."

"I thought the dishwashers did that."

Junior hired dishwashers to clean up every night. "They have enough to do. It takes fifteen minutes." She threw a rag at Mandy who caught it. Graham picked one up and joined in. Without the guests, Olivia could hear the jazz tunes on the speakers. She missed the days when Ian played the old piano in the corner.

Kurt came out of the kitchen. "You three make a good team. Graham, thanks for coming."

Graham cleared his throat. "You're welcome."

"Liv, do you need a ride?"

"No. We're getting a drink."

"Okay. See you at home." He kissed her cheek. "I'll see what I can do."

She nodded. "What was that about?" Mandy pried.

"Dean and Cami. They need a home."

Mandy nodded and smiled. "Is he going to give them an apartment?"

"Next available." She wanted to smile, but it could take some time. Every tenant was hand picked and needed the home.

"We can go shopping. Lindy will come." Olivia imagined buying a crib and baby things.

Graham put his arm around her. "Are you okay?"

She smiled. "I want to help them now. Drinks. Let's get going."

The bar they chose was better than Hell's Kitchen, but not filled with Wall Street suits. Olivia sipped the lemony drink. Mandy said, "Smile, you two. I'll post it."

Graham said, "You like those drinks."

She nodded. "Lemon is my favorite flavor."

Mandy asked, "How are your edits coming on the art book?"

"Fine." He smiled.

"If you need help, let me know. I'm only a part-time artist. I teach art history."

Graham looked at Mandy. "You didn't say that the other night."

She shrugged. "Sometimes I enjoy being a carefree artist. Max likes it."

"Do you like Olivia's egotistical cousin?"

Olivia frowned. Mandy laughed. "Maxwell is not egotistical."

Olivia looked at Mandy. "He was competitive, but he needs to think about himself more." Especially what he wants.

Mandy said, "To answer your question. I don't like Max that way. I crushed on his brother years ago."

Graham nodded. "If you teach, have you published?"

"No, I'm just an adjunct. Believe me, if not for Lola, I'd be eating at chez Junior every night."

Graham began to argue, but Olivia changed the subject. They had advantages being born into wealthy families. She didn't know about Graham, but he had the advantage of education. "Graham tell us something we don't know about you."

"My little sister is a recovering addict. She could have been one of them."

Mandy put her hand on his arm. "Recovering was the best word you said."

Olivia agreed. Graham drained his drink. "Anyone else ready to call it a night?"

Olivia nodded. "I have a training session to do tomorrow."

"Are you going to teach Haley not to spend hours on Facebook?"

Mandy laughed. "You're so cute. I'm sure it's not Facebook. She's not a mother."

Mandy said, "Lola will cover our ride."

Chelsea was the first stop. Graham walked her to the door. "Will your answer ever be yes?"

She shook her head. "No. I just don't. It's not you..."

"The old 'It's not you it's me' line."

"In this case, it's true. I'll let you in on a secret. Mandy will and she likes you. You have so much more in common."

He shook his head. "Isn't that breaking every rule?"

"Not if I say it's okay. Not tonight though." She kissed his cheek. "Thanks."

As she climbed the stairs, she felt one weight off her shoulders.

So no more s'more. Please vote ⭐️