Twelve years before...

Olivia looked over at Zach. "What's your goal for this little getaway?"

"Get drunk. Spend time with my brother. I'll be in the city all summer while he's at home."

"It'll be my first summer in the city since I was..."

"Since you met me and your life changed."

She laughed. "My life changed all right."

Everything was changing. Max was starting medical school in the fall. Zach only had one more year with plans to work in the Boston office. Kurt couldn't promise an opening, but Olivia knew he would find one. Anita liked to tease Zach. "Receptionists come and go."

He hoped to be hired as an assistant, not a receptionist. "It's a good thing my mother is looking forward to having me home, because I won't be able to support myself."

Olivia felt the clock ticking. She only had Zach for another year, but they would work together all summer.

As the train pulled into New Haven, her heart sped up. She hadn't seen Max since Christmas. Distance hadn't calmed her feelings of longing. She had dated, but no one interested her. She wanted electric kisses, but none compared to the brief lemony one.

He stood tall waiting for them, not as tall as Zach, but she didn't care. His smile set off her erratic heartbeat. He knew chemistry, but she couldn't ask about the chemical reaction happening inside as he pulled her into a long hug.

Zach grew impatient. "Come on. You're blocking traffic."

Max hugged his brother. "Jealous because Livvy reached me first. I missed you too."

Olivia said, "Come on, come on."

The brothers laughed as they fell in step together. Zach said, "Tell me there's a big party planned."

"There are always parties, but I've outgrown them."

"Seriously. You aren't ancient."

"No. Just legal. I can go to bars and drink."

Olivia said, "Do you want to hang out at a bar?"

Max looked at her and shook his head. "I want to chill and have you meet my friends. We can drink in my room."

Zach shrugged, but Olivia knew he was disappointed. "Is Seb around this weekend?"

"Yeah. Ask him. He likes to party."

Zach smiled. "Maybe I will."

Max's single dorm room was small. Neither Olivia nor Zach had lived in a dorm. Zach looked around. "This isn't like crashing on the third floor."

"Sorry. I told you it would be like camping."

Olivia laughed. "I never slept on the floor at camp."

Max's green eyes softened. "You can have my bed."

Zach teased. "Damn, mom raised you right."

Elation described being together with the brothers again. She loved her time with Zach, but Max was always missing. On the rare occasion Zach wasn't around and it was just Max, she never missed the younger brother.

"Hungry? Let's get some cheap food and catch up."

Cheap food was a diner which served breakfast all day. Max never picked up his menu. Zach teased him about hanging out at a diner. Even Olivia laughed when the server with the paper pad and pencil asked if Max wanted his regular. She smiled at him, but Olivia didn't mind since she looked at least fifty.

In a sappy voice, Zach repeated, "Hun."

Max pouted. "She's nice."

Olivia listened to Max talk about the waitress's teen son who was giving her trouble. "He's a good kid. He grew up without a father."

Olivia thought about how lucky Ian was. His life could have been different. Instead, she didn't have a father. Feeling guilty, she remembered Kurt.

When their drinks arrived, Max said, "Denise, don't mind my brother. His manners need work."

"Well, he has a pretty girl."

Zach had slid into the booth next to Olivia. Both Zach and Olivia said, "No!"

Denise stepped back. "I thought."

Max smiled. "It's okay. Everyone thinks that about them. They just started denying it." He looked at the other side of the table. "Why are you?"

"What?" Olivia bit on her straw and Max couldn't tear his eyes away from her pink lips.

"You always let people think. I know I did for years."

Olivia looked up at him. "You did not?"

Zach laughed. "We were never more than friends, just like you and Olivia. Mom has to give up her dream of Olivia marrying one of her sons."

Olivia's eyes met Max's before she stared at the ice in her glass. She wanted that dream. Sadness bubbled up threatening to leak out her eyes.

Denise came back with their food. "You know I've never seen him in here with a girl. Only his loud friends."

Max wasn't a virgin. Zach told her about the girl he dated in high school. Olivia wasn't gullible to think he lived like a monk, but Denise's remark gave her hope.

Zach and Max bickered about whether his friends were loud. "Seb can be," Zach argued.

"I want to meet Seb."

Max frowned. "You will."

Zach said, "He might like you. He's good looking. Isn't he, Max?"

Max scowled. "I don't know, but he isn't Livvy's type."

Zach laughed. "What type? She never dates."

Olivia pinched Zach's arm. "Ouch!"

"I'm sitting right here, while you two talk about me."

Max put his hands up. "I'm just warning you about Seb."

"I'm not interested in your friend. Don't worry."

"Okay. How's your food?"

Zach said, "Delicious."

Olivia looked at Max across the table. Her eyes pleaded with him to love her.

Back in Max's room, Olivia sat on his bed. A few friends had wandered into the open door. Max talked to the guy, Sebastian. Although Max's friend was good looking, her eyes strayed to Max. He laughed at something Zach said. Max was making drinks and smiled when he handed her a glass.

"This is just for you."

She sipped the tangy, lemony beverage. The liquor was hardly recognizable.

He smiled. "You like lemon, right?" Did he blush? "Go easy. The alcohol."

Music played, and Olivia picked up bits of conversations. She talked to a girl until she wanted to use Olivia to get Max.

Zach sat beside her. "You're quiet. Are you having fun?" She nodded. Just watching Max. "I'm going with Seb to a more exciting party."

"Don't pick up any girls."

"You know I like relationships. I'm not a slut."

After Zach left she walked over to Max. "Can I have more?"

He shook his head. "I think you had enough."

When he put his arm around her, she leaned into him. "Stay by my side. The girl who just walked in likes me, but I don't like her."

"Do you like me?"

He held her tighter. "You know I love you.

"I love-love you."

Had she said that or had it stayed in her brain where it belonged?

He pulled her tighter. "Stay by me."

She didn't need to be asked twice and settled against his strong torso. Three girls came in, chirping. "Max. Max." One gave Olivia a death scare.

The other two moved on, but laser eyes stayed and talked to Max pretending to ignore Olivia.

"I'm going to work for a magazine in New York City."

Max squeezed her. "Livvy lives in the city. She's taken me to some great places. Have you had Moroccan food?"

"No. We should go since you'll still be here in New Haven."

"Another four years." Max didn't groan.

Olivia smiled. "It's what you always wanted and you're making it happen."

Max smiled. "Your dream of working for Dwyer Mitchell is coming true too."

"What's that?" The pouting girl asked.

Max cut Olivia off. "It's a worldwide Literary agency. It represents authors like Lola Lazar and Sam Mazzarelli."

"A London office doesn't make the agency worldwide."

"Regardless, you are going to be the youngest agent they ever had."

Olivia smirked. "Zach might beat me to it."

"I'll still be proud of you no matter what."

Max looked into her eyes and she silently begged, kiss me.

The girl looked away. "Ah! You made your famous drinks."

Max shook his head. "Not tonight."

She went to the makeshift bar on the cube fridge and poured a glass. She scrunched her face up. "Lemon! I hate lemon."

Max shrugged. "I love it. I made it for Liv, because she tastes like lemon."

Olivia stopped herself from gasping, if he wasn't holding on, her knees might have given out, and she would have crumpled to the floor. Max led her to the bed and together they sat. The sour visitor took the hint and left, leaving her full cup behind.

Max smiled. "A waste of good alcohol."

"Why did she think you would like her?"

Max looked at her and shrugged. "I don't know why girls think what they do. I never did anything with her."

"But you have you know with others."

He shrugged. "Maybe. Occasionally. But not recently."

Olivia's dream was for him to confess his love and never sleep with anyone but her. Obviously, she could never be his first. Erin ruined it when Olivia was too young. She wasn't too young anymore.

People moved on and when the room was empty, Max shut the door. The booze had made her sleepy. She fell asleep with his arms around her. She dreamed she was kissing Max. When she woke, she was alone on the bed.

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