The Origin Read Online Free Page A

had chosen the wall that was perfectly rectangular and yet had still managed to tile the mirrors unevenly. “In fact, my mom decorated the whole apartment.”
    “Your mother is a very creative woman,” he said, moving away from the mirror and leaning over to examine an antique red and black apothecary cabinet.
    “ Was a very creative woman,” she said, unable to keep the sadness from her voice. “She, um, passed away almost three years ago.” And still she waited for the day her chest would not threaten to cave in at the very mention of her death.
    Determined to keep the mood light, she took several deep, slow breaths – a tactic she had used many times to stave off an impending panic attack – and walked over to the big red bookcase and slid out a green hardbound book. She sat down on the couch as she opened the book to rest on a page that she had thumbed through many times in her youth.
    “There’s you.” Her slender finger rested on the page, pointing to a black and white yearbook picture of Daniel, his mouth set in a smug smile, a testament to his prime standing in the school social hierarchy.
    Daniel perched on the couch and chuckled at his former self. “God, I was such an arrogant douchebag! Look at my hair!” His brown hair had been longer and tinged with gold, flopping into his eyes with boyish abandon. Nowadays, it was kept short and neat, practical and understated. “How did I not get punched in the face on a daily basis?”
    “You weren’t that bad,” Olivia said, grinning at the picture that she might have kissed once or twice in her youth. “Well, not all the time.” She flipped the pages and found a picture of herself, limp hair, braces and all.
    “There you are,” he said, trying to suppress a smile as he leaned in for a closer look. “You look… different now.”
    “I look much the same actually.” He raised an eyebrow and she laughed. “After the braces came off and we found a good dermatologist, that is.”
    As his eyes roamed over her face, she felt acutely aware of the short distance between their mouths, she could almost feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. With one small movement, she could turn her head and touch his lips, like she’d dreamed of doing back in high school…
    “How about that coffee?” he asked, standing up abruptly.
    Biting her bottom lip, Olivia headed to the kitchen and set up the single-serve coffee machine. “It’ll just be a few minutes,” she said, leaning against the counter.
    Daniel walked over with the yearbook in his hands. Olivia saw with some measure of jealousy that he was looking at a picture of Kelly Hoyt, the long-distance running state champion, class valedictorian, and Daniel Johnson’s girlfriend. Olivia had not known her, but nevertheless had envied the heck out of the girl if only for having dated the hottest boy in school. For a year at least.
    “Was it true,” Olivia said, feeling bold, knowingly treading into personal territory. “That she broke up with you because of the accident?”
    Daniel stared at the stainless steel fridge door, the muscles in his jaw working. “I, uh…” He cleared his throat. “Can we not talk about Kelly?”
    Olivia nodded and was glad when the coffee maker beeped, breaking the tension. “Milk or sugar?”
    “Neither.” He took one hearty sip then placed the mug on the counter. “Well, thanks for the coffee, but I have to head out.”
    Olivia furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, staring down at her coffee so that Daniel wouldn’t see the disappointment sprouting all over her face.
    As they walked to the front door, Olivia wondered if she would see Daniel again. Perhaps not, if his abrupt exit was anything to judge by. “It was great to see you again after all these years,” she said with a rueful smile.
    Daniel gazed at her for a moment with an expression that she found hard to read and said, “I had a good time.” He glanced at her lips a few times, and just when she was sure he