Somewhere Only We Know

"So this is your room," Jeremy said as he set her bags inside the door.
"This is it?" Olivia asked, looking around the room with a confused look about her. "I really thought your house would be bigger."
"Well I'm sorry," he said sarcastically.
She smiled at him. "Seriously, though. This is your mansion?"
"Nope. Never said I had a mansion. Just said I had a house big enough for you to stay at."
"Barely big enough," she said.
"What the - " he stopped himself, remembering she would be a little testy from the withdrawal.
"Thanks," she said as she closed the door.
"Oh, um, no," he stopped her, putting his arm across the door as it shut. "I think we should leave this open so we can keep an eye on you."
"Keep an eye on me? Dad, you packed my bags. I've been at the hospital for several days, and they went through all my stuff. You really think somehow I got drugs in here?"
"I'm not worried about drugs," he told her. He was worried about her becoming depressed, but he didn't want to tell her that. "I just want to hear you if you call for help."
"Well, I'll be fine, but whatever."
He left her upstairs as he walked downstairs to join Alexa.
"You need groceries," she greeted him.
"I'll run out and pick up some stuff," he said.
"No, no, no. You can't shop for shit."
"Well I've never needed to shop for that, but I guess it's possible you're right," he smiled.
Unamused, she grabbed his keys. "Give me some money."
"Just like the old days, eh?" He said as he reached for his wallet.
"She's staying with you. That means you pay for groceries."
He handed her the money, and she reached for it, holding his hand as she grabbed for it. She stayed there a moment, just looking at him, her hand grazing his palm and briefly clasping it. Slowly she released her hold, an unusual look on her face. He sensed the way she curled her eyebrows when she spoke with him, as if it were forced. It was like she wanted him to see the hurt she felt. Truth be told, she didn't need to force it. He could see it, not in the things she did, but the things she didn't do, like flash her beautiful smile.
"You, um," she backed away, regaining her composure. "You need anything specific?"
"No."
He needed her.
"Ok, I'll be back in a little while. You sure you'll be okay here with her?"
"We'll be fine," he told her. "Just go do what you need to do."
After she left, Jeremy headed back up to Olivia.
"You don't need to stare at me all the time," she told him. "I'm not gonna do anything stupid."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to stare. You need any help?"
"It's pretty much taken care of," she said, gesturing toward her empty luggage. "I'll probably come down in a bit and watch TV if that's okay."
"Yeah, that's fine. Your mom just left to get some groceries."
"Oh, can she make lasagna? I could really go for lasagna, and mom's is the best!"
He was happily surprised to see her enthusiastic about something as simple as dinner. "I can call her and tell her to make that tonight," he smiled.
"That would be awesome, thanks," she told him as she hugged his side, then made her way to the couch.
"Hey Lex," he said as she answered the phone. "Liv wants lasagna."
"She actually asked for it?" Alexa asked.
"Yeah!" he chuckled. "All on her own. Says you make the best."
She smiled as she heard the words. "That... makes me happy," she told him, trying not to show too much excitement.
He smiled back, knowing she must be doing so. "Me too," he said.
"Maybe you really are good for her," she told him. "Maybe better than me."
"Are you crazy? How can I be better than the mom who makes the best lasagna in the whole world?"
She let out a light chuckle, then stopped herself. She felt like it was wrong to show any signs of happiness in the situation, and especially in front of the man who'd broken her heart so many years ago.
"Well, I'll let you go, but yeah, just get all those lasagna fixin's!"
"Will do. See ya in a bit."
"Ok, see ya. Love ya." As soon as he said those words, he shook his head in self-disgust. He was so used to the habit of telling her he loved her at the end of a phone call, even after 13 years.
Alexa hung up immediately, hoping he would think she hadn't heard, but he knew she had.
"She's making lasagna!" he told Olivia as he entered the living room.
"Did I just hear you tell her you love her?"
"Oh, um," he hesitated. "Well, yeah, but it was just out of habit."
"Oh, so you tell everyone you love them?"
"No, just, I mean, I used to tell her that, and I just said it accidentally."
"Oh, ok. I thought maybe I missed something the last few days and maybe you guys worked something out... scared me for a second!"
The possibility, though it had never escaped Jeremy's mind, was just not something he wanted to think about directly right now. First things first. "Want to order a movie?"
"Sure," she said as she browsed the options. "You know, I should watch one of your movies since I was never able to."
"No way," he smiled. "No. I'm not gonna sit here and watch one of my own movies."
"Oh come on, don't be such a spoil sport. What was your favorite movie you did?"
"We're not doing this, Liv, I told you."
"Oh come on, Mom's not here... let's watch one of your movies."
"It's not like she's gonna forever, she'll be right back. No. Watch something else."
She skimmed through the titles. "Oh, there ya go!" he pointed at the TV excitedly. "Terminator!"
"This movie is super old!"
"Yeah, but it was my favorite when I was your age. You ever watch it?"
"Is it any good?"
"It's awesome! Come on, let's watch it."
She couldn't believe how excited he was getting over such an old movie. But as they watched together, she curled next to him, watching him more than the screen, she felt so happy just to see the light in his eyes as he relived a simpler time in his life. A time before she came along and ruined everything.

When Alexa walked through the door, grocery bags in hand, she found the two sleeping next to each other on the couch. She couldn't help but stop and stare at them, her daughter a chip off the old block. Jeremy reclined with his feet propped on a coffee table the original designer of which certainly never intended for feet to be on. His arm outstretched, his hand cradled Olivia's red hair as it pressed against her speckled, sleeping face. They looked so comfortable, so innocent, though the latter would be a tough argument for either of them. Quietly, Alexa slipped into the kitchen and prepared dinner, waking the sleeping beauties once it was ready.

That night, Jeremy insisted Alexa stay in the spare bedroom since it was so late. Normally, she would have declined, but with the reasons to stay mounting ever so swiftly, she agreed. Borrowing some of Alexa's pajamas, she settled into the spare bedroom.
"Good night, Sweetie," Jeremy said as he hugged his daughter. "Look if you need anything tonight, just stop by. I'm right down the hall. And you've got that appointment tomorrow, so be ready to go at ten, okay?"
She nodded silently, biting her lip as she turned to enter her room.
"Hey," he called softly after her. "You okay?"
"Not really," she whispered, holding back tears.
"Well, tell me," he pled as he walked closer to her.
"I'm just thinking about all the trouble I've caused you guys, and I'm so sorry. I've been such a pain in the ass, haven't I?"
"No, baby, you've been great. You know, this has still been the best summer of my life, and even though we had a bit of a scare..."
She glanced at him.
"Ok, a really big scare... I'm still incredibly happy. Happier than I've ever been, in fact, and I'm just so glad you're in my life again."
She couldn't help but cry. He approached her and held her, remembering how the doctor said she would go through a depressive phase. He didn't want to let go. He was scared for her. But he held on until she finally pulled away.
"You better go get some sleep," she told him at last. "I can't be keeping you up with my drama."
"I don't mind staying a little longer if you want to talk or something," he said.
"No, thanks. Just go ahead. I'll... I'll be ok."
He left the room, though he hated to. He couldn't bear the thought of his girl up all night crying into her pillow.
He began to walk toward his room, but stopped and headed back toward Alexa. He knocked on the door, and almost immediately, she answered.
"Hey, um, Olivia's just..." he started to tell her, but didn't want to worry her. "She's really down. You think you could go stay with her. I feel weird asking to stay with her, but I feel like she'd be comfortable with you."
"Of course," she smiled as she grabbed her robe. "Is she okay?"
"She's just crying. A lot. I just want you to kind of keep an eye on her if you could."
She nodded and headed into the hall.
"Thanks, Lex."
She stopped walking and stared into his eyes.
"What?" he asked, noting her odd expression.
"I just," she started. "I just wanted to say thank you. You've been really great. Just really very," she stopped for a moment. "Just great with her."
"Well, I hope so."
"And I miss that. You were the best dad to her. God, you loved that girl so much. You used to spoil her rotten. You gave her everything she asked for and a whole lot more she didn't, and I hated that."
"You did?"
"Well, not like I didn't want her to have all those things. I just didn't want her to be another spoiled Hollywood brat."
"Well, on the plus side, she didn't," he smiled at first, but then stopped, remembering he was the reason she never had an opportunity to be. "I'm sorry."
"Please stop apologizing," she told him. "You made a mistake, and I really believe you're trying to fix it. And even though you can't, I appreciate you trying." She continued toward Olivia's door.
"Thanks for understanding," he smiled.
"Jeremy, I would understand you without trying. I know you better than you know you. And maybe that's why it never worked out with us."
"It never worked out with us because I'm an idiot."
"Well yeah," she nodded as she slipped into Alexa's room. "That too."