Chapter 43: Meeting Mark's Friends

Cozy bistro chatter and laughter turned Olivia's stomach into a knot of both fear and anticipation. She stood on the sidewalk with her hand gripped on Mark's a little tighter than need be, gazing through the window at the group of people inside. "You okay?" Mark asked softly, his thumb tracing soothing circles on the back of her hand. She inhaled deeply and tried to smile. "I'm just a little nervous. It's been a while since I've done the'meet the friends' thing." Mark's eyes crinkled in understanding. "They're going to love you, Liv. Just be yourself." Then he took her hand, giving it a gentle tug toward the restaurant. He drew the warmth and good food out of the air that enveloped him as they stepped inside and dissipated some of Olivia's tension. "Mark! Here!" sounded a happy voice. The woman with curly red hair and a wide smile waved passionately from the large table in the corner. As they neared, the feeling of all those gazes moving toward Olivia descended on her. She bit ha