Afterward, they drove quietly to Marissa’s. A little folk tune played on the truck speakers, and Oliver and Lindsay were too tired and full to behave like teenagers. Instead, Lindsay sat in the middle seat and placed her head on Oliver’s shoulder, which he offered her like a champ.

Gavin got out of the truck and helped Marissa out of her side and walked her to her door. On the porch, their hour-long conversation was condensed into five minutes. Lindsay and Oliver sat tense, watching.

“They broke up and now she’s advertising that she’s his fiancee?” Oliver asked grouchily.

“It appears so.”

“That’s some nerve.  Do you feel shaken?” he asked her.

“By what?” Lindsay asked.

“Are you bothered? Weren’t you and too-cool-for-school, Gavin, going to start dating yourselves?” he reminded her.

Lindsay smiled. “The more appropriate question is whether or not Gavin still wants to date me after our tickle fight.  That might have been too much for a normal person to endure.  However, I’m not normal and I’m not shaken by this.  You think I can be bothered by this, their third breakup?”

“You’re not?”

“No, but I am curious. What do you think they’re saying?”

In perfect time to Marissa’s lips, Oliver supplied her voice. “Gavin, I just love you so much. Why can’t we be together?”

Lindsay took over when Gavin started talking and tried to do his voice. “I can’t be with you. I like all women, and I can’t settle down with just one.” Lindsay giggled.

“But not having sex with you is the greatest pleasure I’ve ever known,” Oliver said, and he said it so on point with Marissa’s lip movements that Lindsay died laughing on the spot and missed her cue.

She put her forehead on the seat in front of them and howled.  She turned to Oliver.  “We need to interrupt them.  Wanna chase me around the truck?”

“Didn’t you say you were worried he’d be mad about the tickle fight?  And we’re going to do more?”

“I think it’s more important that their breakup takes root than that I get together with him.  He’s still my boss.  I’m not supposed to be dating him in the first place.”

“I see.  I’m game.  Can I kiss you?”

“If you can catch me,” she said, getting out.  

From the glances that Lindsay had seen of the doorstep where Marissa and Gavin were talking, Marissa was doing everything in her power to get Gavin to come inside with her and he was resisting.  He kept pointing to the truck and saying things.  Probably things like, “I have to get these two home.”

However, they disrupted everything when Lindsay and Oliver started running back and forth around the tiny garden and the front step of the townhouse. Lindsay weaved in between Gavin and Marissa and Oliver clearly had an idea that was even better than kissing Lindsay.  As he ran past Marissa for the second time, he pretended to trip and in the next second, he landed an accidental (but totally on purpose) kiss on Marissa’s lips.  

He pulled off her and said, “So silky,” before he shot off to run after Lindsay again. 

When he got to her she slapped him across the chest.  “What are you doing?” she thumped, pretending to be cross.  “You can’t just kiss your brother’s fiancee like that.  You have to apologize.”

Always in the mood for chaos, Oliver leaned in toward Lindsay.  “I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t want an apology,” Lindsay said, playing it up.  “I don’t care if you kiss her or not.”

“You don’t?”

“No.”

“Okay.  In that case…” he grasped the hand of the flustered Marissa and pulled her toward him for a second, intentional, kiss.  

Marissa allowed it for a whole three seconds before she pushed him off, but she was so flabbergasted that she didn’t say anything.

Lindsay stormed over and said, “Well, if you’re going to do that, then I’m going to do this.”

Lindsay grabbed Gavin by the collar and was about to kiss him when Marissa launched herself between them.  

“You can’t,” she panted, red in the face and dizzy from so many things happening at once.

Gavin and Oliver stood by tensely and watched what Lindsay would do next.

Marissa’s arms were spread wide, so Lindsay put her hands on Marissa’s shoulders and said to her in a calm, loving way, “I get it.  I understand all of this is hard for you.  It would be hard for anyone.  Oliver was acting crazy just now.  We all know there’s nothing going on between you and Oliver.  There’s nothing going on between Oliver and me and there’s nothing going on between Gavin and you.”

“That’s not true.  He…”

Lindsay cut her off.  “Whatever he did that made you think that the two of you had a future, you’re going to need to forget it now.  I plan to renew the lease in that apartment and I never want to see you inside my apartment without an invitation again.  Do you understand?”

Marissa shook off Lindsay’s hands.  “You don’t get to decide any of that,” she barked.  “Gavin, tell her that we’re just having a little fight and you’re going to need the keys to the apartment back in a week.”

Gavin stepped forward and stood beside Lindsay.  “No.  I gave Lindsay that apartment and I’m not asking her to leave.  She’s going to renew the lease and there’s no reason for you to ever go there again.  You got off easy tonight when we took you to supper and drove you home.  This is the last time I want to talk to you, Marissa.  It’s over.”  He turned to Lindsay and Oliver.  “You two, get in the truck.  We’re leaving.”

Marissa walked steadily after him citing things he had said that meant that he really loved her, but from Lindsay’s perspective, they were things that meant the opposite.  She tried not to listen.  It was too hurtful.  When they finally drove away, all three of them sat in the front with Lindsay sitting in the middle on the bench.  She plugged her ears so she couldn’t hear what Marissa yelled at Gavin.  It was too upsetting even for a dramatic actress.