Oh well. Charlie could never be secretive about her feelings. It was part of the reason she preferred to stay closed off and single all these years; when you didn’t let anyone in, there was no one to distract you from what’s really important.
The intrusive thought pulled Charlie out of her reverie, and she tried to mentally focus on something else, not the anxiety creeping in her brain, telling her that part of her was wrong for wanting this. Wanting to be there.
“Are you okay?” Olive asked.
“It’s scary how well you can read me,” Charlie said.
“Anyone can with that blush and those eyes.”
Before Charlie could admit that Olive was right about that, the waitstaff arrived with their meal. They dug into their food promptly, and the conversation shifted to the happy chatter of two individuals enjoying a delicious meal together.
It was late by the time they left the restaurant, Olive distracting Charlie by asking her more questions about hockey. Inreturn, Charlie got to learn more about Olive’s childhood and her close relationship with her sister. Though they still didn’t know each otherthatwell, with every passing story and remark, Charlie felt as if she had known her for years.
Now standing outside the restaurant, they huddled together as two people awkwardly did when they realized the date had ended, but they didn’t want it to just yet.
“How about I walk you to your hotel?” Charlie asked, which earned them a smile from Olive.
They walked hand in hand, and Charlie tried not to freak out about it. Both because of how giddy she was, and because of how different it was from her normal life.
As they walked, Olive swung their arms to and fro slightly, and it was so adorable that Charlie couldn’t help but make note of it. When they passed another couple, Olive stood closer to Charlie, and she didn’t move away even after the other couple had left their vicinity.
If only I didn’t have practice tomorrow,Charlie thought.
“I’m surprised you’re into this,” Olive said when they hit a lull in their conversation, swinging their entwined hands again for emphasis.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Charlie asked.
“I mean, I have noticed that you tend to shy away from me in public.”
Charlie sighed. “I sometimes forget how famous I am. I’ve been trying to work on it, which is why I always try to stick to myself out in public or at least try not to be so visible. It’s true that I have always been a bit on the reserved side, but it wouldn’t be fair to you either if someone did photograph us together.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just becauseIwant to be seen with you, doesn’t mean that you want to be seen with me. You haven’t even agreed to come see me in Toronto…” Charlie trailed off. She hadn’t meant to say it, but part of her was still conscious that she had laid her heart and intentions out there for Olive many times, and it was Olive who was keeping her distance. Not physically, but emotionally.
Charlie was nervous that the statement may turn into their first fight.
Now it was Olive’s turn to sigh. “I guess that’s fair. Are you mad at me for not being able to give you a proper answer on that?”
“I couldn’t be mad at you even if I wanted to be,” Charlie said, already worried that she had revealed too much. She tried to smooth it over with an overexplanation. “Even if I did feel a type of way about it, it wouldn’t be fair to you. You were supposed to be here on a trip with your ex. I wouldn’t blame you for not wanting to jump into a new relationship.”
Charlie paused, realizing what they had said.
“Not that I think we should be in a relationship, I mean, that would be ridiculous…”
They trailed off as Olive directed them to the side of the street, laughing so hard she had to hold up a hand to catch her breath. When she finished, she stood facing Charlie.
“You’re so cute, y’know that?” she asked.
Charlie rubbed the back of her neck nervously, unsure of what she could even say in this situation. Smooth operator, she was not.
“Let’s revisit this conversation after you win a gold medal, okay?” Olive finally said, though she was smiling.
“I can agree to those terms, because I know we’ll win,” Charlie said, relieved that she could use her familiar failsafe of hockey talk.
“Good,” Olive said, and leaned up for a kiss. Charlie met her halfway and let the surroundings disappear as she held the woman she loved in her arms.
When they pulled apart, Charlie processed the thoughts circulating through her.Ridiculouscould not even begin to describe how the situation felt, if she were to analyze it from an outsider’s point of view. She locked up the thought away and led Olive down the street further to her hotel.
