“I was just insecure, I think. I liked you and wasn’t sure how to deal with it,” Natalia said, moving closer to Olive.
Olive took a step back, unconsciously distancing herself from the woman. She would’ve loved to hear those words weeks ago but now, she felt nothing but a slight pang of pity that she could not return those feelings.
Instead of coming closer, Natalia moved to stand next to Olive against the railing. They both turned to watch the setting sun.
“I really should’ve come here sooner,” Natalia said.
“Probably,” Olive admitted.
“I’ll take that as a no on getting back together?”
Olive turned to her ex, still only feeling the pain of hurting someone else. “I think I’ve moved on already.”
“You do seem to have this glow about you.”
“Thanks, I think.”
They stood in silence for a few more minutes, but now with the silence of two people knowing they were unlikely to see each other again. Once enough time had passed for Olive to begin to start feeling awkward about it, Natalia finally straightened from the railing.
“Well, if you change your mind, you have my number,” she said.
Olive knew the chances of her reaching out to her were slim to none.
“Take care of yourself, and enjoy Italy,” she said, by way of non-answer.
Natalia nodded and walked off.
Blessedly alone again, Olive walked in the complete opposite direction, now searching for a tub-sized amount of gelato. She had earned it with all of the emotional whiplash of the day.
Olive almost felt bad that Natalia had presumably paid all this money and rebooked everything just for a chance to see her, but she could not force herself to feel invested in that relationship anymore. Seeing her was just a reminder that Olive had moved on, and she was all the happier for it.
Now if only the same could be said for every aspect of her life, then she’d really return to Toronto an entirely changed woman.
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
CHARLIE
“We’re goingto go out there and crush them, right?” Captain Fensworth said as she stood atop a bench in the center of the full locker room. Charlie and the rest of Team Canada all pounded their hockey sticks against the ground in a cheer.
Charlie could not let themself articulate all the emotions swirling within them.
Nervousness, yes.
A complete sense that they needed to win or else, check.
A deep desire to impress both her family and her lover. Yep.
“Let’s do this,” Campbell roared and the rest of the team followed suit as they walked out of the locker room and towards the ice.
The game started the same way all Charlie’s games did—an anthem, a staring down of the opposite team. She caught Blake’s eyes, and her best friend stuck out their tongue at them.
Classy as always.
Charlie shook their head, but smiled despite herself.
When the buzzer sounded, Charlie moved to the right behindthe captain, aligning herself perfectly to run their well-rehearsed play after the faceoff. It worked, and Charlie was in possession of the puck, moving towards the American net.
