Her whole expression shifted. She stepped closer, so close I felt the warmth of her despite the cold evening air. Her eyes swept over every mark like she was cataloguing them, building a picture she didn’t like.
“Alex…” Her voice cracked nearly imperceptibly on my name. “What happened to you?”
Before I could answer, Maddie (bless her timing) slid into the frame, flashing a diplomatic smile. “Hey, Nico, why don’t you come with me? We’ll give them a sec.” She didn’t wait for an argument, just ushered him away, roses and all, leaving the room suddenly quiet.
Now it was just Olivia and me.
I tried for nonchalance, tugging the cuff of my jacket higher over my arm. “It’s nothing. Just a crash on the bike. Happens all the time.”
“Nothing?” Her eyes flicked from my cheek to my hand, disbelief written all over her face. “Alex, you’ve got scratches everywhere. That’s not ‘nothing.’”
I shrugged, forcing out a laugh I didn’t feel. “It was just me being stupid.”
But her frown only deepened, lips pressed thin. “Don’t joke about it. You scared me.”
That should’ve soothed me, but it didn’t. It twisted in my chest like a knife, each breath tasting of words I’d been holding back too long.
“Liv… what are we even doing?” I said, voice low, almost shaking but with all the hurt I’d tried to bury.
Her eyes flickered, uncertain, soft. “What do you mean?”
I swallowed hard, trying to make the words steady, clear. “This.” I gestured between us, the tension of her hand hovering near my arm, the way she looked at me when she didn’t think anyone was watching. “I told you how I felt. That night. I didn’t hide it. I said it plain. And you… you said you couldn’t afford distractions.”
“I didn’t—” she began, but I shook my head gently, stopping her.
“Yeah. You did. And I tried to respect it. Tried to pull back. Tried to pretend I could just… be your friend. But then you look at me like this, like I matter, and then Nico shows up, and I’m supposed to believe he’s not a distraction?” My voice cracked a little, but I pressed on, forcing it out. “So tell me, Liv… was it ever just me?”
Her breath caught, voice soft, careful, trembling even. “Alex… it’s not that simple.”
I took a step closer, heart hammering in my chest. “It could be simple. I could be simple. I could tell you right now that I—” I choked on the words, swallowed the confession that had lived in my chest for years. “…that I still care. That I’ve always cared. That I—”
I stopped myself. The truth hung there between us, fragile and burning. If she was happy with Nico, I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t watch. I couldn’t be the one to hurt her by staying too close, by hoping for what might never be.
I stepped back, the confession unspoken but heavy in the air. “Maybe… maybe we need to stop pretending this friendship is enough,” I said quietly, each word a knife wrapped in velvet.
“I’m sorry if I’ve ever made things weird for you, or put you in a position you didn’t want to be in. I… I never wanted that.” I added, my voice catching.
Olivia’s lips parted, like she was about to say something, her brows knitting in that soft, panicked way she always did when she thought she might’ve hurt someone.
“I—” Olivia’s voice trembled, fragile.
I stepped closer, softly taking her hand, not to stop her but to guide her. “Shh,” I whispered, my thumb brushing against her knuckles. “You don’t need to explain.”
I led her gently toward where Maddie and her team were waiting, near the VIP section. “You just won, go celebrate. Be with the people who’ve been there for you, the people who matter tonight.” I said, my voice low, careful.
Her eyes searched mine, desperate, unsure, like she wanted to argue, wanted to beg me to stay. But I shook my head slowly, a sad smile tugging at my lips, tinged with both longing and tenderness. “I’ll step back,” I said quietly. “Your happiness matters more than me being here.”
I released her hand, and gave her a small, sad smile, letting the weight of it settle between us. No words. No promises. Just that quiet, heavy pause where everything unsaid lived.
Her coach stepped in, ushering her fully into the circle, hands on her shoulders, urging her to celebrate. Laughter and cheers erupted, and they pulled Olivia toward them, trying to engulf her in the victory she’d earned.
She glanced back at me, her smile small and wistful, eyes shadowed with regret. I just returned the smile, soft and quiet, letting her know it was okay.
Then, finally, I walked away.
CHAPTER 23
OLIVIA
