Grey
“Holy fucking shit. Holy fucking shit.” Oli paces around the room, and I swear I’m going to have whiplash. “This is happening. Holy shit, this is happening.” He sits down, then springs back up, pacing again.
“Oli!” I snatch his hand as he paces past me. “Take a breath.”
He shakes his head. “No time.”
“Oli.” Ryker laughs, but I don’t find any of this funny. Oli is an alarming shade of purple. “I haven’t seen him this worked up since Andre came into the locker room when he was traded.” He chuckles. “The irony.”
“Shut up!” Oli snaps, sitting down on the round ottoman in the center of the dressing room. He looks very handsome in his white tux and magenta tie. He puts his head in his hands, scratching his fingers through his hair.
I sit beside him as Atlas fixes Ryker’s tie, eyes wide and shaking his head. I sling my arm around him, squeezing hisbicep. “Hey.” His head lifts from his hands. “Take a breath. It’s going to be fine.”
“It’s not going to be fine. Andre is going to say no. Why the fuck would he say yes? Look at him, Grey. Look at me!” He shakes his head. “He’s out of my league. He’ll realize it too. You watch. He’s fucking gorgeous, and funny, and so damn perfect I can’t stand it. Who the fuck am I?” His hands are shaking.
I’m not sure what he’s really going on about. My friend isn’t hard on the eyes in the slightest, and yeah, he can be an asshole, but it comes from a place of love. If I’m not wrong, I think it’s even something Andre loves about him. Andre loves Oli’s fire. “Andre’s been in love you since he was eighteen, okay? There’s no way this day won’t end with you both together dancing. Okay? Relax.” I slap his chest. “Take a breath.”
“Listen to Grey,” Ryker says. “You were fucking terrible to him for about a decade and he still loves you.”
“Not fucking helping!” I hiss.
“He’s right, though.” Atlas says. “He’s obsessed with you.”
Oli starts to breathe easier. I kiss his temple. “He loves you. He’s probably in his room pacing thinking the same exact thing. You two are perfect for each other. Everything’s going to be amazing.”
Finally, he starts to calm. “I wish she was here,” he says softly, and I know who he’s talking about. Oli’s mother died nearly a decade ago. I know he misses her every single day.
“She’s watching you make a fool of yourself right now.” Oli reaches out to punch Ryker. With a laugh he slaps him away. “We got this, alright? Today is your day. Relax. It’s going to be amazing.”
He nods. “Thank you.”
With Oli’s heart rate down to a normal beats per minute, I check my tie in the mirror and see Atlas looking at me. “You look very handsome.” I smile at him. There’s still this tension I’m determined to grill him about, but not right now. This is Oli’s time.
A tiny smile slips onto his own face as he walks over to me. “Do you think we can talk really quick?” I feel Oli’s eyes on me and he nods. Maybe he’ll finally tell me what the fuck is even happening.
“Yeah, sure.” I look at my friend. “We’ll be right back.”
“We’re heading out in like ten minutes,” Oli growls. “Make it quick.”
“Impatient.” Ryker shakes his head. “It’s pathetic.”
“Yeah well, my pathetic ass would have married him the day I proposed. I’m not waiting any longer than I have to.”
“Relax, we’ll be right outside.” I follow Atlas out of the room and into the hall. I want to settle this. I’m not sure if he’s mad that I’ve given up and want to retire, but he needs to get over it.
Atlas paces for a minute and I give him time to get himself together. He’s trimmed his black beard, and his eyes are much clearer than the other night. “What’s going on with you?” I squeeze his shoulder, shocked when he grabs me to him for a hug. “Talk to me.”
“I’m sorry,” he says. I hesitate before hugging him back, then pull away to look at him.
“What’s wrong? You’re not acting like yourself.”
“Grey, I um, I need to tell you something. I um—ah, fuck this is... I can’t breathe.”
I grab him to me, squeezing him tight, and his arms circle around my waist, squeezing me back. When something bothers Atlas, he lets it consume him. “You can tell me anything. You know that.”
He pulls out of my arms, nodding. My heart breaks at the sadness in his eyes. “Fuck, this is hard.” I let him gather whatever courage he needs. “This is like—this is?—”
“Hey.” I look up hearing Felix’s voice as he walks down the hall. “Oh, sorry. Um. Andre sent me to make sure Oli hasn’t run off yet.”
