27
Josh
It’s late before I get back to my building. Coach worked us hard again today. He’s been in a shitty mood for months now and it seems like he’s taking it out on us at practice. Like the more we work, the more steam he lets off. Maybe it’s all the shouting he does at us that lets him blow off steam.
For some reason though, most of the team are blaming me, simply because I’m the captain. It’s not my fault that Coach has a giant stick up his ass.
The only thing keeping me going today is the fact that I get to come home to my girl.
I still can’t believe she’s moving in with me.
I knew she would, but there was always that little seed of doubt planted in my head.
The more I thought about asking her to move in, the more that seed grew.
I knew I just had to ask her before I talked myself out of it.
Ryan is sitting in the lobby when I walk through with his laptop sitting open on his knee and a smug fucking grin on his face.
The urge to bash his head into a wall everytime I see him is so fucking strong but it looks like maybe someone beat me to it today with the purple bruise forming above his eyebrow.
He catches my eye, the shit eating grin on his face making me wary. Why the fuck is he looking at me like that? Whatever, that dickbag doesn’t need to be taking up space in my brain.
The familiar ding of the elevator sounds as it reaches my floor. I've always found that sound quite soothing. It signifies finally arriving home after a long ass day on the ice. And now, it signifies getting to see my girl when I walk through the door.
I unlock my door and throw the keys in the bowl on the side table.
Shrugging my bag onto the floor, I roll my shoulders, an ache forming from the intense training.
I see Olivia curled up on the couch and I go to her.
Her face is hidden by her arms and there are used tissues surrounding her.
An uneasy feeling creeps into my stomach.
“Ollie?” I ask quietly, not wanting to wake her if she’s sleeping. She jolts in surprise, sitting up too quickly. Her eyes are wild and puffy and I know she’s been crying. “Hey baby, what’s wrong?”
She sniffles a few times, not meeting my eye and the uneasy feeling doubles down. “We need to talk.” That’s never a good sign. I sit on the other end of the couch. If I could move closer to her I would but her legs are covering most of it.
I place my hand on her foot but she quickly pulls it away from me, placing both legs against her chest and hugging them. Why doesn’t she want me to touch her? A sense of deja vu washes over me. We’ve been here before.
“Ollie, what’s going on?”
She takes a deep breath, attempting to steady herself. “I’m not moving in here.” She says, voice breaking through the tears. “We’re moving too fast, Josh. I think we should take a break.” What the fuck?
“Where’s this coming from? You were so excited earlier about this.”
“I know I was.” She stands, wearing a hole in the floor with how hard she’s pacing while I stay seated, slack jawed. “But I’ve had time to think. And I think this is too much, too soon.”
“Well then don't move in. That doesn't mean we should break up.”
“Yes it does! We’re moving too fast. We’ve only been together for three months and already you’re talking about having babies and living together. It’s too much.”
I stand, going to her, placing my hands on her arms. “Ollie, listen to me, please.”
“No, Josh. I can’t.” Tears are streaming down her cheeks, her eyes red and bloodshot.
“What happened?”
“Nothing happened.”
“Something must have happened between now and this morning. I don’t believe you’ve just suddenly changed your mind about us.”
“I don’t want to be with you anymore. That’s it. There’s nothing more to it.” My eyes burn with unshed tears.
“I don’t believe you.” I tell her and she sobs harder, breaking my heart in two. “Ollie, please don’t do this.” I lift her face to mine and those baby blue eyes burn into me. So much emotion is shining within them. I lean down to kiss her and she kisses me back willingly, melting into my mouth.
She pulls away too quickly and I miss the feel of her against me already. “I’m sorry.”
A knock sounds on the door but we both ignore it, not looking away from each other. “Please.” I plead with her, ready to get down on my knees and beg her if I have to.
“I better go.” She says as the door sounds again.
Matthews shouts from the other side. “Cap, open up. I brought beers.”
“I’ll get rid of him.” I say, making my way to the door but she stops me.
“Don’t. I’m gonna go home, okay? I just need to be alone.”
“Cap, come on. I know you're in there. This shit is heavy.” I sigh heavily.
“Is this it? Are we done?” I want to be hopeful, wishing she would just tell me it’s a little break. That she just needs to think this through but her next words shatter me.
“We’re done.” It sounds so final. So true. “I’ll come back tomorrow and get all my things. I’ll leave the key when I’m done.”
“Olivia.” She glances at me but I don't know what to say. There’s nothing I can say to stop this so I don't say anything.
“Bye Josh.” She goes to the door, taking a deep breath before opening it.
“Fucking finally. Oh, hey Olliepop. Is everything okay?” Conor asks as he looks between us. She smiles up at him, but it’s a sad smile and then walks past him out the door. “What’s going on?” Matthews asks me, setting his pack of beer on the kitchen countertop.
“We broke up.” I tell him, letting out a heavy breath.
“Shit.”