36
Josh
I’ve really stuck my foot in it here. I just assumed Olivia would have told her about us already but from the awkward silence and tension filling the room, I can safely say that she did not.
Olivia takes my hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “This is what I wanted to talk about.”
Katherine’s eyes fly between me and Olivia and down to our joined hands.
“So I think it's okay to assume that Josh is the baby’s father?” We both nod, and I look down at Olivia’s tummy.
She has really popped the last couple of weeks and it’s a lot more evident that she’s pregnant.
Well, I think so anyway. She still thinks she looks fat and that people won’t be able to tell if she’s carrying a real baby or a food baby.
Either way, she’s still beautiful.
“Okay. Well, congratulations to you both then!” Katherine exclaims, clapping her hands together.
I’m caught off guard by her sudden change in reaction.
I was expecting shouting or disappointment not…
this. “First things first, I’ll need to contact HR about getting you two both a contract to sign. ” She begins typing on her laptop.
“What contract?” Olivia asks in a curious voice.
“A relationship contract. Basically saying that although you are in a relationship, you will still act in a professional manner. It also states that you can’t sue us for any sexual harassment claims or anything like that.
” She pauses, taking in the looks on both mine and Ollie’s faces.
“Not that you would.” She quickly states in a panic.
“We just need to protect our end of things, you know?”
A thought forms in my head and before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “So, you’re telling me that this whole time, we didn't have to sneak around?”
“Nope.” Katherine replies with what only could be described as an evil smirk.
“And why do you not seem more surprised about this?”
“Because I’ve always known you two were together.” She takes in my questioning gaze. “Well you weren't exactly subtle about it.”
What the fuck? So, everyone knew this whole time? I thought we were very subtle. I can feel Olivia watching me so I turn my gaze to her. Her expression matches mine. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”
“Why would I? You were very clearly sneaking around for a reason. Why should I say anything to you when you didn't say anything to me?” It’s a fair point but it doesn't ease any of the anger that’s bubbling up to the surface.
My jaw clenches tight as I bite out, “So we went for months, miserable, because of all of this and you’re telling me all we had to do was sign a piece of paper?
” Katherine does a slow nod of her head, seemingly a little guilty.
“Do you know how awful that was? Seeing my girl depressed, not eating, eyes red and puffy every single day because we ‘weren’t allowed to be together’ and all you had to say was ‘here, sign this’?
Fuck.” I’m shouting by the end, barely registering Olivia’s tight grip on my hand.
She has tears streaming down her cheeks and my mood instantly softens.
“Fuck, baby I’m so sorry.” I pull her to me, trying to comfort her with my embrace.
“I just didn’t realise how hard it was for you to see me like that. I didn't even think.” She hiccups through her words, inhaling deeply. “I’m so sorry, Josh.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Ollie.” I reassure her, running my fingers through her soft strands of hair.
Once Olivia’s cries have softened, Katherine clears her throat, reminding us that she is still in the room. “I’m sorry, Katherine. I didn’t mean to get so angry.”
She accepts my apology as a knock sounds on the door.
A short guy with a pot belly and glasses that take up half of his face walks in, holding a stack of papers.
HR must be the most boring job on this planet.
Just sitting around and waiting until someone needs you to print out a few pages.
Maybe that’s not all they do but fuck if I know.
The only times you ever hear of HR is when something needs to be signed or someone’s in trouble.
Olivia and I skim the documents while Katherine talks to HR Harry. It feels like forever since I started reading these and I don't think I’ve actually taken anything in. As soon as Olivia sets her set of the contract back on the desk, I do the same and she gives me an accusatory look.
Once we have signed everything that needs to be signed, Harry leaves the room so it’s only me, my girl and Katherine. There’s a heavy silence in the air surrounding us and I’m not sure what to do next. Can we just leave?
“Can I ask,” Katherine starts, “what made you think you had to hide this from everyone?”
Olivia speaks first, “At the start, it was because of the story I heard about the last photographer. I didn’t want to get caught up in some sort of scandal and risk this job.
” I take her hand again, giving it a gentle squeeze and she visibly relaxes.
“And then, that first day I was here after getting the job, you had told all the guys to stay away from me. But by that point, Josh and I had spent time together and I couldn't give that up. It was the most real thing that had ever happened to me.” Her cheeks are a gorgeous shade of pink and she bites her bottom lip to try and stop the smile that’s trying to break free.
“I just assumed that staff and team relationships were off-limits.”
“Does no one read the contracts before signing them when getting a job here?” Katherine asks and Olivia’s face flushes a deeper shade.
“Does anyone actually read contracts before getting any job?” I chip in which earns me a glare.
“Anyway, I think that’s us done here.” Katherine says, smiling at both Olivia and I.
“I’m glad you two have worked things out.
And I’m very happy for you both.” We make our way to the door, hand in hand.
“Oh wait,” Katherine calls out, “just one more thing.” She gives us both a hard accusatory stare, “Next time you think about fooling around in the office, be a bit more discreet.”
Olivia’s face drops, “What do you mean? We haven’t-”
“All I’m saying is, if you want to have secret office sex, maybe hide the jersey and the big man's feet from under the desk. I have eyes, you know.”
Ollie groans while I stifle a laugh. Yeah I can see it now, how we weren't being subtle at all.
“You’re sounding a little hypocritical there, Kat.
” Her eyes widen at my statement. I’m pretty sure I found a pair of Coach’s boxers lying in his office after he had a ‘meeting’ with Katherine.
I give her a wink as we leave her office and a sense of satisfaction fills me at the tomato red colour painting her cheeks.
Our next stop after our meeting with Katherine is my aunt Diane’s cafe. It’s time to tell her and my sister the truth. It’s weird though. With Katherine, Olivia and I were risking our careers but I’m still a lot more nervous about telling my family.
“Do you want me to wait out here for a bit?” Olivia asks me as we reach the door to the cafe.
“Uhh,” I flap my hands out trying to ease the tension in my body, “Fuck, I dont know.”
“Hey, baby.” Olivia starts, taking my hands in hers. “You need to calm down. Everything is gonna be okay.”
“I know, I know.” Raking my hands through my hair, I squeeze my eyes shut.
“You know that look your mom gives you when she’s disappointed in you?
That’s what it feels like when Diane looks at me.
” She’s been a mother figure to me since my own mom passed away and the thought of disappointing her kills me.
When I take in Olivia’s sad eyes, guilt surges through me.
“Shit, baby. I’m so sorry.” Of course she wouldn't know what it’s like.
Her mom checked out when she was ten years old and they haven’t spoken in about eleven years. I feel like a dick.
Ollie gives me a reassuring smile, "Don't worry about it.
Plus, I know exactly what you're talking about.” She pauses, rolling her eyes but lets out a soft chuckle, “Sasha gave me that look today.” She explains but doesn't tell me why.
“Look, why don't we go in together? I'll be there for you the whole time.” She places a gentle kiss on the palm of my hand.
“Plus, your aunt loves me. And she can't get mad at me. I’m growing her great niece in here.” She places a hand over her stomach and I itch to do the same.
“Come on.” I tug her behind me into the cafe, the familiar sound of the bell overhead a welcome reprieve.
“Oh, hey Button.” Aunt Diane calls from behind the counter. When her eyes catch Olivia behind me, she pauses. “Well if it isn’t Miss Olivia.” She beams at my girlfriend. “We’ve missed you around here.”
Ollie smiles back at her warmly. “Yeah, I’m sorry. Things got a bit… busy for a while.” I squeeze her hand to offer her some comfort.
“Is Charlie here?” I ask when I don’t see her in the cafe.
“Not anymore, love. We were quiet so I told her to go home. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I just wanted to speak to you both.”
“I’m here. Why don’t you two find a table and I’ll be over soon.” It’s only now that I realize she hadn’t questioned why Olivia and I were together. I look behind my shoulder at Ollie as we walk to a quiet spot in the back and she just shrugs, seemingly having the same thoughts as me.
Five minutes pass before aunt Diane strolls over to our table. “So, what’s going on?” She asks, eyeing me and Olivia closely.
I clear my throat before speaking. “Well, I,” I clear my throat again while Olivia squeezes my thigh under the table, grounding me. “Olivia and I are together.”
The smile that lights up my aunt's face brings back so many memories of when I was young. It’s the same smile she had when I told her I’d been drafted for the Flames and then again when I made captain. “We’ve actually been together for a while.”
“Oh.” Is her only response, her smile faltering. “And how long is ‘a while’?”
Shit. “Since I told you I ended things.” I cringe as I say the words, waiting for that look but it doesn't come. She’s giving me a look that I can’t decipher. “Why don't you seem surprised?”
“Oh, Joshy.” She says in a child-like tone.
“I knew the second that you walked out of here that day that you wouldn't end it with this one.” She nods towards Olivia who has a blush spreading across her cheeks.
“You proved that when I saw you the next day and were happier than a kid on christmas day.” She squeezes my hand over the top of the table.
“And you, Miss Olivia, are a terrible actress.”
Ollie covers her face with her hands and I laugh, taking her hand in mine again.
“Then something happened and all of a sudden you stopped coming in here and my Button boy was acting like he had something stuck up his ass for months on end.”
I gape at her, my jaw almost hitting the table and now Olivia is the one who’s laughing.
We tell her everything. Why we hid it from everyone.
What happened with Ryan. And about how we went to Katherine this morning.
She was very understanding about all of it and I realize that I had no reason to be nervous.
Aunt Diane was always going to be supportive.
As long as I’m happy, she’s happy. It's something she has always told me but it isn't until now that I understand how true that was.
“There’s one more thing.” Olivia says, fumbling around in her purse, pulling out a small photo of our baby. She hands the photo to Diane with shaky hands.
I eye her carefully, gauging her reaction.
Her eyes instantly well with tears as she looks between Ollie and I and back down at the photo.
She lets out a loud squeal, pushing back from the table so fast that her chair clatters to the floor, gaining the attention of every single person in the cafe.
“Congratualtions!” She rounds the table, pulling Olivia into a long hug before wrapping her arms around me.
She kisses my cheek and the urge to cry is so strong.
The back of my nose burns and I have to blink away the tears.
“I’m so happy for you, Joshy.” She embraces me again in a warm hug that feels like home.