Epilogue
OLIVE - FOUR MONTHS LATER
“That skirt is fine on you,” Bronwyn said, clearly exasperated from where she sat on the couch as Olive changed for the third time.
“I want to look nice,” Olive said, turning around in the mirror to make sure her underwear lines didn’t show. “Charlie’s coming back to town today.”
“I know, you wouldn’t shut up about it,” Bronwyn said.
“Excuse me for wanting to look nice for my soon-to-be girlfriend, boyfriend, theyfriend… at least, I hope so.” Olive tugged nervously on her hair, trying to make sure there was no loose strand. Her hair was tied up in a high bun, exposing her neck in a way she knew Charlie would love.
“There’s no way they’ll say no, whatever title you give them.
” Bronwyn was sounding more exasperated by the minute.
It was true that Olive had been talking about this very night for a while.
Olive wanted to make it special. Wanted to make Charlie feel as treasured, as she had the entire time they’d been seeing each other.
They had seen each other on and off for the past little while, Charlie being swept away with the life of being a proper celebrity now.
The brand deals, endorsements, and documentary requests (yes, multiple) had come in since Milan.
Olive understood that in a career as turbulent as Charlie’s, they needed to make all their money while they were in demand, so they could smartly save and invest the rest of their earnings for when they retired, which was likely to happen in the next few years.
Olive had learned more than she ever thought possible about the business of being a hockey player in the past few weeks, but she guessed that came with the territory of being a hockey WAG.
Well, not officially yet. But hopefully soon.
Olive ignored Bronwyn’s annoyance and ran to the bathroom to grab her favourite lipstick. She checked the time on her phone and nearly cursed. She was going to run late, at this point.
“Don’t forget, you need to be out of here in an hour,” she called out to the living room as she slipped on her shoes.
“Why?”
“So I can bring Charlie back here, duh,” Olive said, grabbing her purse and digging through it for her keys.
“Gross. I’ll definitely be gone,” Bronwyn called out. Olive didn’t bother to reply, the door already closing from her leaving a few seconds prior.
At the restaurant, Olive was nervous as she waited for Charlie to show up. She had last seen them a month ago, and she felt the weight of every single day without them.
She stood in front of the restaurant, remembering the last time she had waited like this for her lover all those months ago. So much had changed since then, and for the better. She felt a bit more sure about her career, her creativity, and who she wanted to share all those milestones with.
“Hey, baby,” a familiar voice said, and Olive was pulled out of her reverie with a cheek kiss.
“Hey, darling,” she responded.
Charlie looked slightly different from when Olive had last seen her. Their hair was short around the sides and long at the back, giving them the perfect mullet look. Olive ran her hands through it.
“Nice mullet,” she said.
“Nice face,” Charlie said, using the fond voice they tended to use in Olive’s company. Olive wanted to ask them right there and then, but she had a plan.
“Hardy har har,” Olive deadpanned, and grabbed Charlie’s hand. She pulled them inside, where they were soon being led to their table.
Recognizing that Charlie was likely to hold out her chair for her, Olive let go of their hand first and made sure to beat them to the chase.
“After you,” she said.
Charlie was still blushing when Olive took her seat across from them. She could tell Charlie was about to say something when their server came up and interrupted them.
After the usual pre-ordering pleasantries (“Still or sparkling water?” “Still,” Olive and Charlie said at the same time), they were finally alone again.
Olive reached across the table for Charlie’s hand. “I missed you,” she said.
“I missed you too.”
It was difficult not to ask the question throughout the meal, but somehow, Olive managed to survive.
When she went to pay for the bill, she had to strategically make sure it did not go to Charlie, who had been spoiling her all the times they had met prior.
She could feel Charlie’s questioning gaze on her, but she was relieved that the athlete knew better than to mess with one of her plans.
When it was finally time to leave, Olive stood first and held out a hand to Charlie.
“Come walk with me?” she asked.
“Anytime,” Charlie responded.
As she led them out of the restaurant, Olive’s heart raced. She was walking them towards her place, and though she knew Charlie would not say no to spending the night together, she was starting to feel nervous that she wouldn’t agree to every night after.
The spring weather was perfect, not too hot but not too chilly either, and after their required commentary about the weather, Charlie finally asked, “So where are you taking me?”
“To my place,” Olive said.
“Oooh,” Charlie responded. “I’m excited. I still remember the last time I was there.”
Olive shook her head at the mischievous look in their eyes, but it didn’t last long. She remembered it too, and she had to admit that there was a part of her that was curious about how else they could explore her collection of toys. But that would be later. First, she had to get the romance on.
“When’s your next trip?” Olive asked, realizing she wasn’t sure how long Charlie would stay in town.
“I don’t know. Soon though, probably. Depends on some things.”
Charlie was being vague for the first time that evening, and Olive wasn’t sure what to do about it. It was unusual for her to be that cryptic. “Like what?”
“Like what my girlfriend thinks about it.”
Olive paused mid-walk, causing the people behind them to nearly bump into her. Charlie apologized for them both and led Olive to the side of the street.
“Sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have said that.
” Charlie was rambling now. “It’s just that’s what I’ve been saying when my agent and managers ask, and I know I should’ve asked you first, but I think it was easier to say that than ‘the woman I see every time I’m in Toronto and am sort of committed to, but we’re not really official yet but I really want to be’ and—”
Olive kissed Charlie, recognizing that was the best way to shut them up.
“You’re so mean.” Olive pouted. “I wanted to be the one to ask you. That was the whole point of this.”
“Awww.” Charlie grabbed Olive’s face in their hands. Olive couldn’t stay mad at them when they were like this, and she felt the slight annoyance already leaving her body.
“You can ask me now,” Charlie said.
“Fine. Will you let me be your girlfriend?” Olive asked.
“Of course.”
Their celebratory kiss may have earned them cheers from passersby, and Olive tuned them all out as she focused only on the feel of Charlie’s lips against hers. She was about to bite their lip when Charlie broke up their kiss, panting slightly as she leaned her forehead against Olive’s.
“And I can be your…boyfriend?”
“Whatever you want to be, darling.”
“Thanks, baby.”
They managed to stop kissing long enough to realize they should probably take the next part of their evening private, and as they walked hand-in-hand to Olive’s place, she couldn’t help but think fondly of that spontaneous night she had with a hot hockey player.
She had no clue that that one magical night would turn into this, now walking together towards the rest of her life with the person of her dreams. If it was a fairytale, she never wanted the story to end.
Thank you for reading A Good Puck.