Chapter 29
Oliver
Six Months Post-Finale
Oliver sat idling outside King’s Gym, rubbing his hands together while making mental calculations of their arrival time.
He glanced down at his phone, thumbing at the last message he’d sent in the earnest hope that refreshing would result in a new message.
A knock at the window made him jump, and Oliver turned to see Declan’s grinning face.
‘Hi, you,’ Declan said, as Oliver opened the door and stepped out to greet him.
The kiss he dropped to Oliver’s cheek made him instantly forget his worries about their tardiness.
‘Sorry for the wait.’
‘It’s fine,’ Oliver said, leaning into the warmth of Declan’s neck for just a moment and breathing in the familiar scent of him.
‘Better now.’
‘Old softie,’ Declan teased, deftly stealing the keys from Oliver’s hand.
‘Let me drive. You had a long day.’
Oliver walked over to the passenger side.
‘Just two more weeks and then the season will end.’
Declan flicked on his turn signal to merge onto the motorway.
‘Which reminds me, Dad asked about your next show. Shall I bring him?’
Oliver blushed at the idea of Declan’s dad seeing him in tights.
In the last few months, Jim and Oliver had bonded over their love of Bake Off and he’d even designed Oliver a few training programmes to help him with his lifts.
‘Of course, I’d love for him to come.’
Oliver reached out to clasp Declan’s hand resting on the gearstick.
The cold March rain pattered on the windshield, drowning out the low static of the radio.
‘And your day?’
Declan shrugged.
‘Good. I taught swimming to the under-eights.’
Oliver laughed, delighted by the image of Declan surrounded by children in arm bands.
‘And how did that go?’
‘Well, no one drowned,’ Declan said, glancing at him with a grin.
‘I’m adding swimming teacher to the list,’ Oliver said, pulling out his phone.
His and Georgia’s shared note where they kept all of Declan’s potential careers grew daily.
In the weeks following his retirement, Declan had fielded multiple brand campaign offers and sponsorship deals, but ultimately decided to take a step back from public life altogether.
He’d since disabled his social media channels, and was threatening to turn his iPhone in for an old flip phone.
‘Oh, would you stop it?’ Declan grumbled.
‘I don’t like how chummy you two are getting.’
‘You’re just jealous that she likes me more,’ Oliver teased.
Georgia absolutely adored the Royal London, and had been attending nearly weekly with Declan always by her side.
Soon after he’d caught her eyeing his outfit with distaste, PR packages of designer clothes had begun showing up at the flat mysteriously.
Georgia claimed to know nothing about how brands had got their address, but Will was taking full advantage.
‘Well, Will loves me,’ Declan said, wagging his eyebrows.
Will had made that particular proclamation at their last pub quiz night with Oliver’s mates.
Declan had successfully listed the last ten boxing all-stars from the UK, a question that no one else had even a chance of getting correct.
They’d won that night, and if Oliver had enthusiastically snogged Declan as a reward, well, Declan’s competitiveness must be rubbing off on him.
Declan’s phone pinged and he tossed it to Oliver.
‘Probably Jack.’
Oliver nodded, reading the message.
‘Yeah, he and Maeve just arrived. The hotel is “swanky”. His words.’
‘Obviously.’ Declan laughed.
They were heading up to Bristol for Niall and Stella’s engagement party.
Declan had snorted when they’d got the invitation, but Oliver knew he was secretly excited at the prospect of seeing their castmates again.
It would be the first time they’d all be together since the summer.
‘Oh God,’ Oliver cackled, reading Jack’s next message.
‘He’s found a karaoke bar nearby.’
‘Absolutely not,’ Declan deadpanned.
‘I dunno, Holls says she’s in,’ Oliver said.
‘Don’t you remember Jack in the shower?’
Declan groaned. ‘The man is completely tone-deaf.’
‘Exactly, this is going to be hysterical.’
‘I am not singing,’ Declan declared.
Oliver squinted at him.
‘I think I could convince you.’
The quick glance Declan shot his way was full of bravado.
‘Oh, yeah?’
Oliver nodded, eyes wide and innocent.
He leaned over the console, pressing his lips to the shell of Declan’s ear.
‘Absolutely.’
In the end, it didn’t take much to get Declan up on stage.
They’d barely had time to check in and drop off their bags before Jack had found them and dragged them out to the bar.
Maeve, Holly and Owen had joined them during their third round of beers, then someone suggested tequila and Declan and Jack were on stage belting out the chorus to ‘Mr Brightside’ not long after.
Oliver had bowed out after the first round of shots, but watched, enraptured, as Declan threw back his head, dramatically playing air guitar while Jack gyrated against the mic stand.
He liked when Declan got like this; it wasn’t often that he allowed himself to let loose.
Even with stepping back from the spotlight, he never seemed fully relaxed when they were out in public.
There was always a part of him on guard, but Oliver had had the satisfaction of seeing that part of him slowly unclench since they’d got together.
‘I need a refill,’ Maeve said, the slurp of her straw barely audible over the music.
‘And I can’t possibly watch any more of this.’
‘Oh, you love it,’ Oliver said, slinging an arm over her shoulder as they made their way back to the bar.
‘Two G Declan still seemed to have that effect on the straight male population.
‘Indeed,’ Oliver said wryly, catching Declan’s gaze from across the bar and raising his glass.
Declan’s grin was wide and open.
Oliver felt very warm all of a sudden, and he couldn’t solely blame the alcohol.
Jack belted out the final words of the song, and the two stumbled off the stage.
‘Oh God, he’s coming over here,’ Tim said.
‘He’d probably take a picture if you’d like,’ Maeve said.
Oliver shot her a warning look.
‘Made a new friend, have we?’ Jack asked, sidling up to her and taking a sip of her drink.
‘He’s a fan of the show,’ Maeve said, eyes crinkled with amusement.
‘He thinks Oliver and I were the best couple.’
‘Er,’ Tim flushed and stammered out, ‘I mean… you two seem great too.’
‘Good enough to win,’ Declan said, throwing a mock punch at Jack.
Tim seemed at a loss for words, staring at Declan unblinkingly.
But Declan was too far gone to notice, wrapping a hand around Oliver’s waist and tucking into his side.
‘You have a fan,’ Oliver murmured in his ear.
Declan turned to the man with his real smile still in place, reaching out his hand.
‘Hi, I’m Declan.’
Tim blinked at Declan’s hand for a moment before shaking it.
‘I love you.’
From the look of terror on his face, Oliver guessed that wasn’t what he’d meant to say.
‘I mean you, and your brother. And your father, really. Great family. Really great.’ Tim squeezed his eyes shut as if willing himself to stop talking.
Oliver traded amused looks with Jack.
‘The best,’ he finished lamely.
‘Thank you,’ Declan said, graciously ignoring the awkwardness.
‘Aaron is having an amazing year. Couldn’t be prouder of him.’
‘I bet.’ Tim swallowed nervously; there was a beat where no one said anything.
‘Well, um, good to meet you. I don’t want to take up any more of your time.’
To Maeve, he said, ‘Thanks for the photo.’
She raised her glass to him as he walked away.
‘God,’ Jack said, ‘that was next level. Do you get that all the time?’
‘Only sometimes,’ Declan said, nuzzling his face into Oliver’s neck, his breath smelling faintly of tequila.
Instead of being disgusted, Oliver found it oddly endearing.
‘I’d like it to be known that I was actually recognised first,’ Maeve said, pouting.
‘I’m much more famous than Declan.’
‘Of course you are, sweetheart,’ Jack said, kissing the side of her head before looking around.
‘Hey, where did Holls and Owen go?’
Oliver grimaced.
‘I think they went to the bathroom… together… rather a bit ago.’ Holly and Owen had been all over each other at their table, so he was grateful they’d chosen to take their canoodling to a slightly more private area.
Declan’s hand came to rest on Oliver’s hip.
‘Being much more civilised, I think we’ll go back to the hotel now.’
Maeve resumed her pointing, this time at both Declan and Oliver.
‘Make sure to set your alarm before you get too distracted. The engagement party starts in…’ She checked her watch and shuddered.
‘Seven hours, for some ungodly reason.’
Jack rolled his eyes.
‘It’s the exact time of day Niall and Stella laid eyes on one another during the hit TV show Summer of Love .
The producers assured them they’d be the perfect match…’
‘And, somehow, they were right for once,’ Oliver finished, grabbing Declan’s hand and squeezing it.
He saluted Maeve and Jack with his unoccupied hand.
‘We’ll see you at 10:13 on the dot.’
‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ Declan said, putting a hand on his heart.
‘Unless Oliver doesn’t wake me and force me to go, in which case I’ll probably miss it.
But, y’know, I’ll see you around.’
Oliver pulled him outside the karaoke bar and into the brisk night with a wave to the others.
To his surprise, a few flakes of snow were falling.
Some of them landed in Declan’s dark hair, and Oliver ruffled it.
‘I don’t feel cold,’ Declan said, staring with wonder at the snow falling in the little space left between them.
His eyes refocused on Oliver.
‘I love you.’
Oliver couldn’t stop himself from smiling every time Declan said those words, even though he’d heard them thousands of times already.
‘I love you too.’
‘We’re gonna be late.’
Oliver stepped out of the hotel bathroom, a tie in one hand and a comb in the other.
‘I’m nearly ready,’ he said, trying to smooth his hair into a presentable state and failing.
Declan grabbed the tie from his hand.
‘You’re hopeless, you know that?’
he asked wryly, looping the tie around Oliver’s neck and making quick work of the knot.
Oliver watched his fingers move at the collar, blinking at him in amazement.
‘I do know things,’ Declan grumbled, and Oliver kissed him.
His phone vibrated as they pulled apart.
‘Probably Maeve wondering where the hell we are,’ he said, grabbing the phone off the side table.
He laughed as he skimmed the messages.
‘Will and Georgia are absolutely eviscerating you in the group chat right now.’
Declan sighed.
‘I don’t know why you insist on sending blackmail material of me to our mates.’
Oliver had managed to snag an incriminating video of Declan on stage the night before, saving the moment for posterity.
He pulled Declan in for another kiss, feeling the drag of his stubble as he pressed closer, tasting the toothpaste he’d used that morning.
He looped his arms around Declan’s neck, grinning stupidly when Declan’s hands circled his waist.
‘We’re going to be late,’ Oliver said as Declan leaned in, mouthing at his neck and the sensitive corner of his jaw.
‘Let’s skip it,’ Declan said, bringing his lips across Oliver’s cheeks.
‘Niall and Stella won’t miss us.’
Oliver paused, considering.
‘Actually, they might be too wrapped up in each other to notice.’
Declan pressed a kiss to his lips.
‘Exactly what I’m saying.’
‘Unfortunately,’ Oliver said, ‘Jack will have no qualms with ratting us out, once he realises we’re skiving.
The traitor.’
Declan groaned as his jacket pocket vibrated.
‘That’s Holly,’ he said, declining the call.
‘Let’s go.’
The party was taking place in the garden of their bed and breakfast, so it took little time for them to twist through the corridors and make it outside.
‘Bloody Stella,’ Declan muttered, stuffing his hands under the arms of his wool coat.
Only Stella would think to have a party on the spring solstice, when it was still freezing outside.
‘Here,’ Oliver said, retrieving a pair of gloves from his pocket for Declan.
Declan looked at him in wonder.
‘You’re a miracle.’
‘ I check the weather forecast,’ Oliver said, spotting a large tent by the edge of the woods.
As they entered the tent, Oliver looked around for Niall and Stella, but couldn’t spot them in the crowd.
‘Oi!’ someone shouted from their left.
Oliver turned and saw Jack, Maeve, Holly and Owen shivering in their coats.
He and Declan joined them, exchanging hugs.
‘We’re planning on getting plastered,’ Holly said.
‘Oh?’ Declan asked, cocking his head.
‘It’s the best kind of winter coat,’ Jack explained.
‘And you know, hair of the dog, and such,’ Maeve said, with a wince.
‘I’d best catch us up, then,’ Declan said, squeezing Oliver’s hand before letting it go.
‘G&T for you?’
‘Please,’ he said.
As Declan left them, Oliver turned to Holly.
‘I never got to ask you last night – how are things in Manchester?’
‘Great,’ she replied animatedly.
Oliver thought she might be a few drinks in already.
‘Though this one keeps trying to get me to move to London.’ She rolled her eyes in Owen’s direction.
‘We’ll wear you down eventually,’ Oliver said cheerfully, slapping Owen on the shoulder.
‘Hey,’ a familiar voice greeted from behind them.
Oliver turned to see Eavie, stunning as ever, with a familiar-looking man at her side.
Oliver peered at him for a moment, trying to place him, before bending down to give Eavie a hug.
‘Nice to see you.’
‘You, too.’ Eavie turned to her companion.
‘This is my boyfriend, Samir.’
‘Oh!’ Oliver said, blinking.
‘I should have recognised you – it’s been years.
I’m Oliver, a former happy customer.’
‘I know who you are,’ Samir said gravely.
‘The boy who insulted my scones on national television. One doesn’t forget that sort of thing.’
Eavie smiled. ‘But you did bring us together, so there’s that.
You were right, he is a softie.’
Samir had a firm and deliberate handshake, but his tone was warm as he introduced himself to the group.
‘It’s so nice to finally meet Eavie’s friends from reality television.’
He said the words as though he wasn’t quite sure what they meant.
As the group resumed their smaller conversations, Eavie turned to Oliver.
‘How’s the Royal London treating you?’
He grinned. ‘I’m enjoying a leisurely rehearsal schedule these days, spending more time teaching.’
‘Are the kids still taking years off your life?’
‘Ha,’ he said.
‘They’re better behaved than the last batch, and I’ve coerced Will into helping me run things.
He can be very stern when he needs to be.’
They were interrupted by an enthusiastic greeting from Jack.
‘Faye! I didn’t know you’d be here!’
Oliver turned and saw Faye approaching them.
Just then, an arm wrapped around Oliver’s waist, a drink deposited into his hand.
Declan had entered the circle, to his left.
‘Hiya, Faye,’ Declan said, grinning.
‘This is Declan,’ Oliver explained to Samir, and then looked at Faye, ‘my boyfriend.’
Faye made a comical expression as she glanced between the two of them, eyes finally resting on where Declan’s arm encircled Oliver.
‘Wow,’ she said finally.
‘That does explain a lot, doesn’t it?
How long?’
‘Six months now,’ Declan said.
‘At that party Maeve threw for Jack in September. I think you were there.’
‘I’m starting to think that party was less for me and more for these two,’ Jack chimed in, with a glance to Maeve.
‘I did nothing wrong!’ she protested, her cheeks reddening.
‘I threw you an excellent party, and yes, maybe I had a tiny ulterior motive or two.’
‘Two?’ Holly asked, raising her eyebrows.
‘A girl has to have some secrets,’ Maeve said, taking a sip of her mulled wine.
Samir, who had been staring at Declan since he’d arrived, finally spoke up: ‘I know where I’ve seen you before.
You’re that boxer.’
‘The amateur bartender,’ Holly quipped.
‘The even more amateur photographer,’ Jack said.
‘The mushroom-foraging expert,’ Imogen put in, joining the circle with Zoe at her side.
‘Are we naming Declan’s weird hobbies?’
‘No,’ Declan said firmly.
‘We are accepting that I am going through a phase of enlightenment and self-discovery, since retiring from my incredibly stressful, and successful, athletic career. I appreciate the wholehearted support, so thank you.’
‘Once you find yourself , oh wise one,’ Jack said, ‘what will you grace the world with, among your many talents?’
Declan gave a pensive look around the group.
‘There are too many ways I can be useful to society. It’s an impossible choice.’
‘Professional reality TV contestant?’ Zoe teased.
Declan wrinkled his nose.
‘I’ve got absolutely everything I could possibly get out of reality television already.’
He looked sideways at Oliver.
There was an uproar of applause from the crowd around them, and Oliver saw Niall and Stella entering the tent from a flap next to an ivy-covered lattice frame.
There was a small stage in front of it with a microphone set up.
Stella showed no signs of being affected by the cold, beaming at Niall as he helped her onto the stage.
‘Thanks so much for coming, everyone,’ she said.
‘Niall and I wanted to have a small gathering to celebrate the changing of seasons and our love.’
Niall stepped forwards, bending over the mic.
‘While we have you gathered here anyway, we thought it might make sense to just get married now.’ He looked at Stella.
‘I don’t want to spend another second not married to her, to be honest.’
The group exchanged shocked looks.
‘Did you know?’ Eavie asked Oliver.
He shook his head, mystified.
Stella scanned the crowd.
‘Is Jack Obiaka in attendance tonight?’
Jack gave a whoop.
‘You know I am!’
She waved at him.
‘Jack, you once said you were going to become an ordained minister. I hope you’ve kept your promise.’
‘Oh, Stella.’ Jack put a hand on his heart dramatically.
‘I do.’
‘Hey, that’s my line!’
Niall cut in.
‘Come on up,’ she said, gesturing him onto the stage.
Jack gave Maeve a parting kiss on the cheek, thrilled to be put on the spot.
When he made it onto the stage, he addressed the audience: ‘Can I hear a round of applause for the beautiful couple?’
There was a deafening roar from around the tent.
‘Okay, that’s enough,’ Stella called, laughing.
‘Please ask me properly,’ Jack said, turning to Stella.
‘I won’t do it unless you get down on one knee and everything.’
She nodded gamely, kneeling.
‘Will you, Jack Obiaka, marry me, Stella Reyes… to him’ – she pointed to Niall – ‘Niall O’Connell?’
‘I will,’ Jack said solemnly, and Stella stood up, smoothing out her dress.
‘Well, we’ve gathered here today under false pretences, which seems to be in opposition to holy matrimony.’
He broke out in a wide grin.
‘But we’ll ignore it for the sake of two people in love.
Are your vows prepared?’
They nodded.
‘Ladies first,’ Jack said, looking at Stella.
The couple stood there, facing one another and holding hands, for a long moment before Stella spoke.
‘Niall,’ she said, her voice wavering with emotion, ‘since the moment I met you in the most manufactured setting possible, you have been the most real thing I’ve ever known.
They say the key to a successful marriage is to be surprised by your spouse every day.
I disagree with that.
Niall’ – she gazed at him, tears steadily streaming from her eyes – ‘I am never surprised by you. Your steadiness and your compassion never surprise me, because they are fundamental to you. My love for you never surprises me. It is steady and true, like you.’
Niall’s voice was shaky: ‘Stell—’ He broke off, wiping his eyes.
‘Fuck, well, I’m clearly a mess over you,’ he said, gesturing to his blotchy face, ‘but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
You make everything, every hard moment I’ve been through in my life, worth it, because it brought me to you.
I may be steady and true, but you are the person that keeps me steady and true.
The person I am with you, I couldn’t be for anyone else.
I love you, Stella.’
Oliver thought he saw Stella mouth I love you too , impossible to hear over the cheers from the crowd.
As he looked around, he found he wasn’t the only one in the group who was affected.
Zoe and Holly were crying, and even Declan surreptitiously wiped a tear from one eye, giving Oliver a silencing look.
‘Everyone gathered here today, may you be blessed with a love like this one!’ Jack shouted, and Oliver thought his eyes were on Maeve.
‘By the power vested in me by Getordainedonline.uk, I present to you, the married couple.’
Stella grabbed the microphone.
‘I do,’ she said, with a pointed look to Jack.
‘I do,’ Niall concurred, grinning widely through his tears.
More cheers arose as Niall pulled Stella into his arms, kissing her and carrying her off the stage.
A band appeared from nowhere, setting up as the merriment continued.
‘Come on,’ Declan said, grabbing Oliver’s hand.
‘Let’s get another drink.’
Oliver glanced at his gin and tonic, realising he hadn’t drunk any of it yet.
‘Okay,’ he agreed, looking into Declan’s bottomless eyes.
‘You’d go anywhere if I asked you nicely enough,’ Declan teased.
‘True,’ Oliver agreed.
‘Try not to abuse that power.’
‘It will be difficult,’ Declan said, looking him up and down.
Oliver felt incredibly warm all of a sudden.
When they got to the bar area, Declan walked straight past it, out of the tent and into the garden.
‘I thought you wanted another drink,’ Oliver said, confused.
‘No,’ Declan said. ‘I just wanted a moment without anyone else around. I like having you to myself.’ They stood there, looking at each other, for a long time.