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"I’ll be out in aher firht, I want to spend every wakingin other ways, and knowing I can reach out and touch her without having to worry if I workwith her ht, no way I want her with me, inin today… the chance of isolation and freedom to make Olivia as loud as I want her to be is sli in

I sigh and sit up I rake et a haircut "I should probablyin"

Her eyes widen and she pushes herself up on her elbows "When?"

"Today, and I was thinking we could have a barbeque--just you,that I just created a reason to have her agree to coht before her mom has a chance to rope her into dinner

Olivia sits up and tightens her ponytail, s okay?"

"Above the waist I’m okay, why?"

Her lips twitch "It doesn’t seey before a double date"

"Firstly, I don’t have a style and it’s not a double date It’s a couple of friends hanging out and eating a shit ton of food…" I hookher toward ainstinto ernails into ht," I finish

She takes a step back and I reer from her shorts as she runs a hand over her face "Shit, I can’t"

The balloon of indecent excitement in my chest deflates "You can’t?"

"No, I proht"

"What tiht pm"

"Come to dinner at six and then you can Skype with Chase afterwards"

She ponders for a little while, pulling the corner of her lip between her teeth "Fine, do you need ?"

"You don’t need to get anything, I have lots of steak"

Olivia blinks atfor her blue backpack that sits on the desk "I’ll go pick up some Selena-friendly food She only eats lah times they actually count as a cheger the anier the bloat"

Whatever the hell that means A few more knocks sound on the door and I walk towards it before pulling it open

"We were only talking," Olivia states, shifting her weight and folding her ar and I follow his line of sight I smile widely when I spot one half of her shorts pushed up her thigh

"Apparently," he deadpans

Olivia glances down and abruptly flattens her shorts

"Anyway, I have the MMAC breathing down my neck They’re not happy with your ti orilla who knowsmy shoulders in an attempt to come off unbothered, but inside, I feel sorry for Darryl I’ve fucked him around a lot since I , I’d hired hirew close and noouldn’t dreaave up his life in Seattle and uprooted his wife and three children to move to Portland with me He believed in me--believes in me--and I don’t knohat I’d do or where’d I’d be without hi a quick kiss on my cheek "See you soon"

We watch as she rounds the corner and disappears down the stairs

"I’

Darryl’s lips curl into a wide, proud smile and it illumines his dark features "Good, you’d be stupid not to"

I nod ainst the door fra "You know, the ‘no sex’ rule isn’t only to help your performance levels, but to also help your relationship"

I frown, confused

"C’uy you were With this rule in place, it gives you time to explore other aspects of your relationship Love isn’t only expressed through words or sex It’s coh actions--selfless actions--as easy as listening to her talk about her day or washing her hair Love isn’t about staying together and having sex It’s about staying together and growing together, for a lifetime" Darryl chuckles "That probably went in one ear and out the other, though, right?"

I shake hout this relationship "No, I think I’ll hold on to that piece of advice"

He rubs the back of his neck and averts his gaze, happy, but uncomfortable Neither of us is used to conversations like this "Let’s go, we’ve got training to do"

Before he turns, I stop hi up with all of my bullshit I know I’m hard to handle and I know I can be a dick, so thanks for dealing with it better than Dad did"

Darryl’s features hardened "With all due respect, your dad was an idiot You were just a boy--one that made bad decisions--but a boy, nonetheless If he spent s would have been different"

"Maybe, but I wouldn’t change anything"

I had a love/hate relationship with Dad--predo I don’t think he could handle at any stage in my life Olivia, however, knew exactly what kind of person I e met, God knows I told her aaround her, she soothesin the amateur tournaht, Dad’s words would ring throughin life? Ever? You’re dedicated, sure, but you’re also stupid You always get your oay and this…fighting thing is no different I’ll watch your fights, but only to see you ruin it for yourself You always do"

Every tiht in the amateur comp, it was a ‘win or die’ situation It in or prove ht and I refuse to admit that I’m the loser he believed I was There isn’t a subet me in a hold, you better be prepared to snap a bone or kill me because I will not surrender Call me stubborn, I know I as too, but what I a that I want and now that I’hts, meaner There’s a lot more stress on my mind and my body than ever before, but I’m ready

I think