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TWENTY-TWO
OCTAVIA
"So let me get this straight. Your dad pretty much ripped the skin off Oakley's back cause he wants to play pro?" Tyler asks, seemingly gobsmacked as we come close to the end of our four-hour drive to Penticton.
"Pretty much. Talk about a great first impression.”
I tried to ignore Dad the next morning, but I was cornered on my way out of the house.
He demanded we sit down and talk, looking more stern than I’m used to. He wouldn't take no for an answer, so I caved and decided to let him speak. Already pissed, I only got more annoyed when he used the whole 'just-looking-out-for-me' speech as his apology.
I rolled my eyes, crossed my arms and let his words go in one ear and straight out the other. Not wanting to argue, I nodded my head and said goodbye. He was utterly unfair the night before, and if I'm honest, seriously embarrassing too. A simple apology to me isn't going to be enough.
"That's rough. How did Oakley take it? I would have been pretty pissed." Tyler shrugs his shoulders, his eyes glued firmly on the road.
"He played it off for my benefit. We haven't had a chance to sit down and talk about the whole pro-league thing since," I state with a sigh.
Hopefully, that will change tonight.
There are so many unknowns in our relationship hanging over my head, taunting me day and night. The biggest one being, what do we plan on doing if he does get drafted early? Just sit and hope for the best? Every inch of me needs to have answers, and it pains me that I don't have them.
Are we setting ourselves up for failure? Can we even make this work when I'm stuck here and he's all over North America? Surrounded by beautiful women at that.
Will we crash and burn like a tragic love story? Everything in my brain is screaming at me to run away before things get messy—and most importantly, I get hurt again.
I swore I wouldn't give anybody the power to break me ever again, but I did. Oakley can't just break me. He can destroy me.
???
We pull up outside Oakley's house shortly after noon. I can feel my heart contract as I study the house in front of me. You can almost feel the love radiating through the front door.
"Ready to head in?" Tyler's powerful, gruff voice cuts through the comfortable silence.
I open the car door and step out into the freezing October air. Luckily, I decided to dress weather appropriate and have quite the cute look going on with Morgan’s help. Much to her despair, I went for a simple outfit; a loose blush blouse and dark skinny jeans. It's perfect.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
Tyler snorts and falls into step beside me as we walk up the steep sidewalk. When we reach the front door, Tyler raps on the door three times to announce our arrival.
After a few seconds the door flies open, revealing an extraordinarily handsome Oakley. Dressed in a black button-down and a pair of very tight dark wash jeans, he looks good enough to eat. His usual cap covered messy hair has been trimmed and slicked back, and don't get me started on the beard that now covers the lower half of his face.
"Hey, baby. You look gorgeous," I hear him say with a strong sense of approval.
I drag my eyes away from his gorgeous body and up to his even prettier eyes. They glimmer with happiness, and I can't help but smile.
"Hi," I squeak, wishing Tyler wasn't standing beside me so I could pounce on my man.
As if on cue, Tyler scoffs, "Hello? I'm literally right here."
Oakley smirks and opens up the door wider so Tyler and I can make our way inside.
"Hey, buddy. Glad you could make it."
"Thanks for having me. I don't remember the last time I was in a house that felt so warm."
I look for the hidden sadness in his words, but don't find any.
"Where's that lovely mother of yours? I was promised quite the feast," I tease, hoping my comment will bring back the playful banter from before.
