Four chapters in four weeks! I think that's got to be some kind of recent record...As always, thank you to everyone who has stayed with this story, and for those of you who have come aboard - welcome! Thank you to Levesque-Rollins823 for your supportive reviews of every chapter, and a big welcome to Debwood-1999 for the follow and Angel029 for the favourite! I am so appreciative of everyone that takes the time to read the story all the way through - especially as it gets longer! Chapter 23 turned into this gigantic beast, and so I was able to cut it into two. Chapter 24 takes place immediately after Chapter 23…

The appetizer was a perfect complement to the lager, and the pico de gallo was an incredible blend of fresh and spice.

Once it was gone, Seth gave Olivia some suggestions for dinner. The gym crew usually met here on the evenings that Seth was in town, so he was pretty familiar with the offerings. "The bean burger is actually one of the best things on the menu...but the BBQ pulled pork sandwich is also so good. If you want we could order one of each and split them?"

Olivia frowned, "I think I may stick with as much of a vegan menu as possible,actually - but if you want to get the pulled pork, I will still give you some of mine."

Seth pondered the menu a little longer, then sighed, "I think I will go with the bean burger too...it's amazing, you'll love it." He flagged their server down and they gave her their order. Matt had apparently disappeared to another part of the pub entirely.

Olivia remembered something, "Is everything okay with the gym?"

Seth wasn't sure what she was talking about, "The gym? I guess so…"

Olivia shook her head, "I mean the text Eric sent earlier - before we came in? Is the trivia night still on?"

Seth made a note to really really find time to tell Olivia about calling Dean, "Oh right - Uh, yeah it's all good. He was just putting the staff review schedule together for tomorrow and wanted to know if you were going to be there, or if I needed to take a break for a longer lunch. I said I'd ask and get back to him tonight."

"Oh." Olivia thought for a moment, "Well if you think it's okay, I would like to go back and do another workout - then I could wait at the smoothie bar for you to be done. If worse came to worst, I could always walk down to that place we had lunch today and wait for you to be done."

Seth knew right then that he'd never be able to hide anything from Olivia if he felt like this much of a heel for not telling her the truth about one phone call. And one text… "I'm good either way Livs...it might be good to meet some new people, but if it's too much, I'll drive you wherever you want to go, no matter when."

Their dinner arrived, distracting Olivia from her reply. "If you need anything else, just let me know. Enjoy!"

Olivia took her first bite and closed her eyes, relishing the best burger she'd ever had. She chewed slowly and purposefully, making subtle noises she was hardly aware of. When she opened them again she saw Seth staring at her, eyes wide with a mouthful of food that he had stopped chewing when Olivia started making noises. "You okay?"

Seth snapped out of it and resumed eating, "oh...yup, yup...all um….good." Smooooooth.

The rest of dinner passed smoothly. Although they had spent the greater part of the last three weeks together, they still didn't know much about each other. So Olivia learned about Seth's high school wrestling career, meeting Dean, and starting his first gym and Seth learned about Olivia's music school audition, summer vacations with Renee's family, and her first year at Garfield High where she had worked right up until the accident.

"Oh my god, I just realized...my leave is up at the end of the summer...I guess I'll have to give them an answer soon as to whether I'm coming back…" she sighed heavily and waved their server down. "Can I get another couple of pints here please?"

Seth's face fell, "Olivia I didn't mean to…"

Olivia held up a hand, "Seth, I think this is what Dean has been trying to tell me...life goes on...and I need to get ready to continue with my life." She wiped away a quick year and smiled a little too brightly, "I'm good, I'm good…" she reached over to grab Seth's hand, "I think a fun night out will do wonders...I'll deal with the real world when I get back to Cincinnati."

Seth didn't know what to say. He hadn't even considered that Olivia wouldn't be staying in Cincinnati...what if she moved back to Seattle now that things were strained with Renee and Dean? Would it be possible to just have a solid two weeks where nothing complicated happened? He offered Olivia a weak smile, trying to hide his chagrin at the possibility of losing Olivia, and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Their new pints arrived and so did the first of the gym staff...Theresa. Seth rolled his eyes. Of course…

Theresa saw Seth and walked over to the table, "Hey Theresa - good to see you…"

Olivia gave Seth a strange look at the tone in his voice as he spoke, then greeted Theresa herself, "Hi again -I didn't get a chance to say how impressed I was with your time this afternoon. I can understand why that workout doesn't get programmed very often. You were great out there."

Theresa nodded slowly to acknowledge Olivia, almost warily, "Yeah you too...you did pretty good out there today...but if my hamstring wasn't recovering i'd have finished a full five minutes before you."

Okay, weird thing to say to someone you barely know, but maybe she's just got a problem with people skills…

Theresa continued to stand there, and Olivia didn't know where to go next with the conversation, so the next thirty seconds that passed were the longest in Seth's life. "Okay, well Theresa, Olivia and I were just finishing up our dinner date - I think Eric booked the small group room for tonight, so that's where everyone is meeting up…" His hope that she might take the hint and leave was dashed when Olivia spoke.

"Well there's no one else here yet, Seth - and there's no point in waiting by yourself...why don't I just scootch over and-oh, or that works too I guess…" she trailed off as Theresa muscled her way in beside Seth on this side of the table.

Oh dear god...Seth was not unaware of Olivia's raised eyebrows asking every question imaginable. He pressed his lips together, shrugged apologetically at Olivia and tried to maintain a distance from Theresa, who seemed to be oblivious to the exchange.

The server came over with their drinks and Seth asked for the bill. Theresa ordered a pint and then turned her attention to Olivia, "So Olivia, tell me about yourself - how long have you and Seth been dating?" Inwardly Seth grimaced, he wasn't sure where this was going but Theresa was one more question away from a private discussion regarding personal boundaries.

Olivia took it in stride - she'd defended her relationship with Mark to his mother for years, and this sort of abrupt method of questioning was a page right out of Meredith Madsen's book. The only successful way to deal with these questions and not get the questionner defensive was to stick to the facts, and to keep the tone civil as much as possible. She looked at Seth, "Three weeks on Friday? I think so…" Seth nodded his agreement, and decided to only put in his two cents' worth when Olivia let him know she needed support.

Theresa's drink arrived and she took a long pull at it before continuing, "Earlier today, you said you knew what Zahra did - tell me what you think Zahra did?"

Seth immediately broke in, "That's absolutely none of your business - " he couldn't help but raise his voice. He understood reassuring herself that Olivia was not here to cause problems, but what Zahra did had nothing to do with Theresa.

Olivia remained calm, certainly calmer than Seth himself was feeling right now. She held up a hand and took a breath, leaning forward to speak to Theresa across the table, "I know that Zahra threatened the financial security of everyone at Cross the Line CrossFit. I know that she betrayed the trust of everyone who relied on her for a paycheck and a community. And I know that she didn't give a damn about any of it." And I know that you were hoping Seth was coming through alone this time...well, maybe I don't know know, but I know when someone is more than professionally involved…

"What I want you to know about me is that I want nothing more than to see Seth succeed. And I will do whatever it takes to take him to the top - if that's what he wants. I am not going anywhere Theresa, so you should get used to that fact now - and maybe think about what you want, and what you're actually going to get, and then get used to it," she slid over to the end of the booth and gestured for Theresa to get out, "I see that Eric is here with the trivia crew - I think he could use some help getting set up, and you've interrupted our dinner. I'll pay for the beer, and I guess we'll see you in there." Theresa had no comeback, no comment, except to purse her lips together and try to stare Olivia down.

Olivia left her on the floor, sliding back into her seat and taking a long pull at her pint, completely dismissing THeresa. There really was nothing she could do without making a scene, and so she put on her most neutral face and turned to walk over to where Eric had started to gather staff members and get their help in taking things from his car to the room they'd booked.

Seth watched her go, then turned back to Olivia, eyes wide and shaking his head gently. Olivia was draining the last of her pint, and Seth noticed a slight tremble in her hand as the glass clinked on the tabletop. She had looked calm and collected when speaking to Theresa, but Seth could see now that her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were slightly reddened, and the fabric of her tshirt thumping rapidly with the beat of her heart. "That was - I don't think ive ever seen anyone speak to her like that...I definitely have never seen you speak to anyone like that, like..ever. Are you okay?"

Olivia continued to grasp her glass with both hands, like she was afraid to let it go. "I spent the better part of ten years being cowed by Mark's mom - she was queen bee, and spoke to everyone exactly the way she wanted to, no matter how it made them feel. I had to learn to stand up for myself, or else I was going to be spending the end of every family gathering crying to Mark in the car on the way home. I didn't get to do it too often before ...before the accident. But the few times I did felt so good - just like that did," she tilted her glass in the direction of the departing Theresa. She decided to get one question answered before they joined the staff, "How many times did you sleep with her before you got together with Zahra?"

Seth felt all the blood rush out of his body at Olivia's question, and he only stared at her for a few moments, trying to figure out how she knew. He tried to answer but the words came awkwardly, "How - what...did Eric?"

Olivia reached over to assure Seth she wasn't angry about something that had happened well in the past, "Well I didn't think it would have happened after the breakup - although it could have, I guess. Call it a hunch - I could see someone getting competitive with a newbie - I think that would be normal in any gym. But it was her little high school threats about hurting you that made me think there was probably something else behind them."

Seth sighed heavily, "It was a while ago - and it was only the one time...we were both on the gym's competition team, and there was a lot of drinking and friendly feelings involved...I realized the next day that it would be awkward to have a relationship with an employee, and I thought we were both on the same page...although after that little display, I guess she had other ideas this time around." He looked at Olivia sincerely, "It's only you...you know that, right?"

Olivia was already feeling pretty good, and Seth's declaration made her head spin. She slid back off of her seat and walked on her knees on Seth's side of the booth. When she got over to Seth, she took his head in both of her hands and bent to kiss him deeply, enjoying the taste of the lager on his tongue. She felt Seth's arms wrap around her waist and sighed contentedly. Olivia broke the kiss, "We really shouldn't start something we can't finish here...and we already have a commitment to your staff." She grinned and moved back off of the seat, pulling Seth's hand along with her.

Seth let himself be pulled towards Olivia, a huge grin on his face, "That was seriously the coolest thing i've ever seen - you are on Team Seth for life now, you realize that?"

Olivia only smiled, but on the inside she was fireworks, ponies, and Jolly Ranchers. "Oh I think we're Team Olivia - and right now Team Olivia is going to own your entire staff at Trivia Night…" Seth kissed her on the side of her head and they held hands as they went to meet and greet the rest of Seth's staff.

Eric had the coaches setting up tables and chairs and bringing in boxes with prizes and supplies. There was always an overall best winner, but Eric didn't like anyone to feel left out, so there were always a few door prizes for the lucky, but maybe not trivia-minded individual.

"Hey guys - how was dinner?" Eric smiled as Seth and Olivia entered the room. Olivia took a quick look around and realized that apart from Theresa, she hadn't met any of the other coaches this afternoon. Awesome.

"Amazing as usual - Olivia and I did vegan this evening."

"Ah yes - the bean burger," Eric replied, "Next time you're here, we'll do a double date and i'll bring James - he's working tonight - video conference on curriculum development for the kinesiology department at U of M." He handed a box of paper pads and pencils to Olivia, "If you would be so kind as to put four pad and four pencils at each table? Thank you my dear."

Olivia took the box and went to distribute the supplies. Seth watched her go, then leaned over to whisper in Eric's ear, "Can I talk to you for a minute?" Eric looked at Seth and tried to read him, but couldn't.

"Everything okay with you guys?"

Seth pulled him off to the side, "Is James's brother still working in Chicago at that riverfront hotel?"

Eric narrowed his eyes, trying to get a sense of where this was going, "London House? Yeah, he's a day manager now...are you sure everything is okay with you two? Is this about Theresa? She came storming in here, grabbing chairs and whipping them around like a tornado…" Seth shook his head, then rolled his eyes.

"Not totally, I mean yes - Olivia and I are fine. I want to have some time for just the two of us with no gym crap to deal with - do you think you could call him and see if he could get us a room for a couple of nights?" Seth had a pleading tone to his voice that Eric didn't often hear. Eric had liked Olivia right away, and he had a good feeling about her and Seth - he wanted to help if he could, so he quickly sent a text to Alan and waited.

"There, it's sent - he should get back to me in a few minutes...now what the hell is with Theresa? I thought you and she ended things years ago…" he glanced over to make sure preparations were still progressing at speed. They had to start soon to be out of the room by closing time.

Seth sighed, "I don't know - I thought I was pretty clear when I told her we couldn't see each other, but maybe she thought she had a chance again once I was back on the market? I don't know - but I do know that she is very clear on how things stand now - you missed a world-class take down a few minutes ago. Olivia made her position on our relationship crystal clear. He quickly recapped how it went down and Eric whistled softly.

"She is definitely not someone I would want to cross...I like her. I approve - and if she keeps having these brainwaves about amazing ideas to get us out into the city more - we may have to hire her."

Seth ducked his head and couldn't help the smile that made it onto his face, "I know - but I think her heart may take her out of our neck of the woods. It's a long story...i'll let her tell you sometime."

Eric took a look at his phone, "Alan wants to know if you want a corner studio - that's the nicest room they have and he can give it to you for his staff family rate….also did you want two queen beds or king bed?"

Seth left out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, "That's great - yes absolutely i'll take it. Tell him it doesn't matter if it's two queens or a king - either will work. Thank him for me - we'll be arriving Monday morning."

Eric paused his typing, "Cutting this segment short? What about the meeting with the accountant? That was scheduled for Monday morning as well...first thing, though so you could still make it there and check in with plenty of time before dinner...I would offer to change it, but there's no way you're getting him out here on Sunday."

"There's been nothing out of the ordinary, has there? No unexpected expenditures?" Seth thought the meeting could be a quick one if there was nothing unusual.

Eric shook his head, "Shouldn't be no - but we may have to talk to him about a budget line for community outreach if we go ahead with this senior care home idea of Olivia's...shouldn't take more than an hour anyway." He looked at his phone again, "Alan wants to know if you want to book a table for dinner somewhere nice - he has an in at Bistro Campagne and Geja's - a secluded table for two would be doable."

Seth looked at Eric with an expression close to adoration, "I am going to owe Alan big time for this…"

Eric nodded, "And that doesn't even start to consider what you owe me." He laughed and clapped Seth on the shoulder, "Seriously man, she obviously makes you happier than I ever saw you with Zahra - and she actually wants to be a part of the business, and doesn't view it as a bank machine...she ticks all the boxes you could want - and I like her. So don't screw it up...now let's have some fun."

Together they walked to where Olivia was standing with an empty box beside the table she seemed to have claimed for herself, not too close to the front, but not right at the back of the room either. "Everything okay?" she asked when the boys came back from their side meeting.

Seth took her into his arms and spun her around, making the box go flying. "Seth!" Olivia squealed as she was whirled in a circle. "Give a girl a warning next time - I'm already spinny from two pints...i think i may need another round of that pico de gallo…" She tottered into a chair and sat down heavily.

Eric touched her shoulder, "I'll go and let our server know we're ready to start ordering food and drinks, you two stay here and save me a seat."

Seth sat down beside Olivia, "Still confident, slugger?"

Olivia nodded, "Unfortunately, yes - the amount of useless information I have in my head is staggering…"

"Pop quiz hotshot - what's that little plastic piece at the end of a shoelace called?"

"Aglet"

"What US city is called 'The Windy City'?"

"Seth, that's easy - Chicago."

He smirked, "and what movie filmed there starred John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd?"

Olivia rolled her eyes, "The Blues Brothers - seriously it's like you're not even trying…"

"What year was it filmed?"

"Released or filmed?"

"Released."

"1980."

Seth whistled low and slow, "Impressive...I think you're all warmed up champ. Looks like Eric is just about ready to go -ready to blow some minds?"

Olivia nodded, "They won't know what hit them - but I would like another beer and something more to snack on - do you see the server?" She stretched her neck up and around, looking to see if someone had arrived to take orders before things kicked off.

Seth got up and went to find the server, but his seat was soon taken by Eric, "All set?"

"I have to warn you - I'm a bit of a ringer...no one in my family plays trivia with me anymore." She twisted the pencil idly between her fingers. She liked Eric - he was the first person she met here and he had always been warm and welcoming - if Theresa had been the first person she'd met, it was doubtful Olivia would have felt comfortable coming out tonight. Or maybe I would have come out just to kick her ass… she chuckled a bit at the competitive vein Theresa seemed to bring out in her.

"Well, we're not exactly new at this, either hon. We may provide a bit more competition than you are used to…" Eric sidled closer to Olivia, "So...I see Theresa was the first to arrive - she certainly came in here in a bit of a snit...do you know about the history with her and Seth? I mean - 'history' is a bit of an exaggeration...they had one drunken night together and Seth realized it was not a good idea and ended things. I can't say she took it that well, but honestly, if i'd had any indication that she still held a torch for him, i'd have at least given him a heads up before coming out here today."

Olivia sniffed dismissively, "She did interrupt our date earlier...tried to push the boundaries a little. I made it very clear what I felt. She had nothing to say in return, so I can only assume that she agreed with me." Eric heard the note of ice in her voice and wished he could have been there to see what had gone down.

"I like you, Olivia -I haven't seen Seth this upbeat and happy since before things went south with Zahra...and when the boss is happy, I'm happy." He thought of the look on Seth's face when planning the last-minute trip to Chicago, and thought that these two actually had a chance to last. He hoped so.

Seth arrived back at the table with a tray of pints and bowls of food, "I got hot food and cold beer -thought i'd give the server a hand, he seems to be a bit slammed...apparently there was a last minute switch of sections." He nodded in the server's direction and Olivia saw their erstwhile server Matt, looking a bit harried trying to take Theresa's order. She felt for the guy...it was not his night.

The trivia night went much as Olivia expected it would - she did wind up the big winner, but it wasn't as easy as she thought it was going to be. She got head scratchers like "Where is the Sea of Tranquility located?" and "Which actress keeps her Oscar in the bathroom?" but she lost out to equally tricky ones like, "Other than chimpanzees and gorillas, what other non-human animal has human-like fingerprints?" and "What planets literally rain diamonds?" It was a great night - the snacks kept coming and the beer flowed freely...maybe a little too freely. When she tried to stand, she had a difficult time finding her legs under her. Seth tried to help steady her, but was not much more stable himself.

Eric offered to drive the pair back to the hotel, and was witness to a couple of the sweetest drunks he'd ever been around. Olivia got the front seat with him, but Seth buckled himself into the centre back seat so he could still hold her hand. When they got to the hotel, Eric walked them into the lobby, just to assure himself that they weren't going to fall asleep on one of the large, comfy-looking couches along the way.

"You guys make sure to drink a pitcher of water before you go to bed - got me? I do not want to have to nursemaid your ass through staff assessments tomorrow - I will make you regret it." Eric was stern with his boss, but sweet with Olivia, "And you - I would hate to see you suffering through a workout - i'll get you a hangover smoothie when you get to the gym tomorrow." He kissed her on the cheek, "I'll see you both at 10."

Olivia and Seth waved and were probably louder in their goodbyes than was polite, but the lobby was not quite deserted and the remains of what looked like several graduation parties littered the area, so they weren't unusually loud. The closer they got to their room, the closer they got to each other. Instead of holding hands, they had arms draped around shoulders and waists that dipped down for a cup of a cheek every so often. Olivia's warm drowsy glow from the pub was quickly evolving into something much more...elemental. When Seth fumbled with his key in the lock, Olivia was running her hands along his shoulders and back, completely embracing him from behind, her cheek pressed against his shoulder muscles. "I can feel your heart beating through your back...it's super loud…"

Seth chuckled, "If you keep that up, that's not the only thing you'll be feeling."

Olivia smiled into Seth's shirt, "Oh really…?" she began to run her hands from around his midsection down lower, and was dipping into his waistband as he frantically got the key in the lock and opened the door, pulling Olivia inside with him. He closed the door and pressed Olivia up against it, letting her feel just exactly what she had been looking for. She reached up for his head, and pulled him down to her hungrily, taking his mouth with hers. She moaned when Seth rocked his hips into hers, making his arousal painfully obvious.

He wanted Olivia badly, was burning for her now. But he didn't want their first time to be up against a hotel room door, mostly clothed. He came up for air, "Olivia…" was all he got out before she reached for him again. He was more successful at diverting her attention the second time, "Olivia - let's move to the bed, okay?"

Olivia looked up at him, pupils blown wide in lust, her lips slightly swollen, and her breath coming in short gasps. He could see her heartbeat throbbing steadily and rapidly through her t-shirt. She nodded and followed him to the bed. They both kicked their shoes off and Olivia shimmied further up the bed, and curled her finger to bring him closer to her. Seth crawled on all fours toward her up the length of the bed, his intention clearly indicated in his steady, smouldering gaze as he got closer and closer to her.

He dipped his head and kissed the tender skin at the place where her shoulder and neck joined, satisfied when he heard a little gasp leave her lips. He felt Olivia's hands pulling at his shirt, trying to get it off of him. Before she tore it, Seth sat up and pulled it over his head, throwing it to the side.

Olivia looked up at Seth, bare chested and obviously aroused, and felt the curl of heat in her core start to branch upward. The room had begun to spin, and her eyelids felt heavy. She fluttered her eyelashes in an attempt to stay awake, and ran her hand over his abs. Seth watched her, fascinated, as her fingers trailed up his six-pack and up to his pecs, and down his arms. He shuddered a little at the delicate touch that was not so much to arouse him as for Olivia to check out this body that was now hers.

Seth reached for her shirt and gently pulled it up over her head, revealing a light blue lacy bra underneath. He reached out a hand to cup one breast and smiled when Olivia shivered at his touch, pressing herself forward into his palm.

"Cold?" She shook her head.

"No."

Seth pushed Olivia gently back down to the bed, keeping one hand on her breast, running his fingers over the lace, and squeezing the nipple just a bit. At the encouraging sound from Olivia, he squeezed a little harder, making her buck underneath him, "Oh god, Seth...you have too many clothes on."

He reluctantly pulled himself away from her, and went to move off of the bed to undress. He was still definitely drunk, and so what should have been a simple task was made much harder by his obvious lack of coordination and balance. He fell off of the bed and landed heavily on the floor.

"Are you okay?" came the faint query from the bed.

He was gently cradling the elbow that had landed on the floor first and grimaced, "I think so...i'll be there in just a sec."

He tried to stand, but his sock feet wouldn't cooperate right away and he was only able to use one arm at the moment to steady himself. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Seth managed to undo his pants and get them off, throwing them to the floor where his shirt had landed. He looked over at Olivia triumphantly, only to hear a faint buzzing noise and see that he had obviously taken too long to disrobe - Olivia was peacefully asleep in their bed, snoring quietly.

Seth dropped his head back between his shoulder blades with a flash of disappointment and took a deep breath. He chuckled to himself and shook his head, then went over to Olivia's side of the bed. It had been an incredibly long day, and definitely in the last three weeks, Seth hadn't seen Olivia take as much as a sip of alcohol. And she hasn't touched a glass of water all night. He sighed, and gently maneuvered Olivia so that she was safely ensconced under the blankets. He wobbled around to the other side of the bed and tucked himself in beside her, then leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead. We have all the time in the world Livs...I promise.