Stripped
A/N: I'm so glad you guys didn't forget about Olivia. So, this chapter's a shorty. Hope that's okay. I promise, the real meat is in the next chapter. Enjoy!
"There he is," Olivia smiled, gripping John's hand tightly while wrapping her free hand around his bicep. She nodded toward a group of adolescent boys in baggy jeans and tee shirts, chilling on the bike path a few hundred yards from the ticket booth they had just visited.
He was still decked head to toe in black, but his shoulder length hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, and there was a broad grin on his face. The overwhelming insecurity and sadness were gone from his demeanor as he straddled his bike and leaned comfortably on the seat, his arms resting lazily over the handle bars.
A plethora of emotions swept over Olivia as Brandon turned, squinted into the sun, and lifted a hand in recognition toward her. "Come on," she pulled on John's arm and headed toward the fence. Any nerves she had experienced faded in the instant she glanced at her angel's face.
He rode to the fence and nudged his kick stand to the ground, before shoving his hands deep into his pockets. Though she wanted to throw her arms around the boy and never let go again, she was well aware of how humiliating it would be for an eleven-year-old boy to be embraced by his mother in public. Even if his mother was a WWE diva. "Hey, Kiddo," she smiled, and tried to keep her voice even.
Brandon smiled a true, genuine grin and leaned on the fence. "You came," he said, as though he was somewhat surprised. Turning to John, he offered a small wave. "Hey," he greeted.
John extended a hand and then cleared his throat. "I've heard a lot about ya, man. It's pretty much all your mom talks about."
Though he said nothing in response to the comment, Olivia watched as a slight blush crept into her son's cheeks and a proud smile cracked his "I'm so cool" expression. As John and Brandon talked bike mechanics like they'd know each other for years, a foreign feeling settled over her, resting softly in her chest. This was the life she had always wanted, even before she knew she wanted it. She had dreamt of this life – where the man she loved was by her side, and her kids (or kid, at the moment) were happy and well-adjusted.
"Hey, B," some kid in camouflage pants and a Chain Gang tee shirt called out. Brandon turned and nodded, motioning for the kid to come over. "Dude, it's really you," he said to John in awe and disbelief.
Olivia smiled as Brandon leaned closer to her and watched her boyfriend interact with his fan. "It always like this with you guys?" he asked.
They would have no long, weepy "I've missed you so much" greeting – she knew that. But the fact that he was touching her arm, and smiling at her like the kid she used to know, was more than enough for Olivia. With a nod, she rolled her eyes. "You would think he's the champion or something."
As a young man in baggy clothes took a microphone and announced that the race would soon be starting, John promised Brandon and his friends pizza after the race and then allowed Olivia to lead him to the stands. Just knowing that her greatest fears had been discounted with one beaming smile from that kid was enough to make John's day even better than it had been to that point. For the first time in his life, the thought of having a family didn't scare him. In fact, as he watched Olivia watching Brandon, he almost welcomed the thought.
Settling back against his arm, Olivia smiled. She had spent most of her life believing that good things would never really happen to her. Brandon was a blessing, to be sure, but for a while it had seemed like she had even managed to fuck that up, too. Now, she was starting to think maybe there was a happily-ever-after in her future after all.
And then the proverbial, and literal, shadow fell over her joy parade. Craning her head, she cringed and gritted her teeth. He smiled at her sarcastically. "Hello, Jack."