Ten o'clock at night, a tired Fitzgerald Grant hopped out of his truck in front of his brick apartment loft with keys in hand after a long, productive day of work.
The plan was to get inside his apartment, fix himself a drink and something to eat then cuddle up in front of his flat screen TV and catch a rerun of the Mets' baseball game. They were dominating in the World Series so far and he wagered a lot of money on those fuckers against the Cardinals with Stephen.
What he didn't expect when he jumped out of his truck though, was to find a very pretty little lady in a hoodie sitting on his steps waiting for him.
He took pause in front of the steps that led towards his home and his body stiffened instantly and the displayed expression on his face was the purest form of surprise.
He hadn't seen her since the day after she spent the night over at his place and honestly, he never thought he would see her again because after all, the world isn't as small as they say it is. New York alone is a whole world in itself.
So surprise didn't even begin to describe what he was feeling. After the shock registered, his heart just went into overdrive, nearly jumping out of his chest. It was beating so erratically. And his soul filled with a joy so overwhelming, it was threatening to burst also.
He was so happy to see her that the sight of her became almost too overwhelming to bear.
"Hi." He greeted softly.
Even in the darkness of the night, her smile was radiant.
"Hi, Ace." She replied.
Fitz couldn't help but smile back at her. Strangely enough, he also missed that little nickname.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
It was then that she stood up and he was able to really see her, dressed comfortably in black sweats and a hoodie.
God, she looked cute!
She then descended the steps that led towards him and took down her hoodie. Much like the night she slept over, her hair was a hot mess of curls tied haphazardly on top of her head with a thin Nike headband taming the fallen curls from being all over the place.
Damn! Why did she have to be so fucking cute?
"I need a friend." She said.
Her dark-chocolate brown eyes were gleaming under the street lights and the vulnerability in her voice nearly killed him.
Her statement didn't even register to his ears because all he kept hearing was the pain that she was trying so hard to mask from him.
And suddenly, he wanted to bash the bastard's face for causing her such pain.
"Does that offer still stand?" She asked, almost shyly.
Snapping out of it, Fitz nodded. "Of course." He replied. "Are you hungry?"
Was he kidding? All she seems to do lately is eat. She was always hungry.
"Yes." She replied.
He smiled and his blue eyes twinkled. Already, Olivia was feeling a lot better comparing to the start of her day. It's almost as if this morning never even happened and now more than ever she truly believed that she'd be okay. Edison wouldn't break her with his nasty betrayal. She'd grieve the loss of what could have been for a while but eventually, she'll move on to bigger and better things.
As she took his extended offering hand, a warm electric feeling ran through her veins. And when he opened the passenger's door to his truck for her with that same smile still on his face, her heart melted.
That smile is gonna be the death of me- Olivia thought after he closed the door. Only after he made sure she was safely buckled in her seat.
Such a gentleman, he is.
Turns out she liked him just fine when she's sober.
"Where are we going?" Olivia asked out of curiosity.
He climbed behind the driver's seat, buckled his seatbelt and started the powerful engine with a roar. With a smirk, he looked over at her and shrugged. "Wherever the road takes us."
"Well mister, that's very poetic." Olivia teased.
Sighing heavily, he shrugged again. "What can I say? I'm feeling charming tonight."
Then, he put the truck in reverse and they were on their way.
...
So it turns out, the road led them to a pizza joint on 6th avenue in Brooklyn.
"Here, you'll find the best pizza in all of New York City." He told her as they walked through the double doors leading inside the restaurant.
"Is that so?" Olivia prompted.
"Yes. In all of New York." He repeated for precision.
As soon as they walked in, this overwhelming feeling of welcome rushed over Olivia because the entire restaurant erupted in cheerful greeting to them and fast talk in a foreign language that she couldn't even begin to understand if she wanted to.
It wasn't for lack of knowledge either. She's sure she could pick up on what they were saying if they weren't speaking so damn fast.
What shocked her the most was that all that excitement was for Fitz and he was speaking their language too and they looked all so at joy.
Was he some kind of famous icon and she totally missed the memo because she was so condescending?
Nope. That wasn't it. She didn't do a google search on him or nothing but she was pretty sure.
Maybe he was just that likable. That had to be it or she was going to feel so freaking stupid.
Soon, all that overwhelming excitement was passed onto her as she was enveloped in hugs and introduced to all the really happy strangers.
...
When they were finally seated at the table, Fitz started to explain.
Turns out, he was pretty tight with the owner of the little pizza shop. The business is run by real Italians with pure Sicilian blood running in their veins and they were loyal to a fault. Once they decide they like you, you were family to them. You became family to them with no questions asked. Simple as that.
And they liked Fitz. A lot. Hence the very warm welcome.
"What do you want?" Fitz asked as they browsed the menu.
"Hmm..." Olivia hummed.
There were so many mouth-watering, delicious options to choose from and it didn't help that the entire space around her smelled like God's kitchen.
"I can't choose!" Olivia cried, hiding her face behind the menu. "I want everything!"
"It's settled then." Fitz said, closing his menu. "We'll have everything."
Popping her head back up, Olivia blinked at him, her eyes glued to his face as he he had grew a second head.
"You wouldn't." She said, almost daringly.
...
So because he didn't like to be dared, Fitz ordered everything.
Well not really but he nearly damn did! And he would have if Olivia didn't freak out on him.
Instead, they both ordered the footlong parmesan meatball sub with a side of bacon-cheese fries. Then, they shared a medium sized pizza together and they made sure to go crazy with all sorts of delicious toppings.
Everything felt good. Olivia was so full then, she couldn't stop laughing. She doesn't normally make a habit of eating heavy food at ten o'clock at night with a hot, sexy hunk of a man but then again, there was always a first time for everything.
When they'd finally bring themselves to get up and out of their seats, they both thanked everyone who contributed into bringing heaven to their tongues. And even though Mr. Azzara insisted that their late dinner was on the house, Fitz had still fished his wallet out of his pocket and paid for their tab, also leaving a huge, generous tip with the promise of coming back soon again.
Leftovers in paper plates wrapped in brown paper bag, they left the restaurant. Instead of hopping back in the truck and calling it a night, they decided to take a leisure stroll to walk off their dinner. Arm in arm, they walked a couple of blocks in comfortable silence, marveling at the beauty of the City of Lights. It was amazing.
Olivia was the first to speak and break their comfortable silence. "Thank you... for tonight."
In acknowledgement, Fitz entwined their fingers together and gave her a small smile. "How are you, fireball?" He asked.
"I'm great." Olivia smiled back.
And she was. For the first time in a while.
She lay her head on his shoulder and they continued to walk until they found a homeless man to give the leftovers to. The man was beyond overjoyed. It made Olivia want to cry.
"I saw my mom, today." Olivia started to tell him.
His eyes turned to her again and Olivia loved that she had his undivided attention. And she also loved that he seems to care about what she was saying even if he couldn't even be bothered about it. "Yeah?"
"I needed to feel grounded and she's pretty good at that for me." Olivia continued. "But once she started to ask me about how the female genitalia made me feel, I had to go."
That got a laugh out of him. He broke into a laughter so loud and contagious, Olivia couldn't help but feel proud of herself for being the cause of it.
"Jesus! How did that conversation come to be?" He asked.
"We were talking about my impenetrable walls and in my period of wallowing in self-pity, I might've said that the reason I've managed to run off every guy out of my life is because I'm really a closeted lesbian deep inside."
It took everything Olivia had not to drop on the concrete ground and roll over to die of laughter at the expression on Fitz's face. His face got so hot and red, it was ridiculous!
"Oh my God! I'm not a lesbian, Fitzgerald!" She hit his arm playfully. "You can stop being all hot and bothered."
"Eh, I totally wasn't picturing you and another girl going at it. I promise." Fitz said, running his hand through his silky curls.
"Bite me, Fitz! Your poker face sucks."
"But it's such a beautiful face." He said.
Olivia rolled her eyes at him. "Conceited much."
"I don't want to bring it up but how are you doing after the whole-"
"Doing fine." Olivia interrupted. They were having such a great time together, she didn't want anything bad ruining it. "I did the whole binge eating thing, I'm pretty sure I gained like ten pounds in the last weeks but it doesn't seem like it because I cry myself to sleep when the loneliness hits me. I'm going through all the normal stages but I've yet to leave burning shit on his doorstep. Other than that, I'm dealing with it. I'm healing. And I'll be ready to move on soon. I'll be alright."
"Wanna go leave the shit on his doorstep right now?" Fitz asked.
Now, it was Olivia's turn to burst into laughter. He was the best, honestly. She could totally see herself being his friend forever at that exact moment.
"You'd do that for me?" She asked.
Fitz nodded. "Fuck. I'm game if you are, sweetheart."
"I'll remember that the next time I need a partner in crime." Olivia said.
"Please do." He winked at her then he suddenly stopped walking.
"What's wrong?" Olivia asked.
"I got the greatest idea." Fitz said.
Olivia looked up at him with curiosity. "What is it?"
"You need to rage. Like scream really hard or beat the shit out of something. Just get it all out of your system."
That sounded like fun.
"Where would we do that at this time of the night?" Olivia asked.
"I know just the place." Fitz replied. "Are you in?"
Fuck it... Why not? Olivia thought. It's not like she had anything better to go do.
"I'm in." She smiled.
They walked back the short way to his truck and climbed in. Fitz made a stop at one of the twenty four hour liquor stores a few block from where they parked to buy two bottles of wine and a pack of ice. He told her they'd need it for the aftermath of what he had planned for her. Olivia not knowing what that thing was decided to just be carefree and trust him.
About ten minutes of driving, they were pulling up at an empty gym parking lot.
"It's closed." Olivia said.
"I know that." Fitz nodded. "C'mon. Let's go."
Olivia carried their wine and ice while following after him with a crowbar in hand.
...
Fitz loved her sense of adventure. He loved that she was down for anything and he appreciated the fact that she trusted him enough to go blind on this with him.
He owned the little gym. Since he was a little boy, his dream had always been to own a boxing gym. He'd been a fighter his whole life, so when he stumbled on the space with the foreclosing sign one morning almost three years ago, he jumped on the offer to buy it from the bank. The space had previously been an abandoned warehouse but he build it from the ground up and turned it into a successful business. He made his dream come true.
And now, he was about to break into it because he absolutely loved the half-petrified-but-totally-excited look on that pretty girl's face. He thought he just might do anything if it meant keeping that look on her face.
"We're breaking into a gym!" Olivia whisper-yelled. "I've never been arrested before. This is so wrong!"
Fitz couldn't help but laugh. "If we pull this off, shall we go pro? Plan a heist "The Italian Job" style and go live The American Dream?"
"Assuming we don't get caught?" Olivia questioned.
"Fuck that." Fitz whispered. "We're a pair of smart-asses. We're too good to get caught."
"Okay." Olivia chuckled. "So what are we thinking? Federal Reserve Bank? The biggest heist on U.S. soil since 1990?"
"No, fuck that too." Fitz said. "We want diamonds and money. How do you feel about DeBeers or Tiffany's?"
"Ooh, I'll gladly be the look-out if you promise to steal me something big and shiny." Olivia replied.
Fitz looked up from the lock and straight into her eyes. She was beaming; smiling the most gorgeous smile he'd ever seen. Her brown eyes were glowing. She was happy even if it was momentary and temporary. It's all that mattered. But the best part about it all was that feeling deep inside... it was almost hard to explain but the best way Fitz could describe it was the sense of belonging. Like at that exact moment, in this dark parking lot about to break into his own place of business... and looking into her eyes, they belonged and there was nobody else in the entire world he'd rather be doing this with. And that didn't help much with the urge he had to slam his lips against hers and kiss her silly right then.
Almost instantly, he remembered why they were here. She needed a friend. His selfish man-whore desires would have to take a back seat this time. He pushed the thought in the far-back of his mind. He could think about it all he wanted. But reacting on those desires were a whole completely different thing. Perhaps another time- he said to himself.
So instead, he mirrored back her smile with a wink. Big and shiny. He'll definitely keep that in mind. "Done and done, fireball."
Smiling to himself, Fitz realized he liked this little conversation. He was actually learning a lot.
So he continued, "Where would we go into hiding while pending investigations?"
She shrugged, looking cute as fuck. "I don't know. Somewhere warm with white sand beaches." She said smiling.
"Any preferences?"
"I say hide right under their nose." Fitz was also impressed with her thought process and her ability to think so quickly on her feet. "They're not stupid. They'll probably expect us to be using our passports for travels while on the run with all that money we'll have. They're not stupid but they're predictable so they'll have all airports surrounded and whatnot but if we have a boat waiting at the shore for us, let's say midnight tops with a getaway car on the flip side, we should make it to Belize in no time on a little beach sipping martini and toasting to a job well done."
Atta girl.
He laughed. This time he couldn't hold it in anymore for the sake of being discreet considering they were breaking and entering into a place of business that she didn't yet know was his. She was just too goddamn good. Too darn fascinating for him to handle. He was amazed, impressed, mesmerized, blown away. How many more ways could summarize just how intriguing and smart she was? He loved this girl. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He knew what he felt and it scared him but goddamn it, he was in love with this girl! And he was very at peace with that.
Tongue tied, he snapped out of it when he realized he was staring for way too long. "Belize hunh?"
She nodded, biting her lips. "Yeah. I've always wanted to go."
Well. Well. "I'm gonna need a lot of sunscreen. But with all the money we'll have, that should be no issue."
She smiled that breathtaking smile his way again and shook her head at him. "No. It shouldn't." She agreed.
Big and shiny. And Belize. He was definitely going to keep that in mind for a long time.
With those three words safely locked into memory, he flicked his wrist with a twist while she wasn't looking and he easily manipulated his set of keys into the locks; resulting in clicking the door open.
"Gold!" He wiggled his eyebrows.
She looked surprise and before the look could disappear from her face, he pulled her in through the back door.
...
"Wow..." She whispered.
She was turning in circles as she marveled at the place. Fitz couldn't help but watch her expression as he realized he cared what she thought of it while she didn't know that it belonged to him.
His gym wasn't like the typical gym you see everyday. The place was big enough to separate and expend. If you're a customer and you're looking for a basic workout, there were cardio machines, weights, power racks, etc... and if you were looking for something more relaxed, yoga classes were available three times a week and once a week, Zumba classes. He had a vision when he opened this gym; the boxing ring was always a part of it and he had found a way to make it fit. And over the past three years, he's watched bad-ass men and women walk those mats and kick some serious ass. The best of the best of pros in the sports entertainment business have trained here. He was proud of this place so to see her gushing over it was everything to him.
"How have I never been to this place before?" She asked in wonderment.
Fitz smiled. "You want the tour?"
"Can we?" Olivia asked with raised eyebrows.
God, she was so darn cute! He couldn't keep up with her cuteness tonight.
"We're in, aren't we?"
He took the wine bottles from her hand and stick them inside the bag of ice to keep them cool and placed it on the mat around the boxing ring then proceeded to give her a tour of the whole building, minus his office, the trainers room and locker rooms because then, he'd basically be announcing himself as the owner and that would ruin the whole breaking in adventure.
"Do you know how to box?" Fitz asked.
Olivia shook her head innocently. "No. I was a swimmer and a gymnast in high school. I know nothing about boxing."
"That's alright." Fitz said. "We're gonna get in that ring together right now and by the time we leave it, you'll be skilled on how to kick my ass. Deal?"
"Deal."
They shook on it and Fitz climbed in first, holding the rope for her after they'd gotten rid of their shoes and strapped up in proper boxing gears. Safety first. Always.
"Ready?" Fitz asked.
She looked nervous. It was cute.
But she still nodded. "Yes."
"Atta girl."
Gloves in hands, she already looked deadly and she didn't even know it.
"Show me your stance." Fitz said.
Standing straight, right foot front, left foot back, she looked like a natural with her gloved hands in the proper position, shielding her face.
He walked behind her and straightened her shoulders. "You're tense." He said. "You're doing all the right things but you're tense. You have to relax your shoulders." He massaged the knots in her shoulders and rolled her shoulders back until he felt her relax under his hands.
"Perfect. Now you're ready."
Mitts in hands, he stepped back in front of her and held his hands up to her. "We're gonna start with a little warm up. This move is the right cross, left jab."
He demonstrated and instructed her how to do it before allowing her to throw a couple of punches at him.
The first punch Olivia threw at him hurt her more than it hurt him which was ridiculous but as he demonstrated more, she picked up on the rhythm fairly quickly.
"Alright," He nodded his approval. "Wanna pick up the pace a little bit?"
"Hell yes."
Three or four rounds later, she could differentiate the movements and he barked his instructions with more confidence in her.
"Left knee, left jab, right cross,"
He followed her every movement, always ready to collect her hits and when she did it wrong, he showed her the many ways a worthy opponent in a ring could fuck her up if this was a real fight.
He continued to bark more orders. "Switch knees, one-two, one-two, back roundhouse, uppercut-"
Olivia found her rhythm then. She understood the patterns now. Before he called them, she knew what to do and that's when she really started to get into it. They moved around the mat in synchronization as he called the different combinations of movements to her and meeting every jab. Her mind now an empty blank, she only focused on his voice as she threw blow after blow in his hand. Sweat started dripping from her forehead, down her face, in her eyes, blurring her visions. But she kept up.
Her chest started to tighten, her heart rate picking up and her every muscle started aching. It felt like death and she nearly gave up when her legs started sagging underneath her but he threw a punch at her unexpectedly and it was the wake up call she needed. Out of quick reflex, she ducked and he smiled.
"You got anger, fireball. Unleash it. Every frustration, everything you're holding up inside right now, push it all in your fist and let it out."
Thoughts of Edison's cheating ass clouded her mind and suddenly this lightness came about her and a dose of adrenaline pumped in her veins, making her nearly ready to explode with energy. Then, she was flying, not at all on this earth, the purest form of gravity and she unleashed. Her arms and legs suddenly felt lighter which increased her speed and she hammered punch after punch, kick after kick into the mitts.
It was a high. Better than any drug ever invented. It was freeing.
"Yes!" Fitz shouted. "That's it. Harder, faster! C'mon. Jab, jab, jab, left hook, right hook, cross, high knee, jab!"
She was going hard but forgetting the most important thing.
"Breathe, Olivia. Breathe."
Three sharp exhale then, "Again! Hook left, jab low, knees, uppercut, shuffle, cross-jab."
It felt so good to not feel. Olivia was ready to weep from the high.
Then abruptly, "Stop!"
The mitts were lowered and she didn't know what to do with her body and all that pent up energy.
"Fuck!" Olivia shouted.
Her lungs were on fire. Every breath she took felt like a ripple of pain to her chest. She swallowed the dryness in her throat as she wiped the sweat off her forehead using her forearm, then realizing that her hands her trembling. Bend over with her hands on her knees, her legs started shaking and aching, threatening to give way underneath her. But it still all felt so good!
"Come here." Fitz was now standing in front of her sans-mitts with arms wide open.
He took her into a hug, smiling into her hair. "You're okay?" He asked.
"What the hell was that?" Olivia asked when they pulled away.
"That was you raging and loving every second of it." Fitz replied. "How do you feel?"
"A lot like death." Olivia replied just before she collapsed on the mat.
Fitz was smiling as he looked down on her. "Yeah, it tends to feel that way after."
...
When Fitz came back with the bag of ice and their wine, she was now sitting up on the mat with legs stretched out. She had taken off her hoodie and was now only in a push-up sports bra.
Once again, he saw her tattoos peering from under the straps of her bra and he wondered for a moment what it was and what it meant, but the sight of her all sweaty clouded his vision.
"God you're such a life saver." She said when she saw the bag of ice in his hand.
Reaching for it, she took a handful and popped a few cubes in her mouth, then using the rest to rub on her arms, around her neck and everywhere else she was sweating.
Fitz knew she wasn't doing this intentionally to rattle him up but she was driving him crazy nonetheless. The sport-bra she was wearing were pushing her breasts up in a round bulge, making them look absolutely luscious. Glistening beads of sweat trickled down her toned stomach into her pierced belly button.
Fuck!
She needed to put that sweater back on before he forgets he's supposed to be a friend and take her right against that mat.
Double-fuck! Those thoughts needed to scatter. Fast!
Deciding that tearing his eyes off her was probably a great idea, he popped the corks off one of the bottles of wine and handed it to her before opening the other one for himself.
They didn't talk about nothing as they enjoyed their beverage. And if Olivia was aware that he had been ogling the ever loving fuck out of her just minutes before; she didn't say nothing about that either.
"How do you know Italian?" Olivia asked.
She had been curious about that ever since the first night when she decided to go home with him. He had mentioned something about the way he grew up and when she had asked, he said it was a tale for another day.
So here they were, another day and she loves tales.
"What do your tattoos mean?" he asked in return.
Olivia couldn't help but smile. "Is that what we're doing now?"
Fitz shrugged. "It's fair. You tell me something, I tell you something."
...
For the next three hours, they lay on the mat next to each other and talked about everything and nothing.
Olivia told him about her rebellious days and growing up with a rich, absentee father. She had been a daddy's little girl when she was a tiny little rugrat. She could vividly remember their Saturday night dinner dates, him teaching how to ride a bike and soothing her back to sleep when she had a nightmare. She could also remember the countless nights she spent doing homework under their piano while he played it and her mother swaying to the keys while she made their dinner. When she was a little girl, she had been the sun and the moon to her father. He was her hero and she could do no wrong in his eyes because she was a bundle of innocence and perfection. His whole world revolved around her because she was his little girl. His only child and he adored her and spoiled her and he would move the world and bring it at her feet if that's what she wanted. Then she grew up, and suddenly that father-daughter bond that was once so strong was no more. It wasn't until she was in her last year of high school and leaving for college did they make an attempt at redeeming their relationship again. For the sake of her mother at least because Olivia couldn't take it when that woman cries. She draws the line at hurting the people she loves.
"The tattoo on my back is me after my grandmother passed away." She explained.
Shortly after rekindling her fragile relationship with her father, she fell into a period of deep depression when her Nana Gigi (short for Giselle) passed away. The loss of her grandmother had taken a toll on her. She didn't know how to deal with it so for a long time, she had somehow managed to block the trauma from her memory and never really grieved. Though when she remembered, she had a breakdown that lasted for months. That had to have been her rock bottom in life because she was really close with her grandmother and she loved that woman to pieces.
Fitz took his time to examine every curve, every symmetrical line, every dot- loving the image that it formed. The wings were a light shade of purple-faded blue in clouds as a background. He loved it. A phoenix rising from the ashes, seething with fire. It was the work of a true artist on her back.
On her left shoulder blade, she also had a bow tattoo with the name Giselle Eloise Lewis engraved inside. That one was beautiful too.
"It's a phoenix." Fitz stated.
"Yeah," Olivia chuckled. "I had a lot of shit to get together."
When Fitz started telling her his story, Olivia knew then just how very different they were from each other. Olivia realized that she had it a thousand times better than Fitz when he told her about his rough upbringing with the passing of his parent in a fatal car accident at the young age of ten. He told her about about his passing in the foster system because he had no other living relatives to speak of when his life had been turned upside down. He told about the struggles, the sleepless nights, the hunger he suffered when he didn't know where his next meal was coming from and the loneliness before he found this kind man with a heart-of-gold that took him in and gave him a home when he was ready to give up.
"His wife had just passed away when he took me in and to this day, I don't know what he saw in me that made him look twice."
Olivia was on the verge of tears. His story was sad but there was this beauty to it also. He wasn't the only person in the world with that kind of upbringing, but he's definitely one of a kind because some people don't even make it after the system dumps them when they're of legal age. And if by chance they find a foster home, it's not always rainbows after that. People are horrible. They treated those kids like nobodies and inflict all kinds of abuse on them because at the end of the day, they were just a government paycheck. Almost half of the people who's been into the foster care system end up one of two ways. And ninety-six percent of the time, it's in some trap house overdosed with a needle sticking in their veins.
It wasn't fair. None of it was.
So she cried. She cried because he was an underdog and he survived. He was somebody. And he was her friend.
"Maybe he needed saving too after losing his wife."
Fitz had never thought of it that way. Over time, he had come to lose the idea that he was a charity case because he sure as shit did needed saving back then. But if there's one thing he was certain of, it's that Voight Catalano was one of a kind.
"He was a no-nonsense kind of man but he had the most admirable qualities. He was fair and loyal and he taught me everything I know. I could always come to him." Fitz smiled.
Some days he missed that old man so much, the pain crumbled him.
"He had this saying of his. It was something like: 'One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.' He made me learn Italian, taught me how to fix cars, taught me how to fight. Taught me everything. That man was one in a million and there's not a day that goes by when I don't feel grateful towards him or miss him."
Olivia raised her half empty bottle of wine and click it with Fitz's in a toast. "To Voight."
"To Voight."
Sitting in her apartment three days later, Olivia couldn't help but feel resolute. Her break up with Edison couldn't have happened at a better time.
She has three months to heal and get over him before she was back to teaching a bunch of excited kindergarten kids.
She was also free to just be for a while. She hadn't realized how much she actually missed riding the single train until now. Being in a relationship came with all sorts of challenges and complications. Relationships were hard work and it was a lot of stress. Being in a fully committed relationship meant having to constantly worry about this, care about that and for once, she just wanted to care and worry about herself. Olivia.
She tried loving other people and that didn't work out well for her so this time she was gonna try something new. She was gonna love herself.
And she also missed casual hook ups. She missed the fun of being single and independent. She missed being spontaneous and alive. She missed having her brain screwed against a wall and moaning like a whore in church because it was just that good. So maybe she should actually feel grateful that Edison cheated because seriously, she was really starting to get sick and tired of the missionary position.
So maybe this breakup in its own twisted ironic way was the best things that's ever happened to her in a really long time.
Sometime later...
Today was one of the day in the year that she always looked forward to no matter what was going on in her life. Every year, on this exact day, she volunteers for a charity that helps gives women shelter, gets them off the streets and out of abusive relationships.
One in three women will be faced with domestic abuse in their lifetime. Those were the statistics. It was so sad to hear that men could make empowering women feel so vulnerable and voiceless in an abusive relationship. Financial abuse is the hidden weapon. In abusive relationship, it's not necessarily seen the way you would see a black eye. But it is the number one reason women stay in abusive relationships. And even when they leave, it's the number one reason why they go back, because they are not financially stable enough to make it on their own. So they cling onto that financial source because they need it even though it could potentially cost them their lives.
So every year, on this exact day, she always volunteers and brings everything she has to this event to raise an enormous amount of money for that charity. She would do whatever it takes if it means getting to save one person's life.
"Wow, it's packed this year!" Abby said as they arrived at the fundraiser.
Olivia nodded. It's exactly how she likes it. "We have a lot of work to do." She smiled.
Abby has been Olivia's best friend since third grade when they both got detention for bringing vengeance down on their class bully by egging the fuck out of him and pulling his pants down in front of the whole entire school one day at recess. They'd been inseparable ever since and Olivia couldn't have asked for a better partner in crime.
So today, it's no surprise that she was here with her, being her cheerleader and supporting this charity event.
Abby is also an artist. The best goddamn artist Olivia's ever known. Her art is neither common nor mediocre. The things she could do with a brush or a tattoo gun is absolutely mesmerizing to watch. So her part in this charity event was body painting. And later, she was putting on a special show by herself. It was gonna be her blindfolded against a canvas board with an audience watching in Harlem, New York City. Then that painting was going to be auctioned as a way of raising more money for the charity. Just thinking about it was already sending a rush of adrenaline down her bloodstream.
It was barely noon and the place was packing. New Yorkers were already setting up their tents on the grass field, some were sunbathing and others were at the food station in line, waiting at their chosen vendor's truck for delicious New York street food.
But best of all, they were raising awareness to domestic abuse by waving in the air some of the best posters Olivia's ever seen.
I survived domestic violence. I spoke up. I chose to live.
...
This charity saved my life. I had no place to go, no money. I was all alone. Three years later, I now have a job, a safe place to call home, people to rely on. I don't have nightmares anymore. I'm still healing. Every day, I'm a survivor.
...
"What do you want? An apology? Your ass should be grateful that I love you so much"- He'd say after every beat down. But love shouldn't cause internal bleeding and broken bones. STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!
...
-Broken
-Threatened
-Scared
-Intimidated
-Controlled
-Manipulated
-Humiliated
-Battered
You didn't win.
You're still weak.
I survived.
...
This was just to name a few.
Olivia was so overwhelmed, she could cry. The whole field was a sea of people in purple t-shirts and she couldn't believe that she has the pleasure of hosting the event this year. This meant everything to her and she was going to raise as much money as possible while making sure things run smoothly and keeping the people entertained.
By two o'clock, the booths were being set up. One booth was for souvenirs. They sold t-shirts and wristbands, bags, bandanas, etc... It was kind of like a mini gift shop. Another booth carried a line so long, it was fascinating. That booth had this really talented kid running it. Her and her partner made craft bracelets before your very own eyes. They were pretty damn amazing. Then, there was the booth where the donations were being made. That line was even longer. It was great. They literally took anything and everything. Cash, credit card, check, whatever you had was admissible. There was the magic booth. Then there was Abby's booth where the line was absolutely bonkers.
Every line seemed bigger than the last. It was great.
This year, they hired a genius DJ and she was spinning some of the best stuff ever and people were having a great time. There was something so beautiful about that unity that brought tear to Olivia's eyes. Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, all sorts of people from different races were there and they were happy, dancing, eating. They were there for their community and raising money for a great cause. They were making a difference. Who they chose to be when they left this event was up to them but for the moment, racism wasn't a factor, police brutality wasn't happening- no sir. Olivia made sure their asses kept their weapons and handcuffs to themselves and not to be used unless something really bad was going down. And if any of them on duty had anything to say about it, they could talk to her Godfather who also happens to be the Commissioner of the NYPD force. Those people were just people and she wouldn't allow them to be mistreated like savage animals. Not on her watch. They were people who when they come together could do great things if they put society's expectations and their own differences aside.
Seeing that first hand and being able to be in the moment, Olivia's faith in humanity was slowly restoring. Slowly but surely.
Four o'clock is when it really started.
Kids, parents, teenagers, elderlies, all kinds of people walked around with Abby's art on their bodies and faces. They'd already raised about five hundred thousand dollars and it was only getting started. And more people were showing up.
"Liv, my fucking fingers are gonna fall off." Abby said when Olivia came to check up on her with a snack from the mexican food truck.
Her job wasn't easy but she had a line ready and this was for something great. So she was persevering. But her by herself, she couldn't do it with an army of people waiting to be painted.
Olivia kissed the redhead's cheek and smiled at her. She looked cute in AEO high-rise denim shorts and a purple tie dye crop top. Her red hair was in a pixie cut with a purple bandanna wrapped around her head. Her fingers were ten different shades of colors and she just looked adorable!
"You're doing great babe." Olivia pulled up a chair next to Abby, picked up a paintbrush and started a line of her own.
They always did make a great team.
...
It all went well.
After Abby's art exhibition, a very talented singer ended the night covering Rita Ora's Grateful. She brought the whole house down. People stood up on their feet, singing along the lyrics with her, waving their hands about. Some felt the words so deeply into their souls they shed tears. It was overall a successful event and by the end of the day, they raised a shit ton of money and Olivia was on a high she could barely put a name to. She took pictures covered in paint for the cover of a local newspaper called City Arts with the mayor, a few policemen that were on duty, Abby and the sponsors.
"We did it, Abbs!" Olivia said excitedly.
"Yeah. And my fingers are crying uncle." Try as she might, the redhead couldn't help but smile when her friend pulled her in a hug so tight, she could barely breathe. "Okay. You can let me go now."
"No." Olivia shook her head.
"Olivia..."
"No."
"Liv... seriously, I can't breathe."
Finally, Olivia released her tiny frame with a smothering kiss to her cheek. "Thanks for doing this with me."
"Then buy me dinner because I'm fucking starving!" Abby said.
A smile graced Olivia's lips as she shook her head. "I'll do you one better. How about dinner and a drink?"
"As long as you're paying." Abby shrugged.
Rolling her eyes, Olivia chuckled. "Of course. Let me just grab my bag."
She went back into Abby's booth and retrieved her bag and her jacket. As she's exiting the booth, instincts told her to look for her phone. Reaching for the electronic device into the small pocket in the front of her coral Hermes Kelly handbag, she checked for her notifications. Deciding they weren't important enough, she was about to put the phone back in the bag when her finger accidentally opened the phone log app and his name popped on the very top in her contact below Abby's name.
Ace.
It's been a few weeks since they've talked or seen each other. After the last time they were at his gym, they hung out exactly twice and one of those times Olivia took him to dinner, that time paying out of her own pocket as a thank you to him even though he said it wasn't necessary.
Before she even had time to think about it, she found herself tapping on the calling icon next to his name. The phone rang once in her ears before his baritone filled her ears.
"If I was the narcissistic type, I'd say you've been sitting by that phone waiting for my call." She teased.
He chuckled.
"Maybe I was waiting for your call." He replied.
Olivia smiled.
A comfortable silence filled the line between them and she just listened to him breathe. She could hear some background noise and she was curious as to where he was at the moment.
She was about to ask but he beat her to the punch by breaking their silence first.
"You're calling me." He said, almost as if he couldn't believe it.
"I'm calling you." Olivia affirmed.
The why was thick in the air. And Olivia realized that she's never really called him just because...
"I had a great day today. I did an amazing thing today and you're the first person I wanted to talk to."
He was about to say something when suddenly his hand muffled over the mouthpiece on the phone and even then, she could hear someone in the back ground having an interesting conversation with him.
"Seriously, Grant? All the pussy in the world is asking for you and you're out here making romantic phone calls to who knows fuck when you could balls deep inside multiple mouths?"
"Fuck off, Jake! And don't you ever talk about my balls. No matter what context."
Then he was back on the phone with her and Olivia was dying of laughter.
"I'm sorry about that."
"It's okay." Olivia said. "Where are you?"
"I'm at Mike's- the bar we met. I'm with a couple of guys from work, unwinding." He replied.
"You've got grade A pussy waiting, Grant. What are you doing still talking to me?" She teased.
He went dead silent and Olivia would have given anything in the world to have seen his face just about now.
"You're beets red right now, aren't you?" She continued to further tease.
"No!" He answered.
Olivia chuckled. "Well I'm gonna let you go have fun with your boys."
"Livvie-" She was ready to hang up but that nickname stopped her. He's never called her anything other than Olivia or fireball.
Livvie was new. Nobody's ever called her that before. Everyone else calls her Liv with the exception of her mother that calls her Livia.
"Olivia, are you still there?"
"Yeah." She replied.
"Okay. Don't go."
"Why not?" She asked.
"Because..."
"Because what?"
Because I miss you and I don't want you to go. Ultimately, that's the answer that came to his lips but he held back from saying it because he didn't want to scare her off.
"Come to Mike's." He said. "I'll buy you a drink and you can tell me all about your great day."
Olivia was hesitant. He was out with his friends and she didn't want to be the chick that came and crap all over his parade. There were going to be girls all over him and it sounded like he had a reputation to uphold so she didn't want to keep him from scoring tonight if that was the plan.
"I don't think that's such a great idea." She replied.
"Why?" She could hear the smile in his voice then. "I think it's the best idea I've had all week."
"You're out with your boys and I have a hot redhead to go feed."
She knew he wouldn't coerce her into doing anything she wasn't up to doing because that's the kind of honorable man he was. She knew that about him since the first night she met him because when he took her home with him that night, he could've preyed on her vulnerability and she would've caved because let's be honest, he's deliciously hot, she was drunk and she wanted to not feel the pain of the betrayal that Edison had caused her. If he'd approached her at a different angle than he had and pushed hard enough, she would've caved because in some fucked up part of her mind, she would've been getting back at Edison by getting with some stranger immediately after breaking up with him.
Except, he didn't play that card. He was a perfect gentleman. He opened his doors to her, fed her, and showed her the kindness and comfort that she was in desperate need of that night. So she knew him. He was in every sense of the word one of the good guys out there.
"Well, I'm gonna be at Mike's until happy hour and those drinks are gonna be there waiting for you just in case you change your mind. I really would like to see you. It's been too long."
Olivia glanced outside to find Abby leaning against her car waiting for her impatiently. "I gotta go." She told him.
"Okay."
When the line went dead, Olivia wished to everything holy and pure that he'd persuaded her more.
...
She was sitting at the little Indian restaurant with Abby but she wasn't really there. Her thoughts were with him.
Olivia couldn't help but realize how at joy and light she feels around him. He made her smile and she could just talk to him and feel like she's known him for a lifetime instead of weeks. Barely.
She didn't know what it was. Or what it meant. But she loved the way she feels when she's around him. It didn't even have anything to do with some dumb sexual attraction. And God knows that man is hot. He's been blessed. But it was that feeling of belonging. She's never had that with anyone. But with him, she did. And she craved that more than anything at the moment.
"Oh, God! This is so fucking good." Abby moaned around a fork of tandoori chicken. "I'm gonna blow up, most likely have a heart attack thirty years from now but it will be so worth it. Why is this so good, Liv?"
Olivia chuckled. At this rate, she swore she was going to go broke. This bitch was a foodie and an expensive one at that. And she wouldn't eat anything but Indian food tonight. Said she had been craving it for some time and now, she was enjoying and devouring every bite of her dinner.
For the second time in ten minutes, Olivia forced herself to take a bite of her dinner. She didn't have much of an appetite and she's sure that Abby has already picked up on it. She took a sip of her red wine and smiled. "It's good." She agreed.
"What's wrong?" Abby asked, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
Olivia shrugged. She started stirring her glass of wine on the table, avoiding eye contact with the redhead. "Nothing. Today was a great day. It was a lot but great nonetheless and I guess I'm just a little tired." She replied.
When she looked up, she found Abby leaning back in her chair, reading her through fucking microscope eyes. Olivia hated when she did that. She felt so vulnerable when she did that.
"Guess who showed up at the parlor three days ago?" Abby asked.
Olivia shook her head. She wasn't in the mood to play the guessing game. "I don't know. But I have a feeling you're gonna tell me." She replied.
"Why didn't you say anything, Liv?" Abby asked.
She had that hurt puppy fucking look. Goddamn it!
Olivia tear her eyes away from hers and shrugged again. "I don't know." She answered. "It's humiliating enough what he did. I guess I just didn't feel like broadcasting it."
"Broadcasting?!" Abby cried incredulously. "Since when Liv? Since fucking when has our sharing become a form of broadcasting?" Now she was beyond hurt. She was offended. "Twisted other half, remember? We share the hook ups, the breakups, the heartbreaks because I was under the impression that's what fucking friendship is about. At least that's what I thought we had. Maybe I was wrong."
"What do you want me to say?!" Olivia exclaimed. "He cheated. I got hurt again. It's over. Another sad story to fucking mope about until the next. Not a big deal."
Silence.
Then, "What did he want?"
Olivia couldn't help her curiosity and she felt kind of guilty for caring. The last thing she should give a shit about is what Edison wants.
Abby raised her glass of wine to her lips and took a swallow of the red liquid. "He stopped by at the parlor. Said you moved out and changed your number and he's worried about you."
Olivia scoffed. The fucking nerves of that mother fucking asshole.
He's worried about her.
God! If she ever seems him in the streets... urgh!
She's gonna start praying for graciousness and the will to forgive him because she's not sure she'll be able to control the urge to slam her fist in his face when and if she ever sees him again.
"Well fuck him." Olivia said. "What else did the pendejo say?"
"He wanted to know where you lived now. Which I didn't answer because I didn't even fucking know you moved until he mentioned it." Abby replied, still irritated.
"I'm sorry I didn't say anything." Olivia said, genuinely being honest. "I guess I wanted to just be for once by myself you know? I didn't mean to make it seem like I don't trust you or anything because I do. You're my best friend and I'm sorry."
Abby feeling pleased with the apology offered a small smile as her personal olive branch. "So how are you?" She asked. "Really."
Olivia shrugged. "I think I'm fine now." She said. "I'm getting over it but what he did is making me evaluate a lot of things about myself. I'm not gonna rush into anything new too soon. I think I need this break for myself."
"You know what that means right?" Abby said.
"What?" Olivia asked.
"Edison's officially on my shit list."
Then, Olivia couldn't help the smile that stretched across her lips. "Oh I know."
...
Across town at Mike's, Fitz was officially retreating into his own bubble. He was the pretty boy with the boner killer. At least that's what his colleagues were now calling him. After speaking with Olivia on the phone, he didn't feel much up to talking to some blonde brat with fake tits. And taking anyone home was the last thing on his mind also.
He just wanted to see her.
And if by any chance she decided to show up at Mike's, he didn't want her to find him with some dumb dumber bimbo all over him. He had no explanation to justify that train of thought. But he just wanted to see her. That's all.
Jake disappeared with a little redhead in the bathroom about half hour ago and he still has yet to return. And Stephen was at the pool table talking the ears off a brunette with long legs, fake tits and eccentric blue eyes.
He didn't get it. Hookups were fun and all but he didn't ever want to find himself fucking somebody who could barely hold a conversation past "Fuck my mouth." Now don't get him wrong, he loves dirty talking and getting blown within an inch of his life by a hot piece of ass just as much as the next guy but what the fuck was he supposed to do with someone who couldn't talk about anything intellectual once all the fun was done and over with. What is the point?
So he did what he usually does when he comes to Mike's. He sat at their table and took in the scenery; watching people and listening to the goodies playing in the overhead speakers. Something about that was more exhilarating and peaceful that any sexual act at the moment.
Checking his watch, he saw that it was only about eleven o'clock. There's still more time. And he just hoped she'd show up.
...
Olivia had just walked Abby out and put her in a taxi in front of her apartment building. After dinner at the little Indian restaurant, she brought Abby over, deciding that it was only fair that she saw her new condo now that she knew about her whole ordeal with Edison.
They baked a huge bowl of delicious M&M chocolate chip cookies while jamming hardcore to her Ipad's playlist. It was exactly what Olivia needed to fully get it all out and she didn't even realize it. Dancing in her kitchen and having a food fight with her best friend proved to be more therapeutic than her sad binge-eating tactics.
Exhausted after the long day, they called it a night around eleven o'clock, making plans to at least grab lunch next week when they had an easy day.
Now fresh out of the shower and in her pajamas, Olivia lie in bed tossing and turning. She was exhausted. She was beyond exhausted but for the life of her, she couldn't shut her brain down long enough to close her eyes and fall asleep. And any time she did manage to close her eyes, his blue eyes flashed behind her lids and she could hear his little nickname for her on his lips as he laughed.
Fuck!
What was this man doing to her?
...
It was hitting close to that time and Fitz was ready to call it a night. He'd come to the conclusion that she wasn't showing up and though disappointed, he told himself he was fine with it, simply because he had to be. All his friends were gone, each left with a girl wrapped around their dick and shit eating grins on their faces.
Fitz shook his head. That little blonde that was all over him had no problem rebounding him the second he made it clear he wasn't interested. And really, he didn't care. It amused him.
Throwing back the last of his scotch, he held his hand up to get Mike's attention.
"Leaving so soon?" Mike asked.
Fitz nodded. "Yeah. I think I've had about enough. I got an early day tomorrow." He took out his wallet from his pocket and paid for his half of the tab.
"Drive safe, bro." Mike advised.
Fitz gave him a wave in acknowledgement as he made his way out the door with keys in hand.
When he reached his parked truck outside in front of the bar, he came to a halt in his step, startled in the best way possible when he saw her tiny frame leaning against his truck.
She was picture perfect in a pair of cut off jean shorts, black crop top, long comfortable cardigan and silver glittered Keds. Her dark hair was in a sophisticated French fishtail braid wrapped in a messy bun on top of her head. She looked absolutely breathtaking.
His heart couldn't handle it.
"Hi." She greeted.
Too tongue tied and at joy to respond, he simply smiled back at her with a stupid idiotic grin on his lips.
"Hungry?" She asked.
"Starving." He replied.
"Tonight's your lucky night, Ace." She told him with a smile.
God she was beautiful!
"How so?" He asked.
"I happen to know of this diner that makes the best waffles in all of New York City and tonight I'm feeling very generous." She replied. "If you're interested, that is." She quickly added shyly.
Fitz chuckled. "I do love waffles."
"Wanna get out of here, then?"
He wanted to go anywhere she was going. But he didn't dare say that.
"Yes."
When she held her hand up to him, he was very confused until he figured out that she wanted to drive his truck. Normally, he'd be wary about it because that truck was his proud child. That truck was the last memory of Voight he had before he passed away. They build that truck up from debris in a junkyard to the beauty that it was right now. It was sentimental. There was no way that he'd let just anyone drive it.
But when she asked for the key, he didn't even have to think twice about it before he was tossing them at her. He tried to trump it on having too much to drink and it was only logical and realistic and responsible of him to have her drive. Yeah, there was that too. But what really drove him was the fact that he trusted her. He trusted her and that was a whole lot in his book because trust doesn't come easily for him. Yet with her, it wasn't that hard.
Just as they climbed in the truck, he remembered that his truck was not some typical automatic truck and not just anyone could drive it.
"Can you drive a stick?"
She laughed at him as she put the keys in the engine. "Buckle up, Ace."