Hello everyone! It's been a while. Hope you've all been well and staying safe. Thank you so much for your continued patience and support of this story. It means everything! This chapter and the next 2 are a little it of a filler chapters (unbelievable since it's so long), but I was encouraged on twitter to post so here we are! Enjoy!
January was a whirlwind. With the renovation for the gym in its beginning stage and the New Year's resolution members signing up for membership, Fitz was swamped with work. The gym was at its highest peak and Fitz couldn't be happier with all the changes around him. But the stress levels were also high.
With the new year also came Jake's resignation as a trainer. To say Fitz was blindsided was an understatement. Sure, they weren't the best of friends but they had an amicable and tolerable relationship at best. And to learn that it was more personal for Jake was an even bigger shocker. Something about how he didn't feel part of the close knit fitness family culture Fitz was encouraging all his full time and part time staff to embrace. And that Fitz preferred Stephen over him because he appointed Stephen as the General Manager with a handsome pay raise. And maybe there was some truth to all of it, but Fitz was simply too fucking busy to care and to handle Jake with kid's glove. So he accepted Jake's notice and threw himself full time into looking for his replacement. Fitz conducted a lot of onsite interviews the last couple weeks and he was starting to close on a candidate. Tom Larsen - an ex-marine vet. He was quiet yet personable when warranted, had a firm handshake and seemed very much like a loyal, take no shit type of guy and Fitz had the feeling they were gonna kick it better than he ever did with Jake.
January also brought a special day. Olivia's birthday was at the end of the month on the 31st and any free time he had was spent coordinating with their mutual friends on how to celebrate her upcoming 26th birthday. Fitz just hoped he could match the energy Olivia served on his birthday last year and he couldn't wait to surprise her.
So much had changed. But he wouldn't go back to what once was his normal. These days when he looked in the mirror, he barely recognized the wholesome person staring back at him and he often pinched himself to make sure it was all real. And it all had to do with one special woman. The love of his life. Every time he thought about her, he couldn't stop smiling.
In the midst of all his welcomed chaos, the one constant Fitz had in his life was his Livvie. She was amazing and things were as close to perfection as anything could get. He was learning so much from her about living grand and fully without regrets. She was so fun to be around. A cleanse to his heart and a beacon of light to his soul. His favorite days are the lazy mornings spent in bed with her - reading, browsing Zillow for their dream home, having breakfast in bed; afternoon naps after passionate love making. God, he couldn't get enough of her. He couldn't remember a time in his life when he laughed and smiled so much. Or loved someone so deeply. He couldn't wait to move in together; propose to her; marry her and spend the rest of his life with her. Obviously he planned to take things in stride. He didn't want to scare her but he knew. Every time he looked into her eyes, he saw his whole future. And they were on the same page about that. Just a matter of building that unbreakable foundation and they were doing so well!
They spent Wednesday night together that second week. After dinner, they retired to bed to cuddle and talk. As Fitz sat on the bed taking off his t-shirt, Olivia came behind him and began kissing his neck while massaging his shoulders. He stilled and took a deep shivering breath at her touch and care.
"Your shoulders are really tense baby." She said, pressing deeper into his flesh and kneading the knots she could feel beneath his muscles.
"That feels so good." He moaned, rolling his neck. "Things have been kind of crazy with work. Nothing to worry about though."
Olivia rolled her eyes. Of course she was worried. "Lay down. Not sure my tiny hands are gonna be too helpful but I can walk on your back."
Fitz turned his neck slightly so he could look at her. "That would be great. Thank you babe." He pecked her lips softly before he climbed on the bed and lay on his stomach.
"Give me a minute. I'll be right back."
While she skipped to the bathroom, Fitz lay on the bed thinking about how happy and exhausted he was. She returned minutes later and placed a few things on the nightstand table then straddled his back.
"Ready?" She asked, kissing his cheek.
Fitz nodded and Olivia got up to begin. She held onto the wall to help herself balance then stepped on him. She could hear his bones cracking and feel the bigger knots in his shoulder blades. Fitz felt relief coursing through him as she pressed her weight on his back.
She used the balls of her feet and her toes to apply pressure where needed. She walked up and down. "How are you feeling?"
Fitz moaned. "So good." He mumbled.
Olivia chuckled. She continued to work on him for a couple more minutes before getting off. Now that she had softened the knots a bit, she wanted to use the massage oil and the warm towel she got from the bathroom on his back.
But Fitz was mindless and felt a lot more relaxed. He sighed contentedly when Olivia straddled his back and began playing in his hair.
"My poor baby." Olivia cooed. "You need a vacation."
"Only if it's Spain and you come with me." Fitz mumbled.
Olivia smiled. She reached for the oil and drizzled some across his back then placed the warm towel behind his neck. The heat from the towel combined with Olivia's small hands alternating between caressing his back and stroking his hair, left Fitz feeling so relaxed and loved. He didn't even feel himself fall asleep. But he had the best dreams that night.
When Olivia didn't hear his purring anymore, she took a glance and as she suspected, he was knocked out. She giggled to herself and leaned down to press a kiss to his lips. She then cleaned off his back with the towel and tossed it in the dirty clothes hamper across the room. Shutting off the light, she decided to lay on his back for a bit more and just listened to the sound of his tired snores until she was lulled to sleep also.
The next morning, Olivia woke up to the best thank you - Fitz trailing kisses against her spine until sleep left her body and desire took root. She turned over on her back and he got on top, stroking her cheek gently, silently asking for permission. She nodded, kissing his palm. He then made quick work of removing her pajamas, kissing her lips good morning sensually, before disappearing between her legs. And God was he good at treading the waters that followed. He was thorough, magical, sensational. His tongue - the texture of velvet curled over her clit and delved in and out the depths of her pussy until she was rendered powerless to the wreckage it delivered. She reached her peak simultaneously with the rising sun and settled breathlessly in a puddle of her own beautiful petite mort.
After a few minutes, Fitz crawled up her body. He rained butterfly kisses across her shoulders and drew soothing circles on her hips. He had a feeling she needed a bit more time to recover fully so he placed a sweet kiss on her lips before rolling out of bed to go prepare her breakfast.
They reunited in the kitchen an hour later at 7:00 A.M. She was glowing and looked absolutely stunning. She wore a sleeveless collared keyhole top by A.L.C which she tucked into a pair of olive green, tie-waist cropped pants and paired them with her favorite pair of CL leather boots. Her hair was in a fierce bun and her makeup was done to perfection.
Fitz was totally mesmerized as he came from behind the counter.
He pulled her towards him around the waist. "You look amazing, fireball." He said. "I can't even deal!"
Olivia laughed. "Thanks, babe." She kissed his waiting lips, mumbling, "You were amazing earlier too."
"Shocking!" He bantered.
Olivia rolled her eyes playfully. "How humble of you Mr. Grant..."
Fitz pecked her lips again. "Mhmm. So much so, I made you eggs, bacon and toast."
Olivia made a whole show of clutching her pearls. "I'm totally making a husband out of you one of these days. "
The biggest smile split across Fitz's face. "You better!"
They had breakfast together and by 7:30, Olivia was out the door after kissing her handsome man goodbye.
Fitz on the other hand had lots of time left on his hands for the morning. Today was his late day, which meant he didn't have to go into the gym today until 11:00 AM. He prioritized his time well - doing a quick home workout and making the bed and putting last night's sheets in the laundry. As he was loading the dirty clothes from the hamper, he found the towel Olivia had used on his back last night. And all he could think about was how right she was when she said he needed a vacation and he saw the window for it to happen this weekend. They had a long weekend coming up with the following Monday being MLK day. Deciding to take a page from Olivia's book of spontaneity, he grabbed his phone to browse online for flights to some place warm.
He knew he had to be realistic. They couldn't travel too far within 3 days but he desperately wanted some R&R time with Olivia; away from their normal, the bitter cold and the hustle bustle of New York. He felt they both deserved it. He entertained California and Hawaii but when he factored the plane ride and time zones, it sounded more like a nightmare than relaxation. He was about to give up on his silly plan altogether when Trip Advisor prompted Key West, Florida as a recommendation package. He was sold. He got super excited and started planning. He looked up flight tickets for Friday evening; and after intensive research and several guest reviews, he called to inquire about room reservation at a beach resort and even looked up activities they could partake in.
Only one thing left to do… see if Liv was up for a mini-cation adventure.
He checked his watch at 10:15 and knew he needed to get out of the apartment soon if he was gonna make it on time for his meeting with the contractors at 11:00. But he couldn't contain his excitement. He finished the rest of his cold-brew, washed his cup and shot Liv a text. Then he was out the door.
He arrived at the gym at 10:45. It was a slow morning on the floors with the exception of a few trainers completing their sessions and mother's hour Pilates ongoing in the back room. Fitz threw himself in paperwork; and returned a few phone calls. He didn't come up for a break until his buzzing cell phone broke him out of his reverie at 3:15. He smiled at the picture and caller ID flashing back at him. Olivia was trying to FaceTime.
"Hi babe." He answered.
"Hi handsome, whatcha doing?"
"Boring stuff." Fitz replied. "How was your day? Are you heading home?"
Olivia nodded. "Yes, I'm about to head out. And you know, the day was okay. Another day in the life. I'm exhausted. Tomorrow is a half day and I'm so glad it's a long weekend this week."
That made Fitz smile instantly. "Glad you said that!" He said. "Do you have any plans set for this weekend that would be terribly inconvenient to cancel at the last minute?" He asked.
Olivia raised her eyebrows trying to think. Nothing other than the usual. She was looking forward to trimming her hair; getting her nails done and spending time with her boyfriend and their friends. But nothing too pressing. "No, why do you ask?" She replied.
Fitz's smile magnified and though it was a good look on him, Olivia wanted in on the secret. And her facial expression made that evident. "How do you feel about taking off tomorrow after work for a mini-cation? We'd come back Monday afternoon."
Olivia gasped. "You're being serious?"
"What can I say, you've rubbed off on me in the best ways." Fitz winked. "I did all the mental planning this morning after you left. Are you in?"
"Heck yeah!" Olivia blurted causing Fitz to burst into laughter.
"Okay. It's a date." He grinned.
"Come over tonight?" Olivia requested. "I've got a surprise of my own for you. You have no idea how sexy you are to me right now."
Olivia loves herself a man who takes charge and Fitz knows how to do that so well. She felt that his efforts warranted a reward and she was in a giving mood.
"Yes ma'am." Fitz smirked. "One last thing, Fireball."
"Sup?" Olivia sassed, knowing how much he liked it.
"Pack light and warm. Clothing is optional on this trip."
"Aight captain." She saluted in her best southern accent and Fitz snorted.
"I love you so much. Text me when you get home, weirdo."
Friday morning was hectic. They both totally overslept because their bodies were worn out from all they did to each other the previous night. But that didn't stop them from being proactive in the shower… twice. Such a nice workout.
When they left the shower, it was 7:15. Olivia decided it was going to be a tame day for fashion because she certainly didn't have time to get too stylish. Despite her protest, her hair had gotten wet and she couldn't be mad in the slightest. She enjoyed every dirty, nasty, heart stopping thing Fitz did to her there.
She dressed casually today in a black pair of mid-rise denim jeans with the ankles rolled, a cute white top with floral lace details from anthropology and a light champagne duster cardigan with pockets. She tied it all together nicely with a pair of beige block-heeled ankle boots. She went for the well done, wash-and-go look, spraying her curls with some coconut oil and leave-in conditioner. She loved wearing her hair in its natural curls whenever possible. In her field, representation for little black boys and girls was everything. Especially since there were very few at the private school she taught at.
She added her finishing touches - some mascara and a shiny coat of lip-gloss. She grabbed her jacket and bag from the closet and was out in the living room by 7:30.
Fitz met her in the foyer with a kiss and hot tea in her Yeti mug and the to-go berry parfait he'd prepared for her. Olivia was still getting used to how sweet and thoughtful he was.
When they pulled away, she took a deep breath and shook her head. The things she wanted to do to him to show him just how much she was grateful for him. Lord. He was still very much naked from their shower, with the exception of a towel wrapped around his waist. And he was hot as fuck. She's never dreaded a day of work more than she did today.
"Don't you even look at me like that woman." Fitz said knowing exactly what was going through her mind. Because the same thing was driving him mad too, she was so damn beautiful. "You know, I'm starting to think you only want me for my body. We need to have a serious discussion about the way you look at me and drool like I'm a piece of meat."
Olivia laughed. "Please. You love it."
"Okay fine, you got me." Fitz smiled as he walked her to the door. "Can't wait for later."
Olivia gave him another smooch and squeezed his butt sneakily. "Bye. Love you, tight buns!"
Fitz laughed. He loved her infatuation with his butt. It created these fun moments. She called for the elevator. He watched her get on and waved. "Bye Livvie. Love you too!"
Their flight was for 3:05 later that afternoon and Fitz wanted to maximize his time and get as much done at the gym as possible. Olivia was going to dip out of work as soon as her last student got picked up at 11:20. The plan was to meet up at the gym; grab a quick lunch together before they headed to Newark Airport. Normally they would depart from JFK but when Fitz was booking the flight, he really wasn't feeling a connecting flight with a layover in Charlotte just to get to Florida. But from Newark, they could fly non-stop there and get to Key West in time for dinner. He couldn't spare a minute today. He also needed to stop by his loft to pack his luggage as well. And speaking of luggage, he needed to remember to bring Olivia's duffel with him or she was gonna be pissed at him this whole trip if she had to buy clothes from a gift store at the airport.
He cleaned up the kitchen from the mess of breakfast, made their bed and got dressed in record time to head to the gym. He grabbed keys to The General in the foyer and whistled on his way out as he locked the door. He was in a damn good mood.
He got as far as the lobby before his phone vibrated with a text from Olivia.
Babe, please don't forget to take my bag! Also, any interest in joint subscription as new members of the mile high club?
He bit his fist.
Cause one; fuck, he was getting old and two, she totally just blew his mind.
Once at the gym, Fitz's day was mildly productive. He had a consultation with a potential new member; scheduled a CPR/First Aid recertification training for some of his employees; paid some bills and wrapped up his 10:00 A.M. training with his only client for the day right on time. He went over the nutrition plan he had formulated for his client and they spoke about ways to stay consistent throughout the week but still have fun and a good relationship with eating. At 11:15, he walked his client to the exit and she left with a confident smile. He loved to see it.
As he made his way to hit the showers, Olivia texted him that she would be on her way soon to meet for lunch. He touched base with Charlie just to make sure he was still comfortable running point on things today until Stephen got in at 3. There wasn't much he could foresee going wrong in his absence but given this was a last minute switch on his part, he wanted to be considerate and cover all his bases.
He showered in record time and got dressed in the clothes he wore when he came to work. And as usual, Olivia's timing was perfect because right as Fitz finished combing his hair back in place (with the exception of that one stubborn curl), Olivia walked into the gym and texted him that she was at the front desk waiting.
He threw on his jacket and grabbed the keys to his office and locked the door on his way out. Once he saw her, his face broke into a ridiculous smile. He couldn't help it. She was his favorite person ever.
"Hi baby." He greeted, gathering her in his arms for a quick hug and a peck.
Olivia pulled at the stubborn curl layered against his forehead and smiled back. "Hi. You look so handsome."
"Thank you." He kissed her again. "So lunch? You said you had a place in mind?"
She had sent him a link to some Korean place four blocks from the gym. He didn't actually look at the menu but he wasn't picky; as long as he could get some decent protein in his body.
"Yup, Ssam Korean Bistro. 10 minutes away; we can walk there." She said, looping her arm through his. "Shall we?"
"Yeah."
Though it was a pretty cold day, the walk was kind of nice. The sun came out a bit and as always, since it was lunch hour, all the streets were crowded. They were seated almost immediately and offered each a menu.
"I don't know if it's the weather or what, but I'm craving ramen with a passion!" Olivia said.
And that's what she zeroed in on. They ordered crabmeat and avocado salad, steamed dumplings and soy garlic wings for their appetizers. And for their entrée, Fitz picked the salmon bibimbap and Olivia went for her spicy beef ramen with kimchi.
While they waited for their food to come out, Olivia grabbed Fitz's hand on the table and entwined their fingers.
"How was your morning?" She asked.
Fitz shrugged. "Well… I gotta tell ya, it started with a bang."
A snort escaped Olivia and she rolled her eyes. She wasn't expecting him to say that. He could be so silly sometimes. "You're an idiot." She said fondly.
And even when she was insulting him, Fitz loved that smile on her lips. He would do anything to keep it there. He kissed the inside of her wrist and traced the lines in her palm. Olivia watched him back with pure adoration. Before Fitz, she never knew how deprived of affection and intimacy she was. And yet, little things like him kissing her wrist and talking about their day sent her stomach into somersaults.
"I got some work done. Pretty lowkey." He replied. "I'm ready to get the hell out of the city though. It's cold as a witch's tits outside."
Their appetizers arrived soon after. Olivia put her hair up in a messy bun and prepared to dig in. They shared everything and the salad especially, was delightful. It reminded Fitz of the one they had at that fusion restaurant in Spain. And the wings were excellent too. Olivia watched Fitz clean the meat off the bone and she couldn't be more proud. She thought to herself, If he proposed right now, I would accept without hesitation.
Thoughts like these invade her more frequently these days. And she wasn't afraid. They didn't make her want to run from herself and this relationship like previous experiences have. She guessed being with the right man this time around had everything to do with it. She might be Mrs. Pope-Grant sounded dope as fuck to her.
They enjoyed the rest of the dishes that were brought to them. And lunch wrapped soon after. Fitz took care of the bill and left a generous tip. And with a full stomach, they headed back to the gym to grab their luggage and from there, Olivia requested for their UberX ride to the airport.
They cut it a little too close to the time. They hit some bumper to bumper traffic for a solid 15 minutes but thankfully, checking in and getting through security was a breeze and they were able to board with the first class group right as they were being called. By 3:15, they were in the air on the fastest route to some sunlight, an ocean view and new memories.
I decided to split chapter 15 into 4 parts. What do you think of part 1 so far? yay?nay? Want the rest? Let me know!