Page 108 of Your Second Chance
“Will told me,” he said quietly.
“Luna’s moving back to the States.”
He nodded. “She told Will that she thinks things are left unsettled with her exes.”
Tears brimmed the edge of my eyes, and I looked up at him, my lower lip shaking.
“I know, love. I know.” It was all he had to say as he wrapped me tightly in his arms. “We’ll figure this out.”
I cried, I cried because everything inside me felt like it was my fault for ruining this.
“I’m sorry,” I blubbered, the words tumbling out through my tears. “This is my fault. I’m going to ruin everything. I can’t ask you to move. I-I don’t know what I’d do without you. I feel like you’re going to be upset because I’m putting her over you?—”
“Nova,” Ollie said soothingly. “I would never think that.” He pulled back to look at me, his hands still firmly holding my waist. His unwavering gaze met mine. “Luna has done so much for you... for both of us. I get it, I do. I...” He paused, closing his eyes as if trying to collect himself. “I don’t know what life would look like without Mum and Dad, without rugby. This is all I’ve ever known.”
I watched the vulnerability etched in his face.
He opened his eyes and sighed. “After I spoke to Will, Peter came up to me. Said he got a call from Iris and...”
“Wow, they work fast.” I chuckled softly, trying to lighten the tension in the air.
His lips curved into a faint smile. “There’s a team in Chicago looking for a coach.”
I tilted my head. “Like... a head coach?”
Ollie nodded, but looked down, his fingers tightening slightly on my waist. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that. To be a full head coach. It’s... a lot.”
Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. “You are ready. You’ve worked so hard for this. You’d be brilliant.”
He leaned into my touch, his breath warm against my cheek.
“It doesn’t have to be forever.” The words were as much for him as they were for me. “We can spend the whole summer out here before we leave. We still have the townhouse. We can come back and see your parents for months at a time.”
His arms tightened around me, and for a moment, we stood there, holding each other as the weight of the decision settled between us. It wasn’t easy, but we weren’t doing it alone. That much, I knew.
“If you hate it, we can leave,” I said.
Ollie nodded, his hand warm as he led me into the living room. He sank down onto the sofa, pulling me into his lap so effortlessly it made my heart ache. He wrapped his arms around me, grounding me as he looked up at me with that quiet intensity that never failed to undo me.
“I have a confession. It’s not the coaching or moving that scares me the most.”
My brows furrowed as I cupped his cheek. “What is it?”
“It’s... it’s your ex.” He exhaled sharply, his hand tightening on my waist. “We don’t know where he is. Dirks is connected to him. We could run into him and then what?”
Ollie always stayed updated on Luna’s chaotic love life, whether by choice or because Luna loved to overshare, especially during late-night chats when they babysat Scarlette.
“I—” He hesitated, looking down. “I don’t want you in that proximity, Nova. I don’t want him anywhere near you or Scarlette.”
“If that happens, then we will deal with it when it does. I can’t imagine he’s still there in the same place.” My voice dropped. “I love you, Ollie,” I whispered, forcing him to meet my eyes. “I love you until the day I die. You don’t need to be scared of him because I’m yours.”
His jaw flexed, and then, with no warning, he said, “Then marry me, love. It’ll make it easier for me to get over to the States with visas. Marry me because you love me.”
I froze.
My breath caught, and I shook my head, tearing my gaze away from him. We’d been engaged for so long, and still, Icouldn’t bring myself to say yes. Not really. Not in the way that mattered.
It wasn’t just about Mami anymore. Yes, the idea of her not being there hurt, but that wasn’t the thing holding me back. The truth was uglier than grief. It was shame.
