You Get It

Combust, Part 5

A/N: Again, had some time after my family time so I figured I'd update! I hope you guys enjoy!

Olivia's POV

"Hey"

"Hey" he gave back with the boyish grin that held her heart since 17.

"We should talk." She said, looking down and playing with her fingers.

"Yeah, we should. Come sit." He nodded to the seat next to him.

Here it goes.

Olivia slowly made her way to sit in the chair next to Spencer, feeling his gaze on her the entire time. Her heart was beating fast and nerves filled her every step. She hadn't been this nervous to sit next to him since the day they met in the very classroom they were currently in. Unsure but slightly hopeful of the way the conversation was going to go she opened her mouth to speak and hopefully find resolution. Though it had been years since that science class, she still very much felt the same way and if anything, the love she had for him had grown and deepened beyond what she could've ever imagined. That was what motivated her to find her confidence as she took her seat. Looking into his eyes and finding the comfort she had so desperately been seeking the past few days, she opened her mouth to speak.

"I'm sorry" "I'm sorry" They both let out at the same time. Spencer gave a small smile, "Guess even when we're out of sync, we still are the same."

Letting out a small laugh, Olivia took his hand in hers. "Let me go first. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for throwing something so hurtful in your face. I'm sorry that instead of coming to you with what I had been feeling, I internalized and then snapped to the point that it blew up to this. If I'm being honest, I didn't feel like you were acting like your dad. I just felt like I was starting to lose you to this world. Football is important to you and you're amazing at it. But that's not what I love you for most. I love you because you're my best friend and can read my mind at times to the point of scaring me. I love you because since the day you found out you were going to be a father, you have made me and our daughter your number one priority. I know your fears and rather than talking through mine with you, I threw yours in your face and I'm so sorry. I just felt like you slipping into a pattern of work coming first scared me back to the girl who always felt second to the job. And I know you didn't mean to but that scared me, if I'm being completely honest. Scared me and hurt me. We've always been able to talk through anything and I shouldn't have treated this any different out of hurt." She let out a shaky breath and waited for his response.

"I'm sorry too, Liv. I'm sorry for throwing petty, high school shit in your face because I was hurt. It's not that I felt like you were ever going to run, I just needed you to talk to me. You've come so far with being able to really express yourself and I don't think I tell you enough how proud I am of you. From the day I met you right here in this classroom to now, you've proven time and again what an incredible woman you are and just how much of a badass Olivia Baker is"

"Olivia Baker-James. Argument or not, sir." She cut him off, nudging his hand with a smile.

"You right." Spencer replied with a wide grin, his smile melting her. "If I'm being honest myself, I was getting caught up in work and wasn't as focused as I should be. You hold us down so well that it was easy to let it go unnoticed and I fell back into bad habits. I figured that since it's been so long since my Pops died and even longer since he did what did that I wouldn't get hurt by what you said or fall into his mistakes. I've come a long way but I'm still learning. I guess, I just always want to be the best so I can provide for you guys the way you deserve."

"Babe, you've done that plus some. You're not him. And I'll keep reminding you of that. I'm sorry that I said that. It may have been out of fear but it doesn't make it right." She said, putting her hand to his cheek. "I just wanted you to know that your presence is what we need and what matters most. I didn't get with you back then because you were some football star and it's not why I'm still with you. I'm with you because you see me and I see you. Always. Which is why, I wanted to see you by letting the Tribune know I'll be taking a step back on my freelance work. I get so caught up in being wife, mom and employee that I forget how important the present is. Recovery is not just in my addiction but in how I handle things too. I'm juggling a lot and losing sight of speaking up for what I want or need. I can't expect just you to catch up to me going a million miles an hour or just automatically know, I have to take care of me too."

"Well, it's funny you say that. I actually talked to Darnell and asked him about taking over as Captain. I've accomplished a lot in my career and when it comes to football. I don't have to be the one putting everything the game first to prove myself or to provide for my family." Olivia's eyes widened. She was grateful to have a man who always tried to take action but didn't want him to end up be regretful of his choice or give up something so important when she had been front row to the hard work he had put in to getting there.

"Spencer, I don't want you to give up such a big opportunity or something that you worked so hard for. We can make it work" she said softly.

"I'm not giving up anything. Just refocusing" He looked into her eyes, showing no signs of backing down from this.

"I get that and I love you for wanting to shift things, but there's gotta be some sort of compromise to this. I can't let you give it up fully...what about co-captains? I mean, that way Darnell isn't disappointed but you still hold onto what you busted your ass for?"

"Girl, this is exactly what I mean. You hold us down so well." He smiled. "But don't think I'm letting you give up on what you've worked hard for either. Why don't we set aside days or times, I take Maddy and you have that time to work on articles. That way you don't have to take a step back but we just make it easier. And we gotta set aside another night for non-negotiable date nights."

"Spencer James, are you trying to make good on that promise I made at the five year reunion? Because all this communication and compromise may make it happen" she said with raised eyebrows.

"Nah, I just want you to know that I love you and I am really sorry." He said honestly.

"I am too. I think being together so long and being so connected, we sometimes forget it still takes work and us talking." Her eyes staring into his and her hands finding his face again.

"Although I do think you got the talking thing down, babe. You talk all the time. When I'm in the shower, when I'm playing the game with Jordan, through movies, through"

"Okay, I get. Shut up." She cut him off, playfully rolling her eyes. "Talking clearly works, right? I just mean that we have to make sure that even though we understand each other so well, we speak up. I don't want us losing ourselves or each other."

"Never. You stuck with me for life, girl." He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

Smiling into the kiss, she let herself get lost a little before pulling away. "I'm so glad this is handled. I love you. So much."

"I love you too" he said with a lip bite. Olivia gave a small side eye and quickly realized what he was trying to say.

"Babe, no. I was kidding. What if someone walks in?"

"Hey you the one who brought it up. Plus, JJ won't be back for a couple hours. And Mr. Larry is on vacation so they don't have anyone cleaning."

"You trusted JJ with getting you in and out of here?"

"Not too much on my boy, he's come a long way."

"If you say so." She said through a laugh.

"So, back to my point....what do you say?" he pressed, moving his hand down to her thigh.

"Lock the door." She said seriously.

"For real? I was just playing, baby" he said with a surprised but hopeful look on his face.

"It's been almost four days. Lock. The. Door." She said staring straight into his eyes, beginning to unbutton her shirt before he got up and ran to the door, locking it and placing a chair under to doorknob.

He turned to her slowly and wiggled his eyebrows and gave a silly lip bite. Olivia let out a hysterical laugh, grateful he could always make her laugh. Grateful she married her best friend. She made her way over to him and he placed his hands on her waist, placing passionate kisses on her neck. "I love you" she said just above a whisper.

"I love you" he said, looking back up to her as they both smiled into a kiss.

A/N: Please, never let me think writing angst is fun because whew 🥲🥴 I hope this was readable and made sense, progression-wise and storyline wise. Thank you for reading, I hope everyone has a great holiday!