His Last Chance

Chapter 3

(Y/n's POV)

I thankfully had time to go back to the flat after my session in the gym, so now I stand outside Ollie's restaurant in a summery evening dress with my favourite pair of wedges on. I washed my hair, and it sits in loose curls around my shoulders.

When I check my phone, I see the time's just gone quarter past 5. He's inside waiting for me.

I use the spare key he gave me to let myself in, then lock the door behind me so no-one else can come in thinking that the restaurant's open.

"Ollie?" I call through. "Babe, it's me."

"In the kitchen," I hear his voice come through to me.

I weave my way through all of the tables that have been set up for tomorrow and gently push open the swing door at the back of the room that leads into the kitchen.

He's standing with his back to me, frying something in a pan on the big hob, concentrating intensely on his task.

I walk up to him and wrap my arms around his waist, hugging him from behind, and I have to stand on my tiptoes to rest my chin on his shoulder.

"Hey babe, I missed you," I kiss his cheek.

"Missed you too, love. Good day?"

"Eh. It was okay. You?"

"Really good actually, we were fully booked for this afternoon, and we're gonna be flat out tomorrow as well."

"That's great!"

"I know," he smiles to himself.

"How's the new sous chef getting along?"

There's a small sizzle as some sauce from the pan drops onto the hob.

"He's not too bad, still a bit nervous, but he'll get out of it. How's Mel doing?"

I grin. "She's really good, she asked me to say hi."

He rolls his eyes, "I don't know why she doesn't ever come and see me herself. It'd be nice to catch up with her properly."

"Well, you know, you're both really busy. She's working really hard for me, bless her, and you're here living out your dream. You'll find time, I know you will."

He moves the pan away from the heat and finally turns to me.

"I just don't want her to forget about me. If she gets stressed or anything, she needs to know that her brother's not that far away, and she can always come here to chill if she wants. Or she could stay at the flat in the spare room if she wanted to get away from Mum and Dad for a bit."

"Ollie, babe, we've talked about this. She's 19. She's looking for a place of her own, she doesn't want to share with her parents or her brother. No matter how much she loves you, she still needs her freedom."

He sighs and puts his arms around me, and rests his chin on my head. "I know. I just wish she didn't have to grow up."

"I know."

We stay like that for a few moments.

"You look gorgeous by the way."

I grin into his chest. "Thank you. Thought I'd make a bit of effort for once."

"You don't need to do that for me. I think you're beautiful no matter what," he kisses the top of my head.

"You're such a melt," I pull back a bit so I can reach up and give him a kiss on the lips.

"Hmm, you love it though," he says before kissing me back.

"You're right I do."

He kisses me one more time before he has to turn back to the food so it doesn't go cold.