Spelivia Diaries: Shots of Love

Don't Let Go

Ya'll give it up for my sis, @EvieEveWrites for writing this one shot chosen prompt for me! 

Not seeing that familiar shadow on the wall before he appeared had Olivia on edge. Every day, she stared at that same spot, thinking he'd pop up with that thousand watt grin. Or at least she'd catch the smell of his cologne. But every day, it ended in the same result. He wouldn't be coming home that night either. She would have another lonely, sleepless night until the sun came up the next day.

Spencer hadn't been there for two weeks. One of those weeks he was traveling for football and the next, he decided it was best they had space. That first year of marriage was harder work than they anticipated. They assumed it would be easy because until then, it had been easy. Their arguments never lasted more than a day or two. They took the proper space and were back to normal quickly. Since they exchanged vows, things were different. People kept telling them the first year was an adjustment. Or sometimes the second year was the hardest. Regardless of what people said, they ignored it and kept it moving until they hit that rough patch. Balance became unbalanced. Peace became irritation and misunderstanding. The rough patch was becoming increasingly unbearable and Spencer separated himself in order to save the marriage. Even with Olivia begging him to stay and just sleep in their guest room while they worked through their issues.

Olivia tossed and turned. Her nights had been uncomfortable without the familiar, warm body pressed against her. She had thought about calling him or texting him just for some type of interaction outside of the few words they had said to each other in the last two weeks. The brightness of her screen made her head ache, on top of her anxiety and lack of sleep lately. They had never gotten to the point where this much space was necessary. Hot tears fell on her pillow like they had every night since Spencer suggested staying elsewhere until they cooled off. Crying herself to sleep had become her personal lullaby.

—————-

Across town, Spencer lay awake in his bed, thoughts of going back home crossing his mind every time he dared to close his eyes. Two weeks had been long enough, right? They could talk through this the same way they talked through everything else. This particular rough patch was difficult because neither one of them wanted to admit that they let small arguments fester into bigger miscommunications.

The one that set them off was the conversation concerning when they would start a family. Before they exchanged vows, they had a plan. A plan that seemed set in stone before the time came and Olivia asked could they wait another year. She didn't feel like they had settled into their new home and careers yet, even though Spencer urged that no one was fully ready to be a parent. It was impossible to have every single thing in order and he thought she was just holding off on purpose. That created more tension on top of the newlywed tension they were already going through. One big argument on what was supposed to be a date night and here they were.

Spencer sighed, his body not allowing him to rest. That fight replaying in his head over and over again. He wondered if Olivia regretted it as much as he did. Things got pretty nasty that night and they both said things they couldn't take back.

—————

"We've talked about this, Liv," Spencer frowned, running a hand along his face. They were in the heat of another discussion when the topic of kids came up and prompted Spencer to ask when their plan would be implemented.

Olivia wanted everything in order. Even things that were out of her control. She saw it as being cautious, when Spencer saw it as finding excuses and being controlling. 

"I just started this new gig, baby. I want to make sure I can balance it first before introducing a child into this."

"You think I wouldn't be here to help you or something? I hear a lot of 'I's' and no 'we's'. I'll be right here to help," he reiterated.