(rivals to lovers, small town, sports) [WATTYS 2024 SHORTLIST] (Season 3 coming soon) After a devastating Olympic loss puts her career in a downward spiral, an aging skier returns to her laid-back mountain hometown to rediscover her love of her spor...
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The town of Lovers Gap was dressed for Christmas, and the Crystal Peaks Nordic Spa was no exception. Yellow lights sparkled on the snowy bushes lining the shovelled sidewalk. When Holly opened the door for Eddie, the interior welcomed them with green boughs and glittery red ornaments. The quiet, soothing music felt incorrect when every other place in town had been blasting Christmas songs for the last month.
Eddie folded her hand into theirs and leaned in to murmur, "Relax."
"I know this's important to you. I want to make a good impression."
"You will. You're wonderful. They're gonna love you."
Holly forced their shoulders down from their ears.
They still weren't sure what she had got out of introducing them to Levi, but they understood the motivation for meeting her parents. Eddie wanted to prove that even though she'd broken up with Danica, and no matter who she settled down with eventually, she was still queer as hell. What better way to do that than to introduce her unmistakably gay, gender non-conforming partner?
Incense scented the air. They tugged their toque off and ran their hand restlessly through their hair.
The last time they'd been here was with Ava. Their second anniversary. When nothing had felt right anymore but Holly had still been foolish enough to think a romantic spa day might help salvage it.
That felt so long ago.
Eddie glanced up from her phone. "My parents got held up. They'll be another fifteen."
"Should we head in, and they can meet us inside when they arrive?" Holly suggested, relieved to have a few more minutes to gather themself.
"You can't wait to see me in my bikini?"
They grinned. "I think I found the loophole to get to see your secret tattoos."
Boots went on the shelves by the door, and they checked in for their booking. Holly pulled out their wallet, but the receptionist smiled and said, "It was all paid in advance."
"My mom got it," Eddie explained as they gathered their baskets and headed down the hall to the showers. "Part of my birthday present. The other half is a mother-daughter massage tomorrow."
"She didn't have to pay for me, though."
Eddie touched the loose curl at their temple with the gentlest hand. "You're important to me. They want to make a good impression, too."
She stepped through the door and shut it behind her, leaving Holly staring after her.
The spa was a whole process designed to generate maximum calm. It started with a shower in a small, private change room. Gentle instructions on the wall encouraged a thorough scrub.
Holly closed their eyes and breathed in the mint and pine scents of the hair products and body wash. Relax.
They'd never met a partner's parents like this before. Their awkward, early relationships at university had never gone that far, and they'd known Ava's parents their whole life.
