In My Rearview Mirror, JACK.HUGHES

THIRTY

Olivia joins me outside the dressing room, and I can't help but cringe at the sight of the shirt she's trying on. "Oh no, not this one," I say, my distaste evident.

She catches my expression in the mirror and makes a face of disgust, clearly sharing my sentiments about the unflattering shirt that drapes over her body. We share a knowing look and burst into laughter, realizing that some fashion choices are better left unexplored.

Olivia quickly retreats back into the dressing room, not bothering to glance at the mirror again. I can't help but chuckle at her swift escape, amused by our shared distaste for the unappealing shirt.

"Okay, so you're telling me that you slept with Jack in Vegas and the other day at Gab's party?" she says while changing in the dressing room. My heart drops when I realize that she pretty much screamed the names, and so many people heard us.

The good thing is that if you aren't part of the hockey world and you're a fan of Jack, you probably won't know how we are talking about.

I get my head in the dressing room, tucking the curtain next to my head. "That's it, Ol, everyone heard you," I grumble with annoyance as she giggles a little while trying on a new shirt.

Olivia looks at me with a mischievous grin, clearly enjoying the drama unfolding. "Come on, Morgan, it's not the end of the world. Besides, it's not like everyone knows it's Jack we're talking about. There are probably tons of Jacks out there."

I roll my eyes, not finding much comfort in her attempt to downplay the situation. She zips up the new shirt and steps out of the dressing room, giving me a sympathetic look. "Look, Morgan, maybe you should talk to him before the rumors get out of control."

I sigh, realizing Olivia is right. The last thing I need is a messy rumor mill in the hockey world. "Yeah, I know. I just didn't expect it to end up like this."

"I spoke with Braden, and I believe I made things clear—enough that he hasn't texted me in these two days since he left my house," I tell her, pondering the fact that Braden hasn't reached out. I look at my last text from him while waiting for Olivia to come out of the dressing room.

"That's unusual for him, especially considering he typically doesn't give you space," she remarks as she emerges from the dressing room with a pile of clothes.

The employee looks at us, asking if everything fits, but Olivia only keeps one shirt out of the eleven pieces she tried on. "I know, but at the same time, I think he understands my need for privacy, just like I asked him," I explain as we walk towards the cashier.

Interrupting our conversation, Olivia handles the payment, while I gaze at the accessory display next to the cash register—items I'll likely never purchase, but they provide a distraction as I wait.

Olivia gives me a gentle nudge to signal that she's finished, and we walk towards the exit, bidding the employees a good day on our way out.

"But for Jack, it was just a one-time thing. We acted like nothing happened afterward," I tell her, attempting to diffuse the situation.

"Yeah, I bet it was. That's why you guys did it two times," she laughs, teasing me a little.

I roll my eyes, playfully swatting her arm. "But honestly get it girl. I love my boyfriend, but if only you knew what I would do if a was single, uh" she confessed looking at the sky.

"Spill the details, Morgan. What happened in Vegas? Was it the typical wild night or something more?"

I let out a laugh, grateful for Olivia's lighthearted approach. "Well, it was a mix of both, I guess. We were in Vegas for a hockey event, and things got a bit out of hand. One thing led to another, and Jack and I ended up sharing a night."