Olivia

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The sound of the alarm startled me awake, and I groaned as I reached over to silence it. My nerves were already on edge, but the realization that today was my first day working for Aaron made my stomach twist into knots. I lay in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to mentally prepare myself for what was about to happen.

Working for Aaron. What had I been thinking?

Kate's voice from the hallway snapped me out of my thoughts. "Mom, I can't find my other shoe!"

I rolled out of bed and hurried to help her get ready for school. After ensuring she was dressed, fed, and had both shoes on, I dropped her off at the bus stop with a kiss on the forehead and a promise to pick her up later. Then, with my heart racing, I made my way to the rink.

I stepped inside the building that had become so familiar to me over the years, but today it felt different—charged with anticipation. I was early, hoping to gather my thoughts and steady my nerves before Aaron arrived. The rink was quiet, save for the hum of the ice machine in the distance, and I took a moment to breathe in the cold, crisp air.

The locker room door creaked open behind me, and I turned to see Aaron walking toward me. He was dressed casually, in a grey Henley that hugged his broad shoulders and dark jeans that made him look effortlessly handsome. I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest.

"Morning," he greeted me with a smile that made my heart skip a beat.

"Morning," I replied, my voice sounding more breathless than I intended. "I, um, I wasn't sure where to start, so I got here early."

He chuckled, a deep, warm sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "Eager to impress, huh? You've already got the job, Liv. You don't need to try so hard."

I rolled my eyes, trying to mask my nerves. "I'm not trying to impress you, Mason. I just don't want to screw up on my first day."

"You won't," he said confidently, stepping closer until he was standing just a foot away from me. His presence was overwhelming, and I had to force myself to meet his gaze. Those familiar blue eyes were just as mesmerizing as I remembered, and they held a spark of something that made my pulse quicken.

"So, what exactly do you need me to do?" I asked, desperate to shift the focus away from the tension building between us.

He seemed to sense it too, but instead of backing off, he leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. "For now, just keep me company while I go over some game strategies. We'll get you up to speed on the rest as we go."

"Keep you company?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to hide the way my stomach fluttered at the idea of spending the day alone with him. "Is that part of the job description?"

"Absolutely," he said with a teasing grin. "It's in the fine print. Didn't you read the contract?"

I rolled my eyes again, but I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips. "Right. Because that's what I signed up for."

His grin softened into something more genuine, and for a moment, it felt like we were back in high school, before everything got so complicated. "I've missed this, you know," he said quietly. "Talking to you. Laughing with you."

I felt my cheeks heat up, and I quickly looked away, focusing on the pile of papers on the desk. "It's been a long time, Aaron. Things are different now."

"Not everything," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

I looked up at him again, and the intensity in his gaze sent a jolt through me. For a moment, the world seemed to stop, and all I could think about was how close he was, how easy it would be to close the gap between us and...

I cleared my throat, breaking the spell. "We should probably get to work."

He blinked, as if snapping out of the same daze I'd been in, and nodded. "Right. Work." He turned to the desk, shuffling through the papers. "So, here's the game plan for this week. I need you to help me organize these and make sure everything's ready for practice."

As he explained the details, I did my best to focus on the task at hand, but it was difficult with him standing so close, his voice rumbling in that deep, familiar way that had once made me feel safe and cared for. And yet, underneath it all, there was an undeniable tension between us, one that I wasn't sure how to navigate.

As the day wore on, we fell into a comfortable rhythm—working side by side, exchanging bits of conversation, teasing each other like old times. But every so often, our hands would brush, or our eyes would meet, and the air between us would crackle with something unspoken. It was intoxicating and terrifying all at once.

By the time we broke for lunch, I was both relieved and disappointed to step outside into the fresh air. We walked to a nearby deli, and as we ate our sandwiches, Aaron started telling me about his time in the NHL. I listened intently, trying to keep the conversation light, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we were circling something much bigger.

"You know," he said between bites, "I always wondered why you left."

I nearly choked on my drink. "What do you mean?"

"Back in high school," he clarified. "You broke up with me out of the blue, and then you got back with your ex. It never made sense to me."

I froze, my heart hammering in my chest. I had hoped this conversation would never come, but it was inevitable. "Aaron, I..."

"Sorry," he said quickly, his expression softening. "I didn't mean to bring up old wounds. I just... I never got over it, you know?"

I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "It's complicated."

He reached across the table, his hand covering mine. "I'm here now, Liv. You can tell me anything."

His touch sent a spark up my arm, and for a moment, I wanted nothing more than to spill everything—to tell him about Kate, about his mother's threats, about the years I'd spent raising our daughter on my own. But fear held me back. What if he hated me? What if he took Kate away?

I forced a smile, pulling my hand back gently. "Maybe someday," I said, hoping to keep the door open just enough to keep him from pressing further.

He looked disappointed but nodded. "I'll hold you to that."

The rest of the day passed in a blur of paperwork, phone calls, and more of that easy banter we'd always had. But underneath it all, the tension between us simmered, growing hotter with every passing hour.

As we wrapped up for the day, I felt both exhausted and exhilarated. Being around Aaron again was like walking a tightrope, balancing between the past and the present, between what was and what could be. But no matter how much I tried to focus on the work, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were on the edge of something huge—something that could either bring us back together or tear us apart for good.

"Same time tomorrow?" he asked as we stood by the door, the corners of his mouth lifting in that boyish grin that always made my heart flutter.

"Yeah," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Same time."

As I walked away, I could feel his eyes on me, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was thinking the same thing I was—that maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new.

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⏰ Laatst bijgewerkt: Aug 13 ⏰

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