Kelly laughs and Ollie smiles weakly. I know they’re just teasing, and that any of Ollie’s teammates would have said the same thing. And then Ollie would have made a joke about being way more than a handful. But this exchange isn’t playful. It’s not hostile, exactly, but there’s more going on here. Maybe I’m extra sensitive to it because I study people’s faces all the time. It’s a side effect of lipreading. I’m pretty good at figuring people out, and I know from things Ollie has shared that his dad wants him to be more responsible and to take charge. I just wonder if his parents know about all the strides he’s made.
“I’m actually doing design work for a charity fundraiser the university is holding this winter. Ollie’s the chair of the committee. The carnival was his idea, actually.” I volunteer.
His dad barks out a laugh. “You got a good one here, Oliver. Hang on to a woman who’s ready to sing your praises everywhere she goes.” He takes a sip of coffee before turning directly to me. “Yes, sweetheart, I know all about Ollie’s charitable endeavors. A good friend of mine who’s also in real estate development was proud to tell me Ollie is a chip off the old block. Now, let’s just see if he keeps it up, huh? That’s the trick, Oliver. Anyone can have a good day, a good sale. True success comes from consistency.”
“I know, Dad,” Ollie answers with a smile. “But I’m going to prove to you that I’ve got what it takes.”
His dad nods. “Well, your team elected you Captain after the second vote, so that’s definitely something to be proud of.”
I look across the table to see if that barbed-wire compliment registered with anyone else, but Kelly is on her phone and Ollie’s taking a sip of his coffee. I’m tempted to reach past Louis for the sugar and accidentally drop the heavy glass jar right in his lap, but I refrain. For now, anyway.
Our food arrives and we continue chatting. Kelly wants to hear all about my family while Louis is more interested in talking about his meeting yesterday and the property he’s planning to acquire. It’s not an unpleasant meal, and they’ve both been nice to me, but it feels more like we’re catching up with old acquaintances than sharing a meal with his parents. They don’t mention plans to visit again and they don’t make noise about wanting a tour of the new hockey house. I know they have a flight to catch, but still. Iexpected them to drum up a little more excitement for their only child.
Ollie’s mom is content to share random stories about people he went to high school with, while his dad is a master at making cutting remarks disguised as good-natured humor. I make a metal note to give my grandparents an extra hug the next time I see them. They might come on strong, but I’d rather have Jim and Carol’s smothering affection than the roasting Ollie is getting from his dad.
When the meal is over, we walk out to the parking lot where the Jablonski’s rental car is parked. Kelly offers me a hug while Ollie’s dad shakes his hand. When Louis turns to me, he wraps me in a one-armed embrace.
“Welcome to the family, Fallon. Not sure why you hitched yourself to this guy’s wagon, but maybe you can help him get his head on straight, huh?” Louis chuckles, and his wife absently joins him. Ollie’s smile is tight, but he lets out a brief huff of a laugh.
I stay quiet as we watch them pull out of the parking lot, and for most of the walk home.
When we turn left onto Chapel Lane, Ollie turns to me. “Did you like your breakfast?” he asks.
“It was delicious,” I tell him, signing and speaking as we walk. “Idon’t know why you’re always eating blueberries when you could have strawberries instead.”
He smiles. “I like them both, but I think peaches are my favorite fruit.”
“Is that a comment about my ass?” I ask, pretending to be scandalized.
Ollie glances behind us with exaggeration. “Actually, it was a comment about mine, but we’ve both got junk in the trunk to be proud of.”
I giggle because he’s not joking. Ollie taps thecode into the pad by the back door, and we step inside. The house is quiet, and I know he probably wants to nap before his game this afternoon, but something about breakfast has left me unsettled. Ollie fills a water bottle at the fridge while I lean against the counter. He screws the cap on and hands it to me. “My dad is a lot, I know. And I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry your dad’s an asshole,” I say, maybe a little too bluntly. But when I look up to see Ollie’s crooked smile, I know my words were right on the mark. “I know a thing or two about asshole dads,” I continue. “And I can say with complete authority that he’s wrong about you. If your dad hasn’t figured out how amazing you are by now, then he’s not worth your time.”
“I think you and my dad have different definitions of ‘amazing’. Believe me, when he’s telling me I don’t have what it takes to be successful, that no one will ever take me seriously? That’s not so amazing.”
“You do realize you don’t need him, right? You built a brand by yourself with a major following, and you don’t even show your face. You understand marketing and promotion. You built one successful business, so I believe you can build another.”
My words are meant to be helpful, but Ollie laughs. “Can you imagine the look on my dad’s face if he found out about my account? He’d lose his mind. He already thinks I’m a joke, so I think I’ll keep the MyFans experience off my resume.”
Regardless of the platform, what you’ve done is pretty amazing,I sign.
Ollie tucks a wayward strand of hair behind my ear.You’re right, but it’s not always that simple. He’s my dad. And as crazy as it sounds, part of me just wants to make him proud,you know?Ona consistent basis, of course, he jokes.Because consistency is the key to success. At least, that’s what I hear.
He’s making light of things, and we should probably talk about what’s really going on, but I’m so new to his family dynamic, and to marriage as a whole, that I keep my mouth shut instead of pushing the subject. I think Ollie needs something to shake him out of his gloomy mood, and I have the perfect remedy.
Actually, I think consistency is one of your strengths, I say, leaning in close to press my hand to the center of his chest.
Oh, really? Please elaborate, he says, that unmistakable twinkle in his eye.
Letting my hand trail over his chest and abs, I look directly at him and smile.I’ve found your performance to be quite consistent, actually. Some might even say you have a knack for getting the job done every single time.
Ollie’s smile is wicked.It hardly feels like work when you love what you’re doing.
He brushes his thumb against my lip and my heart skips a beat. I know he’s teasing me. I know he hasn’t just made a declaration of love—it’s way too soon for that, but I can’t deny that I’m feeling more and more connected to Ollie.
I hear muffled noises in the front hallway and share a look with Ollie. Without missing a beat, he clasps his hand in mine and leads us back to our bedroom. Who wants to stand around and make small talk with your housemates when you could be having sex?
