Page 139 of Your Second Chance
It felt genuine, not forced, like she wanted to bridge the gap between us.
I hesitated for a beat, then took her hand, offering a small smile of my own. My grip was firm. “Ollie.”
Nova reached out, lightly touching Charlie’s arm as she said something quietly, a laugh bubbling between them like they were old friends instead of two women navigating the complicated web Austin had created. Before I knew it, Nova had looped her arm through Charlie’s and was walking her toward the kitchen, chatting easily about God knows what.
It struck me then, how much Nova’s attitude had shifted. There was no forced politeness, no tension hiding beneath the surface. It was real, and I could see how much Nova genuinely liked Charlie.
It was nice, I realized, watching them disappear into the kitchen. If anyone deserved to have an ally in this mess, it was Nova. And seeing her at ease like that? It eased something in me, too.
For the first time since we’d arrived, I felt like maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad.
I was lost in thought because the next thing I knew, Nova shouted that she was headed upstairs to see the room they’d made up for Scarlette.
Nodding, I insisted on staying downstairs. Seeing the room felt too personal, and I was fine right where I was.
I moved into the kitchen, where Charlie stood nearby as I lingered for a moment, eyes drawn to the neatly arranged sparkling waters in a container. Gesturing toward them, I asked, “Mind if I have one?”
“Oh, of course,” Charlie replied, grabbing a bottle and twisting it open.
She moved to the fridge and pulled out a cup of ice, handing it to me with a small smile.
“Thank you,” I said, taking the cup and pouring the water in.
“How, uh—how was your flight?” she asked politely. “You just got in town?”
I nodded, taking a sip before leaning against the counter. “Yeah, got my visa all sorted, so I’m here to stay now.”
“Oh, nice.” She hesitated, her eyes darting away for a moment before she continued, “Are you doing...” She trailed off, clearly searching for the right words, and I could see the slight tension in her shoulders.
“Rugby,” I supplied, a small smile tugging at my lips.
It wasn’t hard to see she was nervous, but her effort to engage was appreciated.
Her face lit up in relief, and she nodded quickly. “Right. That’s it.”
“I worked as an assistant coach for a team back in London. Turns out the league out here needed a head coach, so I’ll be taking that on. Bit of a promotion, actually.”
“That’s amazing. Congrats.”
It was incredible how someone like the man Nova had described, the one who’d treated her the way he did, could end up marrying Charlie. She was warm and thoughtful, and although this was otherwise small talk, it felt like she genuinely wanted to get to know me.
“Thanks. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind getting everything settled, but I’m excited to get started.”
“Well, that sounds like a perfect way to kick off your time here.”
“Yeah, I think it will be.” I glanced toward the doorway, where I could hear Nova laughing with Scarlette and Austin. “And honestly, I’m glad to finally be here, close to them.”
I wanted to be honest with her. Maybe she shared the same conflicted feelings I was struggling with, and if she did, maybe we’d find some common ground in all of this.
“I knew this day would come, one day. I thought Scar would be older, but I knew she’d want to see her dad. I—” I shook my head, pulling out a stool from the counter and sitting down. “I wasn’t expecting it to happen this fast. I thought I’d have a few more years with her and me.”
Charlie’s expression softened as she walked over, gently resting her hand on my shoulder. “I can’t imagine how hard this is for you.”
I nodded, my gaze drifting toward the doorway where Scarlette’s laughter floated in. It was a sound that anchored me, yet at the same time, it unsettled something deep within. That laughter carried years of memories—of scraped knees I kissed better, bedtime stories she begged for one more time, and the endless little moments that made me herOllie.
It also carried an ache, a quiet fear that those moments might not be enough one day. Would she still laugh like that with me when she had him, too? Could I hold onto the role I’d filled in her life, or was I already losing it, piece by piece?
I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts before they dragged me under.
