✶ "No, it's good for PR, Liv," Phee explains as she and Olivia walk down the lower bowl of the Minnesota Aurora's stadium. "Especially for rookies,"

"Bro," She whines, following Phee anyway.

The soccer game had just ended with a close win, and the players, including you, were mingling in their still sweaty clothes.

You barely even notice her walking over to you, startled by her voice interrupting you and a teammate's conversation.

"You were good out there." Spinning around, you recognize her almost immediately. Olivia Miles. Of course, you had, you attended a WNBA watch party with some friends that past week.

"Oh my god, hi," You blush, looking up at Olivia. "I wouldn't have sweated so much if I'd known you'd be here,"

"I wasn't aware we've met before," she giggles down at you, a hand on her hip as she lazily watches you.

"We haven't, but now we have, and I look a sweaty mess,"

She shrugs. "Who says I don't like sweaty messes?" Leaning in, you practically die, but then you practically die even more when she whispers in your ear, her warm breath ghosting your skin. "Maybe I think it's hot,"

Pretending to act as unaffected as you possibly can, you pull away, incredibly flustered. "I mean, you play sports too, so you have a fair share of sweat."

"True,"

Tucking a strand of hair behind your ear, you look anywhere but at her. "So, are you guys coming out with the team tonight?"

"We are actually,"

Words barely come to you as she stares down at you, waiting for a response.

Chuckling, she raises her eyebrows in expectation. "… Are you coming too?"

"Oh my gosh, yes, sorry, I'll def be there,"

"Def?"

"Like short for definitely," You explain, practically rambling on about the way you talk. "I just tend to use words that you would normally text with in real life,"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's late when you arrive at the bar, and most of the team is already there, including the two add-ons of the night, Naphee and Olivia. Spotting the group in a corner, already chatting it up, you head over. Fuck. You notice the only spot left is next to Olivia. Yeah, she's hot and you definitely wouldn't mind going home with her tonight, but you feel a bit desperate.

Sucking it up and accepting defeat, you slide in next to her. Immeditely, the scent of cologne takes over your senses, something you hadn't noticed before. Her hair is free from a hair tie now, her glasses still on though, and she's wearing a button up shirt and some jeans. But damn, she's fine.

"Hey," She smiles, leaning to the side so you can hear her over the loud music. Around you, your team talks amongst each other, jokes are reheated, and drinks are shared, just like any other night out, but tonight it's different.

"Hi," You reply.

Scanning you up and down, a smirk plays on her mouth and oh my god, you think you're actually gonna die. That might have been the hottest thing you've ever seen. "You look pretty tonight, definitely not sweaty," Her eyes latch on yours as she studies you.

"I mean, I'm sweating non-stop with you looking at me like that,"

"Oh yeah?"

All you can do is nod as she leans in, placing a strong hand on your thigh, her fingers grazing the edge of your incredibly short dress that you picked out just for tonight.

"This is pretty short, don't you think?"

Can she tell you're turned on because what the fuck? Her hands are inching further and further up your thigh.

✶ after meeting her, your relationship escalates pretty quickly, but privately for the most part. like after your first hookup, she takes you on a date to maybe breakfast the next day, and then you officially start dating and actually get to know each other and stuff. but again, you decide to keep it super private at first, wanting to make sure you're both sure about it before you launch on social media and stuff

✶ eventually, you do decide to hard launch. i feel like she wouldn't hard launch on social media, though. i think she would have you show up to one of her games with like a shirt that says olivia miles' girlfriend or maybe her jersey to be a bit more inconspicuous, but have some sort of obvious thing that you're together. after the game in post-game interviews, she'll like come out with you and officially announce the relationship

today, you said yes because you needed the hours. because saying no would’ve meant staying home alone with memories you were trying not to replay. the apartment would’ve been too quiet, the kind of quiet that presses in. your cat, juno, would’ve curled against your thigh like she always does when she senses you spiraling, her purring a reminder that something still needs you.

the oculus wing is quieter than the rest of the hospital—brighter, sterile in a way that feels intentional. you swipe in, adjust your badge, skim the schedule, and then you see her.

not your patient. but your ex.

she looks the way she always has—comfortable in herself, unadorned. practical shoes, neutral slacks, a button-down worn soft at the edges. no makeup, no obvious effort either way. she moves easily through the space, clipboard tucked under her arm, talking with a physician like she belongs here. your chest tightens anyway.

she works here now—operations, coordination, something administrative that keeps her moving between departments. close enough to medicine to feel important, close enough to power to feel familiar. she hasn’t noticed you yet, too focused on the exam room down the hall. you follow her line of sight—and that’s when you see olivia.

she’s sitting on the exam table, shoulders loose but alert, glasses perched comfortably on her nose. long limbs folded in like she’s learned how to make herself smaller in places she can’t control.

there’s a faint bruise near her cheekbone, yellowed at the edges, healing. you swallow. you’ve seen her on tv—confident, loud in her talent, untouchable. here, she just looks human.

your ex finally notices you. surprise flickers across her face—quick, guilty, unmistakable. “hey,” she says.

“hey,” you reply, already pulling professionalism over yourself like armor. “didn’t know you were working today.”

“i wasn’t supposed to,” you say evenly. “i’m covering.” something passes over her expression—maybe regret, maybe inconvenience.

“she’s your patient,” your ex adds, nodding toward the room. “olivia miles. took a hit during practice. some visual disturbances.”

you nod. “i’ve got it.”

you don’t look back—inside the exam room, olivia looks up when you enter, her eyes sharpening immediately—curious, assessing.

“hey,” you say gently. “i’m your nurse today. i’ll be doing your initial eye assessment.”

she smiles, small but warm. “hi. nice to meet you.”

her voice is steadier than you expect. you guide her through the tests—light response, tracking, acuity—notice the way her jaw tightens when the light lingers too long, the way she breathes through discomfort instead of naming it.

“tell me if it’s too much,” you say. she huffs a soft laugh. “i’m used to pushing through.” you glance at her. “that doesn’t mean you should.”

something quiet settles between you at that. when you hand her the chart, she hesitates. “can i take these off?”

“yeah. take your time.” she removes her glasses carefully, sets them down. without them, she looks softer, more open. you catch yourself staring.

“you wear glasses too?” she asks, nodding toward the pair tucked into your scrub pocket.

“contacts most days,” you admit. “but these shifts are long.”

she smiles. “i fought mine forever. thought they’d slow me down.”

“and now?”

“now,” she says, quieter, “i kind of like seeing clearly.” your heart stutters. you finish everything—documenting, explaining next steps, making sure she understands. she listens closely, trusts you without question. when you step out to coordinate imaging, your ex stops you.

“you’re good,” she says. “really good.” you don’t look at her. “i do my job.” she hesitates. “i didn’t know you’d be here.” you finally meet her eyes. “i didn’t know you were cheating either.” silence.

you walk away before she can respond. later, olivia’s cleared—no serious damage. rest, follow-up, adjusted lenses for strain. you return to discharge her, and she studies you like she’s memorizing something.

“you okay?” she asks. you smile, practiced. “yeah. just a long day.” she slips her glasses back on, stands. “can i ask you something?”

“sure.”

“this might be weird,” she says, shifting slightly, “but would you want to get coffee sometime?” you think of juno waiting at home, of makeup laid out on your bathroom counter for days you feel like yourself again, of how your heart feels lighter than it has in months.

“i’d like that,” you say. her smile is slow, hopeful—clear. and as you watch her leave, you realize you didn’t come here because of betrayal. you came here to remember what it feels like to be seen.

you don’t expect the feeling to follow you home—but it does.

it lingers through the drive back, through the familiar streets, through the quiet click of your apartment door locking behind you. juno greets you immediately, tail flicking once before she weaves around your ankles like she’s counting you, making sure you came back in one piece.

“hi, mama,” you murmur, toeing off your shoes.

she chirps, unimpressed but relieved, and trots toward the kitchen. you move on autopilot—feeding her, washing your hands, staring at your reflection just a little too long. bare-faced, tired, soft around the edges. you think about the makeup waiting on the counter, untouched. you think about glasses resting carefully in someone else’s hands.

coffee turns into dinner turns into you on the couch with juno tucked against your side, her weight grounding you. your phone buzzes.

unknown number.

"hey, it’s olivia. hope this isn’t too late." your thumb hesitates before you reply. "it’s not. i was just getting home."

three dots appear. disappear. then: "good. i was worried i crossed a line today." you smile despite yourself. you didn’t. there’s a pause, then: "would you want to get that coffee tomorrow? no pressure."

you glance down at juno, who looks back up at you like she already knows. tomorrow works.

the café is small and warm, tucked between a bookstore and a laundromat. olivia’s already there when you arrive, glasses on, hoodie soft with wear. she looks up and smiles like she’s been waiting longer than she lets on.

conversation comes easy. easier than it should. you talk about nothing and everything—her recovery, your rotations, the weird intimacy of being tired for different reasons. she listens when you speak, really listens, like she’s filing pieces of you away.

when she walks you to your car, the air’s cooler than either of you expected.

“thanks,” she says quietly. “for today. for…yesterday.” you nod. she hesitates, then smiles again. “maybe i’ll take you up on that.”

it’s raining the night she comes over.

not planned—just one of those moments where conversation stretches too long, where time slips. she texts from her car, asking if she can wait it out. you say yes before you overthink it.

inside your apartment, juno freezes the moment olivia steps in. tail low. eyes sharp. “uh,” olivia says softly, crouching a little. “hi.” juno does not move. “she’s protective,” you explain. “especially of me.”

olivia nods like she understands completely. “that’s okay. i can wait.”

she doesn’t push. doesn’t reach. just sits on the floor, legs crossed, hands resting on her knees while you make tea. you watch from the kitchen as juno circles her once. twice. suspicious.

then, without warning, juno hops into olivia’s lap.

just…settles—you stare. olivia goes completely still. “oh.” juno purrs. your laugh slips out before you can stop it. “she never does that.” olivia looks up at you, wide-eyed. “is this good or bad?” “very good,” you say softly.

later, it’s late. too late to drive. the rain hasn’t stopped. olivia stays.

nothing dramatic happens. no rush. no crossing lines. just shared space. quiet conversation. the sound of rain against the windows. juno curled between you like a seal of approval.

when olivia finally falls asleep on the far side of the bed, glasses placed carefully on your nightstand, you stare at the ceiling and breathe.

this feels different—safe, yet so seen. and you think, maybe healing doesn’t always announce itself. maybe sometimes it just looks like a cat choosing who’s worthy—and a woman who waits until you’re ready to let her closer.

it doesn’t turn into a thing right away—that’s what surprises you most.

olivia doesn’t suddenly take up space in your life all at once. she arrives quietly, in pieces. a text asking how your shift went. a coffee dropped off outside your building because she “was already nearby.” an extra mug left in your sink because she forgot it there the night before.

juno notices before you do.

she starts waiting by the door more often. not every night—just the nights olivia comes over. she sits there like she’s expecting something familiar, tail wrapped neatly around her paws, eyes half-lidded but alert.

“she knows,” olivia says once, smiling as juno weaves between her legs like she’s already memorized them. you shrug, but your chest feels warm. “she doesn’t like many people.” olivia looks at juno, then back at you. “i’m honored.”

some nights are quiet. you cook while olivia sits at the counter, glasses pushed up as she talks about practice, about learning how to slow down when her body tells her to. you talk about work, about patients you don’t name, about the way eyes tell the truth even when mouths don’t.

after dinner, you end up on the couch. not touching at first. then knees brushing. then shoulders leaning, just enough to feel each other breathe.

juno always finds her place between you.

other nights, you don’t talk much at all. you watch something half-forgotten on tv, volume low, rain tapping against the windows. olivia stretches out on the floor sometimes, back against the couch, juno perched on her stomach like it’s where she belongs.

“she’s heavy,” olivia murmurs once. juno purrs louder—you smile into your mug. there’s no pressure. no expectation. olivia never assumes she’s staying over. she always asks. you always say yes, eventually.

the bed becomes shared space in the softest way—separate sides, careful distance, a quiet understanding. sometimes you wake up before her and watch the rise and fall of her chest, the glasses folded neatly on your nightstand like they’ve been there forever.

once, she wakes up first and you find her in the kitchen, barefoot, making coffee like she knows where everything is.

“hope that’s okay,” she says. it is. weeks pass like that. small moments stacking gently. trust building without announcement.

one night, after a particularly long shift, you come home exhausted in a way that sinks deep. olivia’s already there, juno curled beside her. she looks up when you drop your bag, reads your face instantly.

“come here,” she says softly.

you sit. she opens her arms. you hesitate only a second before leaning in. it’s not dramatic. no fireworks. just relief. she holds you like she’s not afraid you’ll pull away. like she’s content to stay exactly there, breathing you in, letting the moment be enough. juno hops into your lap, completing the picture like she planned it all along.

later, when olivia leaves for the night, she pauses at the door.

“i like this,” she says, careful. honest. “whatever this is.” you nod. “yeah..me too.” she smiles, warm and unguarded, and leaves you standing there with juno brushing against your ankles and a quiet certainty settling into your bones.

this isn’t loud love—it’s steady, it’s nights like this. it’s being chosen slowly—and choosing back. you don’t usually go to games.not like this. not sitting close enough to hear sneakers squeak against the floor, close enough to feel the bass of the crowd in your chest. but olivia asked, casual about it, like it wouldn’t mean anything either way.

it means something.

you sit a few rows back, juno’s hair still clinging to your coat, makeup done lightly for the first time in a while—not for anyone else, just because you wanted to feel like yourself again. you catch your reflection in your phone screen and barely recognize how…easy you look.

the arena is loud. alive. olivia moves differently out here. sharper. brighter. when she glances toward the stands during warmups, her eyes find you immediately.

she smiles. not the practiced one. the real one. you feel it in your ribs. someone shifts beside you. your ex. you hadn’t noticed her sit down. she looks the same as ever—neat, contained, observant. hospital badge tucked into her pocket like a habit she hasn’t broken yet.

she follows your gaze to the court. to olivia. then back to you. you feel it before she says anything—the way her attention lingers longer than it should.

“you look good,” she says finally. not flirtatious. surprised. you blink, then shrug lightly. “thanks.” she studies you like she’s trying to place something. “you’re…different.”

you don’t answer. you don’t need to. the game starts. olivia plays like she’s everywhere at once. every time she sinks a shot, your chest lifts like it’s yours too. you clap without thinking. shout once. laugh when you catch yourself.

your ex watches all of it. at halftime, olivia jogs toward the tunnel, sweat-damp curls pushed back, glasses long gone. she slows when she reaches you, breathless but smiling.

“you came,” she says. “i said i would.” “yeah,” she replies softly. “but still.” your ex stands. gives olivia a polite nod. “good game.” olivia returns it easily, then looks back at you. “walk with me?”

you hesitate only long enough to grab your coat. the hallway is quieter. muffled cheers bleed through concrete walls. olivia leans back against one, hands on her hips, breathing slowing.

“i’m glad you’re here,” she says. you nod. “me too.” she looks at you—really looks. eyes warm. unguarded. “you’re glowing,” she adds, like it surprises her too. you laugh softly. “so i’ve been told.”

there’s a pause. not awkward. full. olivia steps closer, not crowding you. just enough that you can feel her warmth, smell clean cotton and sweat and something familiar now. “can i—” she starts, then stops. smiles. “i don’t want to rush anything.”

you tilt your head. “we’re not rushing.” something settles between you. a quiet understanding. the kiss happens because it’s already there.

because you lean in at the same time. because her hand finds your wrist like it’s been waiting. because when your lips meet, it’s gentle and sure and unhurried—like you both know this isn’t the beginning of something fragile, but something steady.

when you pull back, her forehead rests against yours. “wow,” she breathes. you smile. “yeah.” down the hall, your ex stands frozen, having seen just enough. she doesn’t interrupt. doesn’t speak.

she just watches you laugh softly at something olivia says, watches the way your shoulders are relaxed, the way your light isn’t dimmed around someone else.

and for the first time, she understands. this isn’t something she lost. it’s something you grew into. olivia squeezes your hand once before jogging back to the court, glancing over her shoulder with a grin that says she’s taking this with her.