Olivia was unusually silent during the drive home, her usual lively chatter replaced by a heavy, contemplative stillness.
Seeing my sister like this made me uneasy. This was not like her. Not like her at all.
That silence was the first clear sign. Olivia Monroe was never this quiet after a party, especially not one hosted by Roman. She was usually laughing and many times, you couldn’t shut her up.
I turned to look at her.
She sat with her arms crossed tightly against her chest, her face turned away toward the darkness outside the window. Every time I asked if she was okay, she responded with a quick, hesitant “no,” sounding like she was lying-her lips trembling slightly, betraying her attempt to appear composed.
Something was deeply wrong. I wondered what exactly had happened between her and Roman. I had left them alone, hoping they would bond, but her behavior suggested quite the opposite-an emotional fallout of some kind.
“Something happened,” I said softly, my voice almost pleading. “Stop hiding it from me.”
She wiped at her eyes with trembling fingers and gave out a small, pained sound. “I did something stupid.”
“Something stupid?” I asked her. “We all do stupid things sometimes. It can’t be as bad as my stupid mistakes. I mean, look at me. I’m pregnant with Grayson’s baby and he’s out there on dates with his childhood sweetheart. And my first real relationship, I found out that he’d broken up with me from his wedding photos with a girl he promised me I didn’t have anything to worry about.”
It was an attempt to make her feel better. It didn’t work.
“I told Roman I was in love with him.”
She did what? Please tell me I didn’t hear her correctly.
My eyes widened in shock. “Are you out of your mind?”
“It seems so,” she whispered, her voice soft.
“You don’t just declare your love to your brother’s best friend without thinking. You two haven’t even been on a proper date yet. How could you think that was okay?”
Olivia sighed deeply, her gaze fixed on her clenched fists resting on her lap. “Clearly, that’s never going to happen. He’s never going to see me that way. He rejected me immediately, without a second thought.”
“You should have come to me first,” I said sharply, reaching over to gently grasp her wrist. “What exactly did he say?”
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The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
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She hesitated, swallowing hard. “He told me I can’t, that I’m too young, and that I’m Ethan’s sister-that he wouldn’t cross that line. Then he told me I should find someone who matches me better, not him.”
“Oh, Olivia,” I whispered, my heart aching for her.
“I panicked, seeing the other girls eyeing him. I thought if I didn’t say something, I’d watch him announce he’s dating one of them, and I’d have to fake a smile, pretending I wasn’t crazy about him since Ethan first brought him home. So, I said it. And he stepped back as if I’d committed a sin.”
My sister, who had always been my anchor, now needed my support more than ever.
“I should have told you first,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes again. “You said that, and I know you’re right. I just…I didn’t want to seem pathetic.”
“You’re not pathetic,” I reassured her, squeezing her hand gently. “You’re dramatic and reckless, but you didn’t do anything wrong. You fell for someone and took a chance to confess your feelings. That takes courage, and not many women would do that. You are brave. Please don’t cry over this. Do you know how beautiful you are? And how many men wish they could be with you?”
She let out a small laugh. “Stop it. I’m not that beautiful…He said he cares about me. Maybe he just sees me like a little sister.”
“His rejection today doesn’t mean you imagined everything. He looks at you differently than before. I’ve seen it. Maybe he’s hesitant because if things go wrong, it could ruin his friendship with Ethan.”
Olivia leaned her head against the window, her voice barely a whisper. “I ruined the party.”
“You did not,” I said firmly. “And you’re not going to pretend you’re okay just because I’m pregnant and sad. That’s not how we handle this. We sat on a bathroom floor with a pregnancy test; I can sit in this car with you and your rejection.”
She cried quietly for another block.
“Don’t tell Ethan,” she said softly.
“I’m not reckless enough to do that,” I promised. “But if Roman starts acting like you don’t exist, I’ll make it awkward at every family gathering”
Olivia sniffed and pleaded, “I love you, but please don’t do that. He’s not at fault. I can’t force him to like me.”
“I know,” I said as we pulled into our driveway. “Next time you want to confess something like that, tell me first. I’ll either stop you or go with you.”
She nodded, wiping her tears, and we sat in the parked car a moment longer-two sisters, each dealing with their own chaos.
Maybe love wasn’t meant for us.
Olivia’s mouth quivered as she whispered, “I can’t believe I told Ethan’s best friend I’m in love with him.”
“You’re likely not the first,” I replied, instantly regretting the words, knowing they probably didn’t help.
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The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
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She wiped her face, reached for the door, and I followed her inside. One hand on her back, my own heart still tangled over Grayson and that baby he didn’t know was his.
Tonight, at least, neither of us needed to pretend we were okay.
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14:52 Thu, Sep 17
The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
Dex Morgan
Dex works to elevate each story with clean writing, emotional balance, and thoughtful flow for readers.