Page 22 of Collars & Kittens
She leans against me and pokes me in the stomach. “I’ve decided you’re Teddy because you’re soft on the inside like ateddy bear.”
A gentle buzz in my head makes me feel more content than I’ve ever been, and my heart melts. I can’t resist teasing her, though, and I feign offense.
“I am not! Take that back!”
She pokes the fleshy part of my stomach again to prove her point. “Nope, you’re a big ol’ teddy bear, and you can’t convince me otherwise.”
“Oh yeah? I’ll show you teddy bear.”
I tickle her ribs, and she squeals, nearly dropping her pizza. Her laughter fills the living room. I let up after a minute, not wanting her to choke. Olivia catches her breath, cheeks flushed.
“Truce?” I ask.
“Fine, truce.” She leans against me, nibbling her pizza crust.
We settle into easy conversation as the movie plays in the background. Talking to Olivia feels natural, like we’ve known each other for years rather than days. I learn about her being an only child with a single mother raising her, their frequent trips to Argentina to see her extended family, her passion for hiking, and her secret love of pop music. In return, I tell her about my dream of opening a veterinary clinic since the age of ten, my obsession with action movies, and how I enjoy buying scented candles.
Olivia perks up at that last detail. “Scented candles, huh? Like you collect them, or do you use them?”
I rub the back of my neck, feeling weird about the candles and I don’t know why. “Yeah. I use them sometimes. I like aromatherapy and creating moods with different scents. I’ve easily got over fifty of them in my storage closet.”
“That’s sort of sweet. Will you show me?”
“Maybe later,” I laugh. “Don’t want you getting too many ideas about me being a softie.”
She smirks. “Too late for that, Teddy.”
I roll my eyes in mock exasperation. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?”
“Nope, you’re now my Teddy,” she says, popping the last bite of crust into her mouth.
I like the nickname more than I want to admit, and a comfortable silence settles between us as the movie’s credits begin to roll. Olivia rests her head on my shoulder, and I’m content to stay like this all night, holding her in my arms.
After a few minutes, she speaks up softly. “Can I tell you about my ex?”
I tense involuntarily. The fact that he’s an ex means something went bad between them. The idea of anyone hurting her makes my blood boil, but I remind myself to be what she needs and not fly off the handle. “Of course. I’m here to listen.”
Olivia sits up, hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “His name was Ben. We dated for five years. In the beginning, it was like a fairytale. He doted on me and wanted to be together 24/7. It made me feel so loved and special, but after a while, I realized it wasn’t about me. He just wanted someone who would serve him, and I was a willing submissive.”
She pauses, eyes downcast. I resist the urge to comfort her, letting her take her time.
“Once I figured that out, I saw how manipulative he was. He controlled everything I did: what I wore, who I saw, how I spent my time. At first I thought he was just really invested in our relationship. But it kept getting worse.”
Her voice wavers, and she wraps her arms around herself. “One day, I tried to go out to a movie with a girl I met at school and he lost it. Started screaming about me not respecting him, how I was selfish...”
Tears well in her eyes. Unable to stop myself, I reach over and take her hand, rubbing gentle circles on her palm with my thumb. She grips it like a lifeline.
“He got so angry, and I thought he was going to hit me. We kept fighting and shortly after that, I knew I had to leave.” Olivia takes a shaky breath. “My best friend helped me get away, and I ended up here.”
She lifts her head, eyes glistening. “So that’s my sad story. I’m sorry, you probably think I’m pathetic for staying with him so long—“
“No,” I interrupt firmly. “I think you’re incredibly strong. Leaving an abusive relationship takes so much courage. I’m amazed by you. Truly.”
Fresh tears spill down her cheeks. Before I can react, she throws her arms around me, face pressed into my shoulder. I embrace her tightly, overcome with the need to comfort and protect this remarkable woman.
We stay locked in an embrace until her tears subside. Olivia pulls back, wiping her eyes and giving me a small smile. “Thank you. I don’t know why I dumped all that on you, but...it helped to get it out.”
I caress her cheek. “You never have to apologize for opening up to me. So you’re in Hazy Cove to heal?”
