"I love hearing you say: "I love you""
Aaron Adair
As Olivia returned to the table, Victoria initiated her walk in her direction, prompting me to quicken my pace in an attempt to reach Olivia before her.
Before I could reach Olivia, Victoria successfully reached her and engaged in a conversation. "So, you're the new wife, huh?" Victoria briefly glanced at me before redirecting her gaze to Olivia's ring.
"Sorry, who are you?" Olivia politely asked.
"I'm Victoria," She offered her hand. "Victoria Perez."
Olivia graciously accepted the handshake, saying, "Nice to meet you. Olivia Adair." Internally, I couldn't help but smile at the sound of Olivia's name paired with mine.
Just as Victoria was about to carry on with the conversation, I intervened, saying, "There's someone who wants to meet you." I gave her a dismissive look, and after a brief moment of hesitation, she bid farewell and walked away.
"Who was that?" Olivia asked as I walked with her.
"It's just a family friend," I responded, choosing not to delve into the specifics since they weren't important.
I could feel Olivia's gaze upon me, as if she were contemplating my response, yet she chose to remain silent.
We made our way towards the smoke room, where my grandmother had spent the entire party, seeking solace away from the rest of the family.
"I'll be back in a minute," I instructed Olivia to wait outside while I spoke to my grandmother, mindful of the fact that she shouldn't be exposed to smoke due to the baby.
"Ron!" My grandmother exclaimed, pulling herself out of her seat. Her health had gotten worse over the years, and when my parents died, she hit an all time low.
"Hello, Gramma," I enveloped her in a tender embrace, cautious not to exert too much pressure and cause any discomfort.
Addressing the others in the room, she exclaimed, "Look, it's my Ronnie boy!" With a playful gesture, she gently squeezed my cheek, drawing me closer to join them.
"Gramma," I delicately withdrew myself from her grasp and gently guided her towards the door.
"Where are we headed?" she inquired, glancing up at me while gripping onto my arm.
I smiled warmly at her and replied, "There's someone special I'd like you to meet." Her face instantly brightened upon hearing the mention of a woman.
As we opened the door, the melodies from the music flowed into the smoke-filled room, blending with the atmosphere. Olivia stood outside, patiently waiting for us, and we joined her there.
"Olivia," I gestured towards my grandmother. "This is my abuela, Ada."
Gramma's voice softened as she cupped Olivia's face tenderly in her hands, expressing her affectionate admiration, "Oh, you sweet girl!"
Olivia's voice carried a unique kind of kindness as she responded, "It's truly a pleasure to meet you." There was a distinct warmth in her tone that I hadn't heard before.
Gramma glanced over her shoulder at me and remarked, "My Ronnie has never introduced a woman before, especially not a lady like you." Olivia graciously accepted the compliment with a smile, expressing her gratitude.
"Let's take a trip to the bar," Gramma held onto Olivia's arm, waiting for me to join them.
After a brief glance at me, Olivia redirected her attention back to my grandmother, who was already leading her towards the bar.
"Please make mine a martini without the olive," Ada requested. She then turned to Olivia and asked, "What would you like?"
"I'll have a water, please," Olivia replied. My grandmother's face fell with a hint of disappointment, unaware that Olivia didn't have many options to choose from.
"Are you apart of some AA group?" I cleared my throat, trying to hush my grandmother.
Olivia's lips curved with a smile as the bartender handed her a glass of water. "Firstly, Grandma, AA groups are anonymous," I emphasized. "Secondly, she's unable to consume alcohol because she's pregnant."
It's challenging to decipher the expression on my Grandma's face, as I'm uncertain whether she's experiencing happiness or disappointment. However, her emotions become evident as a solitary tear glides down her cheek while she gazes at Olivia.
She gently grasps my face, bringing Olivia and me closer together. "You two are incredibly fortunate," she says, another tear streaming down her cheek. "Never underestimate the value of what you have." I nod attentively, assuring her that I comprehend, and Olivia mirrors my gesture.
I could only assume my grandmother had been thinking about my parents, because before the accident, my parents were nearly a perfect match and everyone thought they were made for each other.
Leaning closer to me, my grandmother whispered in my ear, "Take care of her. Don't break her heart."
"I couldn't do that," I admitted. "She is my heart." I said, feeling a newfound sense of maturity as I confessed to being madly in love with Olivia, finally allowing myself to open up.
She gave me a warm smile and squeezed my shoulder before bombarding Olivia with a bunch of questions over the next hour, which she didn't seem to mind.
❁
Olivia and I returned to the table, accompanied by Sebastian and Layla. My grandmother served her favorite dish, enchiladas, and Layla talked about her love for food the entire time.
"There's just so many good foods in the world!" She exclaimed with a mouth full. "I don't know how anyone can choose just one."
While we savored the delightful dish prepared by my grandmother, her rambling about various places to find the finest food continued in the background, largely unnoticed by most of us.
"I feel sick," Olivia leaned over, whispering into my ear, holding a hand over her mouth.
I glanced down at the enchilada on my plate, realizing the chicken is most likely making her want to vomit. I remember my mother getting sick when she was pregnant with Layla and not eating my grandmothers dishes for the entire nine months.
"Do you want to go to the restroom?" She slowly nodded her head, placing the utensil in her hand on her plate before standing from her seat.
I guided her to the bathroom and waited outside, but soon after, I hear her call out my name so I rush into the restroom without concern for other women who might be using it.
"Aaron," her vomiting reverberated in the cramped restroom as she knelt on the floor, hunched over the toilet.
Standing over her, I gently grasped her long hair in my hand and asked, "What do you need, baby?"
"Can we leave?" I tenderly rubbed her back, patiently waiting for her to finish before assisting her in getting up from the floor.
I handed her a wad of toilet paper so she could wipe her mouth, "Of course." With her holding onto my arm, we made our way out of the restroom. I considered returning to the table to let Layla and Sebastian know but decided a message would suffice.
▸ Olivia got sick so we decided to head home, be safe.
I sent the message to Layla before returning my phone to my pocket and assisting Olivia into the car.
During the drive home, Olivia leaned over the center console, resting her head on my shoulder and clutching my hand tightly, as if the thought of letting go would cause me to vanish into thin air.
"I love you, Aaron." Her soft voice spoke out.
My body tensed at her words and I leaned my head on hers, "I love you, Liv."
I'd never wanted to hear three simple words from a woman, and the words escaping her lips at that moment were nothing short of perfection.