Hear Your Heart

“So, where is the boyfriend taking you this evening?” Callie mused from her spot on the end of Olivia’s bed, her green eyes surveying her friend’s choice of outfit. It had been a few weeks and despite the odd awkward exchange, things between Olivia and Iker seemed to have found a sense of normality. It was still strange, occasionally, Olivia would freak out when Iker touched her or when he said something, but they were getting better and that pleased the brunette. She did love him, even if she did still have her doubts, and she wanted something to work out for them. Iker was clearly the best man for her, he knew her better than anyone else and knew how to woo her, and she wanted to spend time around him. She had missed his ability to give her butterflies and make her cheeks warm.

“I don’t know” Olivia commented, fluffing out her brown hair “But he seemed to suggest that I should dress fancily. Does this seem like too much to you?” she questioned, showing off the pretty blue dress that she had opted to wear. It wasn’t like her, Olivia had never particularly liked getting dress up to go out, but the way that Iker had spoken to her earlier in the day suggested that she should. Like always, he had a meticulous plan in mind and Olivia knew better than to question it. He had quite the knack when he wanted to plan dates that never failed to take her breath away.

“You look amazing, Liv” Callie mused earnestly “Both in that dress, and with that stupid love-struck grin on your face. I have missed it” she grinned.

Olivia shook her head. “I am not love-struck, Cal” she protested gently.

Callie scoffed. “So you don’t still get all gooey when Iker smiles at you then? Or blush when he kisses that spot just behind you ear?” she teased.

Olivia blushed. “Ok, perhaps that still happens, but it doesn’t mean I am love-struck, Cal, I just like being around him” she defended gently. She didn’t quite know why she was fighting it, she was still giddy at the prospect of being with Iker, but she didn’t want to appear in over her head again. She had been quick to trust him before, in retrospect, perhaps a little too quick, and she wanted to take her time that time around, even if she knew in her mind that she loved him, she didn’t want to make it too obvious or make herself too vulnerable again.

Callie quirked an eyebrow. “Is there trouble in paradise already?” she posed gently.

Olivia shook her head. “It’s nothing like that” she murmured “I just don’t want to barrel in to it this time. We moved fast, too fast, last time around and I don’t want to fall over him again just to have him do the same. I am trying to be measured, calm, but Callie, he makes it so damn hard not to giggle and gush like a 13 year old girl who’s on a date with her crush” she complained gently.

Callie frowned. “You’re complaining that your boyfriend is too cute?” she posed.

Olivia sighed and sat down beside her friend. “I just don’t want to get hurt again” she noted gently.

“Liv, Iker made one mistake and you’re never going to be happy if all you do is think about it. I know it is hard to get past, what he did was terrible, but I think in the last 3 months he has made it so clear that he hates himself for doing it. Iker loves you Oli, he wants you, and you need to accept that and let him love you in the way he clearly wants to” Callie explained gently. She knew how Olivia could be, the brunette had a tendency to be her own worst enemy at times, and Callie wanted to set her right. She and Iker were supposed to end up together, it had been obvious from the moment that Callie had walked in on them almost kissing when Olivia had been in hospital, and she wasn’t going to let Olivia throw it all away over a mistake that Iker regretted more than anything. The keeper wanted to be a family and Olivia had been looking for that for as long as Callie had known her.

“I thought you didn’t like him?” Olivia mumbled, shyly fiddling with the hem of her dress.

“I like that he makes you happy” Callie mused “I like that he wants to look out for you and that he lights up when you or Thiago are in a room. Oli, the guy’s the real deal and you’d be a moron to let him go again” she explained “Stop getting in your own way and go for it” she added, hugging the brunette tightly.

Olivia smiled softly at her friend’s words before the doorbell echoed, something which made her lean back slightly.

“Go for it” Callie grinned pushing her lightly towards the door.

~#~
“You really didn’t have to go to all this trouble, Iker” Olivia mused as they wandered back towards her apartment, their hands swinging between them. It had been another wonderful date, Iker had taken her to one of her favourite spots in Madrid and supplied her with a wonderful picnic before they had laid out beneath the stars, something that Olivia adored. She had had a wonderful time, she always did when she was with him, but she still felt a little bad. He always seemed to go through so much effort for her and she seemed to do little to nothing in return.

“I like going to all the trouble, Oli” Iker replied gently “I love seeing your face when you see what I have done” he added, a slightly bashful look on his face.

Olivia smiled gently. “Have I ever mentioned how cute you are?” she murmured gently.

“Possibly, but it wouldn’t kill you to say it more” he teased gently, moving to stop outside of her apartment building.

“Well, you’re freaking adorable and I am a very lucky girl” she mused brightly.

Iker smiled. “Yeah, you are” he teased, earning a gentle eye roll. “We’ve arrived at your stop, querida” he mused, turning his stare towards her building “Is Callie bringing Thiago back tonight?” he added.

Olivia shook her head. “She and Jacob said they’d watch him over night, even after I insisted he cries three or four times. Sometimes, I think Cal loves him more than you or I do” she teased.

Iker shook his head. “That’s impossible” he mused.

Olivia smiled. “Of course it is” she mused “I love that boy more than anything in this world” she mused.

“For me, it is a tie. You and Thiago, I love you both very much” he enthused gently, earning a blush on her cheeks.

“Iker…”

“It’s Ok if you don’t want to say it back to me right now, I get that” he mused “I just felt that it was a good time to say it to you” he added.

Olivia chewed on her lip. “Why don’t you come inside?” she whispered gently.

Iker frowned. “Are you sure? Oli, I don’t want to put a rush on you…”

Olivia leaned forwards and pressed her lips lightly to his, stopping the words on his tongue. “Please, Iker” she whispered gently, pulling back from him. “I don’t want to overthink anymore. I am done hesitating and pretending that you don’t still drive me crazy, because you do and I can’t stop it. I never could” she whispered.

“Oli, if you still want to wait, then we can” he murmured, his hand gently brushing the dark hair out of her face.

Olivia shook her head. “I don’t want to wait” she returned, reaching for his hand.

Iker watched her gently before he pulled her closer, placing a kiss on her head. “I love you, Olivia” he murmured before he moved to lead them towards her apartment, hoping she didn’t regret what they were going to do.