Olivia

A few months later

"Everyone shut up!" My mouth drops open as I stare at the email.

"What's wrong?" Charlie asks, turning and reaching for me. Naomi and El both have confused expressions on their faces.

I turn to Charlie with a grin. "It's the email!"

He pauses as recognition descends on him. "The email?"

I nod, too excited to use words.

Naomi's frown morphs into a grin. "No way! Open it! Open it!"

I shake my head. "Not yet!" Then I turn in the direction of the front desk. "Sasha!" I yell.

She looks away from the customer she's with and glares at me. Oops. Then she turns back to them, flashes a smile and finishes ringing them up.

"Wow. I thought you were the one who didn't interrupt customers?" El comments with a smirk.

I roll my eyes. "Whatever. I'm just excited." Next thing I know I'm getting smacked on the back of my head. "Ow!" I rub the spot as I turn to find Sasha behind me with her arms crossed and glaring at me.

"Why would you yell at me when I'm with someone?"

I grin. "I got the email."

Her glare drops and so do her arms. "Actually?" I nod. "Have you opened it yet?"

I shake my head. "I was waiting for you to get over here. That's why I yelled at you."

She smacks me again. "You could have told me that!"

"I just did!"

"Would you two stop fighting?" Charlie asks, but he's laughing and shaking his head.

I turn to face him with the sweetest smile I have. "Of course." I turn back and stick my tongue out at Sasha.

"Hey!"

"What's going on out here?" mom asks as she pushes out of the kitchen door.

"Olivia got the email!" Sasha cries.

Our moms eyes widen. "Did they accept you?"

I glare at Sasha. "I haven't got the chance to open it yet."

"How is that my fault?" she asks when she notices my glare.

"Because-" My phone's ripped out of my hand. I spin around. "Hey!"

Charlie hovers his finger over my phone, a smug smile on his face. "Stop fighting or I'll open it for you."

I cross my arms and pout. "That's not fair."

"Ugh!" Naomi groans. "Stop leaving us in suspense!"

"Okay, okay." I grab my phone from Charlie, who scooches his chair closer to mine as he does.

I take a deep shaky breath as my finger hovers over the new email. The email that could decide whether I'll be following my future of being a vet or not.

Charlie wraps his arm around my shoulders and squeezes. "You'll be accepted. I just know it," he whispers low enough so that only I hear him say it.

I nod and click into the email. A collective inhale of air is heard throughout the group. The email loads and loads until big letters are filling my view.

A grin grows on my face. "I got in!"

Everyone cheers.

"That's awesome!" El.

"Ah! That's my girl!" Naomi.

"Eee! Congrats Sis!" Sasha, who jumps up and down.

"I'm really proud of you," mom says and it's written all over her face. She tries to hide it but I still see the disappointment behind her eyes. I know she's supporting me to follow what I want to do, but I know she's still disappointed about me not taking over the bakery. She's grown more to the idea of Sasha taking over but it's a slow process to rebuild her dream and what she pictured for the bakery. Especially since Sasha has such different ideas compared to her.

Charlie kisses my cheek. "I knew you'd be accepted."

I grin and turn to him. "You never had any doubt?"

He shakes his head, his eyes shining. "Never."

I lean in and kiss him, smiling against his mouth.

"Get a room!" El yells.

We pull apart in laughter.

"I think this calls for some fudge. Everyone can pick a piece and it's on the house," mom declares. When I meet her gaze she smiles.

I nod. She's trying and being as supportive as she can be, and that's what matters.

***

"How are you feeling about your math diploma?" I ask Charlie as we pack up our study guides.

He groans and shakes his head side to side. "I think I'll be okay."

I lift a brow. "Is okay passing?"

He nods.

I walk over to him and grab his hand. I bring it up to my chest. He looks down at me, one eyebrow raised. "You'll do great. Like Naomi said, you've been studying non-stop and have aced all the questions she's given you."

He nods, his adam-apple bobbing. "I know. I'm just... nervous."

"And is that just for the diploma or..." I leave the end open. Both of us know he's not that nervous just for a math test.

He sighs. "Okay, maybe I am nervous about tonight. It's the first time my parents and I are having dinner together."

"And why is that scary? You know both of them and they know each other."

He nods and takes a deep breath. "Yes. But this is the first time the three of us are having dinner together. They don't see each other outside of work right now and when my mom comes to pick me up my dad hides away in the house with Max."

I try to picture Mr. Masko holding Max and hiding in a closet somewhere. I laugh, it's pretty funny. "They're both grown-ups, Charlie and so are you. You'll all be fine."

"Can you come with me?" He makes puppy dog eyes.

I shake my head and look away. "No. You have to do this yourself."

He sighs.

I look back at him and bring my hand up to his face. He leans into it. "You got this, okay?"

He nods.

"Repeat it."

He rolls his eyes but says it.

I grin. "Good. Now," I look over his shoulder. "Looks like your ride is here."

He looks over his shoulder and groans when he sees his dad sitting in their car. He turns back to me. "Can I get a goodbye kiss?"

I chuckle. "Of course you can." I lean up on my toes and kiss him. My arms wrap around his neck as his wrap around my back. We break apart and lean our foreheads together.

He sighs and breaks away. Grabbing his bag from where it sits on a chair, he slings it over his shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

I nod.

He kisses my cheek once more. "Bye, I love you."

"Bye Charlie. I love you too."