Relationship Realities

“So how are you going to handle Hannah?” Margot asked.

You frowned. “I’m not sure what you mean?”

Margot had ended up having Tuesday off at the University library so the two of you had skipped your coffee meetup in the morning the previous day, but you were both back to work on Wednesday and you’d gotten your usual welcome from Paula. Your date with April at the mini putt place was that night, and until Margot had asked that question you’d been gliding by thinking everything was great.

“Come on, Ollie,” Margot said, leaning in as she sipped on her coffee. “You really do like April, right?”

“Well, yeah,” you said.

“A lot.”

“Yes, I like April a lot,” you said. “So what? Hannah was the one encouraging me to do the contest to begin with. She’s been trying to get me to date for… years! This is everything she’s wanted for me.”

Margot smiled in a way that was sort of sad as she looked at you and shook her head. “Ever heard of the story of the dog who finally managed to catch the car it was chasing?”

“Um, no,” you said, raising an eyebrow.

“It didn’t know what to do with it once it caught up,” Margot smirked. “Seriously - you and Hannah have had a specific dynamic for years. Hell, you and I have had a specific dynamic for the year we’ve been friends and neighbours and I’m a little jealous of your time with this new woman in your life, and I’m not the bundle of energy that Hannah is.”

Your brain tried to go three ways at once, and you ended up focusing on the part that might have been the most throwaway part of what Margot had said. “You’re jealous of April?” you asked.

“I mean-” Margot said, caught off guard a little and blushing just a little. “I’m jealous of your time, Ollie. And because I’m a reasonable adult I know that’s not fair, so I’m not gonna hold that against you or her. I know Hikaru feels the same way and she’s only been in the city for what, two months? We get into routines, and you’re an amazing person and it’s easy to fall into that routine with you. April is shaking everything up, and Hannah will be feeling it more than me or Hikaru.”

You groaned softly, shaking your head.

“You hadn’t given it a single thought, had you?” Margot asked.

“No,” you said. “Hannah hasn’t said anything. Unless she did to you?”

“No,” Margot said. “Not explicitly or anything. But I’m a girl, Ollie. I can tell when another girl is starting to feel off. Hannah isn’t going to, like, flip out or something… probably… so you don’t need to stress out. Just keep in mind that just as much as April is going to be nervous about meeting your best friend, Hannah is going to be nervous too.”

“Well, what am I supposed to do about it, though?” you asked. “Like, should I talk to Hannah about it beforehand? Or April?”

“Gawd no,” Margot said. “Jesus, Ollie. That’s the last thing you want to do. Just be your usual self. Give them reassurance. You make everyone feel comfortable anyways, so do that.”

You grunted and then sighed, giving the blonde former cowgirl a look. “You do realise you’ve only stressed me out more by telling me this, right? Like, I would have just ‘been me’ without knowing.”

Margot hesitated, surprised, and then laughed. “I guess so,” she said, then reached across the table and rubbed your hand. “But sometimes knowing is half the battle, Ollie. And I’d rather you go into the danger zone knowing you’re doing it than sending you in blind. Hey, who knows, maybe it goes really well and you end up in bed with them both by the end of the night.”

You coughed on your coffee, lucky you didn’t fully splutter and spray it. Once you had yourself under control you looked at her through slightly watered eyes and saw that smirk on Margot’s face that told you she’d teased you like that on purpose.

“Damn it, Margot,” you said and then cleared your throat again.

“Hey, you never know,” she grinned wickedly.

“Yeah, when pigs fly, hell freezes over and Jesus comes flying down from heaven and surprises all the other religions by revealing the Mormons were right all along,” you said.

Margot snorted and patted your hand again, then looked at her watch. “Shit,” she said. “I gotta go.” She stood up and you stood with her to give her a goodbye hug. “Good luck tonight, Ollie. Just have fun and be reassuring to both of them, OK? Don’t stress more than you absolutely need to.”

“Thanks, Margot,” you said, giving her a good squeeze back. She gave you a firm kiss on the cheek and winked playfully before she grabbed her coffee cup and headed out of the shop.

“Why so red?” Paula asked as she came over to your table and you sat back down.

“Margot knows how to tease me by saying shocking stuff,” you said, shaking your head a little.

“You sure I can’t get you a pastry, Ollie?” the coffee shop manager said, putting her hand on your shoulder with a friendly squeeze. “I don’t like seeing my favourite customer going to work hungry.”

You groaned softly and sighed. “I really can’t,” you said. “I’m on a new diet.”

“Well, tomorrow give me a list of all the things you can’t have and I’ll see if I can come up with something you can,” Paula said with a smile. “And I can give you an update on your cousin’s first shift here this afternoon.”

“She’s looking forward to it,” you said. “Thanks again for that favour, Paula. And for not mentioning I asked.”

“You’re a good man, Oliver,” Paula said. “And if she turns out half as good as you, she’ll probably be employee of the month in the next few weeks.”

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