004

OLIVIA

The air in California?

Oh my God!

The air felt much lighter, I felt good!

The house was big, warm, and peaceful. The kind of peace that I needed. I slept better that first night than I had in weeks with Jenna sniffing every one of me.

The next morning, Jenna burst into my room, fully dressed and far too energetic.

“Get up, mamacita!” She said, “We are going out tonight.!” She squealed.

I groaned. “Jenna, I thought you said I came here to rest. What's with the going out thingy.”

“No, no. You can't be a killer joy, not today.” She replied. “If you ask me, I don't think you need to rest. You've been resting for the past two to three weeks now and all you need is a nice party to clear your crowded mind. You can rest for the latter. We're attending our college reunion party.”

I sat up. “A reunion? Since when?”

“Since now.”

“I wasn’t told about this.”

She waved me off. “You'll be fine, girl. Dress up and stop sulking around mamacita.”

“I don't want to see anyone from back then.”

“You won't die,” she said cheerfully. “Now, shower.”

She didn't give me space to argue.

~~

The party was louder than I expected.

Music, laughter and familiar faces that felt strange now. Everyone looked different from way back. Second time I would be coming up here after the large fight that happened way back because of me.

I stayed close to Jenna at first, avoiding every face, but she drifted away quickly, pulling into conversations.

That's when I saw him.

My high school crush, Kyle Robinson.

The one who caused a huge crash out of the last reunion, I swore not to come again.

He looked older and more confident now.

“Olivia?” He asked, smiling. “Wow, you look…different.”

I smiled back, surprised and wanting to find a way to avoid having a discussion with him. “Hi.”

We talked for a while, about life, work, where we'd ended up. It was comfortable and for a moment, I felt normal again.

Having a discussion with someone I once fought with.

Isn't that crazy?

Well, you can't blame me. He is more mature now.

And finally, when I was enjoying the conversation, he was pulled away by someone else.

I ended up at the bar alone, nursing a drink, then another. The room started to blur slightly and I became scared.

What if I act all out again?

Fortunately for me, I found Jenna.

“I'm tired,” I whined.

She studied my face for a moment, then nodded. “Don’t be such a bore, Liv. The party hasn’t even begun.”

“I feel so drowsy, stressed and sleepy.”

“Do you want me to send someone over to help you ease the stress?”

“Fuck no!” I said amid laughter.

“Okay fine, let’s get you a cab,” she replied, holding my hands as we walked out.

“Don’t stay awake, waiting. I might return late,” she said as she closed the door, waving at me until I was out of sight.

The girl loved me way too much and I was so lucky to have her.

The house was back to its quietness when I got back .

I kicked off my shoes as I headed to the kitchen, taking a glass of water.

My phone buzzed and I quickly checked it, hoping that I’d be—No messages from Ethan!

A wave of disappointment washed over me as I sat on the nearby stool. He didn’t even care.

I typed his name hesitantly on the i*******m search bar, and that was when I saw it…wedding pictures! It was all over his page, smiles, kisses, with thousands of likes and beautiful comments.

And when I finally thought it was over, the feeling gushed back in. I felt my chest tightened with pain.

I reached out for alcohol, pouring a glass and downing it at a go. And then, another and another, until I lost count.

I didn’t deserve this!

Since when was it wrong to be a virgin?

Since when was it a crime to wait until marriage…but what did I get from doing that? My fiancee fucking my cousin!

A tear slipped from my eyes as I stood up, drinking wouldn’t stop this pain, I needed to forget…I needed to erase this betrayal from my head.

I needed something new to focus on. I walked upstairs, my head hazy, and my steps unsteady.

But just as I reached my room, I froze.

There was a man in my bed.

Naked

Fucking naked!

I gasped, my eyes widening. “What…who are you?”

He sat up slowly, clearly confused. “Are you not my escort?”

I stared at him, obviously confused about what meant. “Did, Jen…” I stopped, shaking my head. “Did cupcake send you?”

He frowned, his husky voice, sending a vibration to my body. “What's the fuss about? Your company asked you to come here. Get on.”

I should've left that instant because I didn't know who he was or what he was talking about, but I walked closer instead, the alcohol filling my better judgement. I leaned in and kissed him.

His cedar cologne invading my nostril and smelling so familiar like I had gotten that smell somewhere.

The kiss was desperate, clumsy and full of everything I was trying not to feel.

Goddness.

He hesitated. “Are you sure you are in for my kind of sex?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “Make me forget.”

I woke up, alone, very sore, exhausted and feeling sweet.

I lay there for a moment, reminiscing about all the things that happened last night. How the escort was shocked that I was a virgin.

The way he had unlocked a part of me I hadn’t discovered. The way his long dick had…Shit! Did I just get disvirgined by a stranger?

A smile crept on my face, I didn’t regret it. If anything, I felt relieved and light-hearted.

I sat up slowly, my body aching, my eyes scanning the room. It wasn’t mine.

I must have walked inside the visitor’s room sure to the alcohol. And then the escort, he had dressed and cleaned the room like a gentleman.

I stood up, heading to my room quietly. I showered, dressed simply in a polo shirt, and went downstairs.

Just as the hallway, I could hear Jenna’s loud laughter. I knew for sure, she was ready to bombard me with questions on how my night went.

But on entering the kitchen, I froze.

The escort from last night?

They were talking comfortably like they had known each other for years. Jenna was laughing, hitting his chest and the man was holding her hand.

What the heck was happening?

Why was he still here?

Perhaps he was her friend? But Jenna never kept male friends…infact she despised men.

Jenna noticed me first and froze. “Liv…”

The escort also turned around and I could clearly see his face unlike last night.

Icy green eyes, broad shoulders, sharp jawline and every feature that made him older and sexy at that.

Jenna rushed toward me. “I promise. This isn't how I planned to introduce you. He is just so full of surprises.”

My brows furrowed into confusion

Introduce me?

“My father wasn't supposed to show up,”she continued, with a smile. “I swear. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable and I am just here scolding him.”

My head spun and my face dropped.

I haven’t gotten a chance to see him, since he was always very busy and on our first meeting, I…

 Fuck, I slept with my best friend’s father?!