Chapter 3: The Little Lie

OLIVE BECKETT

“Come onnnnn, you've been groveling on that chair for hours. You might as well rot alongside it.”

“I don't want to get up.”

Jess walked out with a spatula in one hand and a plate of freshly cooked eggs in the other.

“And so what if Elliot doesn't want you anymore? Fuck him! I'm pretty sure his marriage to that slimy, betraying whore won't last.”

“What if it was something I did? What if he was just testing me to see if I would stick by him?”

She rolled her eyes, walked up to me, and snatched my phone from my hands.

“You've been staring at your mobile for hours, love. Look at me, Elliot cheated on you. He betrayed you with your best friend of fifteen years, girl! He does not deserve you.”

I stroked my hair violently with my hands. It didn't help that I'd had a one-night stand with a complete stranger just a few hours after being dumped!

“And don't go sulking because you had a night with a dude last night. You did the right thing, and trust me, I'm proud of you for that.”

“It's not a joke, Jess. Besides, I still need to get my things out of the apartment. Oh God. Then I'll have to meet the both of them… together.”

“We can go together. I'm your friend, I won't let you confront those demons by yourself. Get out of it, Olive! You are a beautiful woman, thin or not. And if Elliot failed to understand that, then that's his loss.”

She set the spatula and the plate on the center table and pulled me up.

“You know what you need? A distraction. We should totally go to the class reunion happening tonight.”

“No!” I pushed her back and fell onto the couch. “I can't go to the reunion. Everyone would know Elliot and I aren't together anymore. I bragged about us ending up together right after college.”

“No one would know. He just broke up with you last night.”

“It's still the same, Jess.”

“No, it isn't. I'll be beside you all night, and trust me, no one else knows. Plus, I don't think Elliot will be there.”

“What if—”

“No what ifs,” she cut in. “No buts. It'll get your mind off things. I also heard there'll be some celebrities there, so it'll be a fun party. You need this, girl. What kind of friend would I be if I just let you rot on this couch?”

I took a deep sigh. Maybe this would serve as a huge distraction. I wiped my tear-stained cheeks, put on my big-girl pants, and got dressed.

Three hours later, Jess and I walked into the party hall with our heads held high. I was about to get some drinks when I spotted him. Elliot fucking Sterling was here and guess what? With Jane holding his hand.

I crouched down and scurried behind the long tables. I just had to stay low-key so he wouldn't notice me. I tried to get Jess's attention, but she was talking to an old classmate who was whispering something about Easton Carter, the hockey star attending the party.

I took a sip of my drink, took deep breaths, and stood up. I immediately bumped into Lynn, Winnie, and Freya—their drinks pouring onto my white mini cotton dress.

“Oh my God! I am so sorry,” Lynn shouted, being overly dramatic as usual.

“It's okay, it's okay,” I whispered, trying to get away, but it was no use.

“We're so sorry, Olive. We didn't see you there. And… cute dress, by the way. You've added some weight over the years,” Freya jumped in.

“Yeah… that's true. You weren't this fat, Olive. What happened? Life caught up with you? Besides, aren't you supposed to be here with Elliot?” Winnie added, looking around until she spotted him.

Freya nudged Winnie and whispered in her ear.

“Ooooooh, I'm so sorry. I heard about the engagement.”

She heard? When?

“It sucks that you and Elliot won't be an actual married couple after all. I mean, that was all you bragged about in college.”

I clenched my knuckles as tightly as I could and dropped my face. If I looked at them, I would cry. I couldn't do that in front of everyone. Not here.

“It is so sad. You bragging about having a happy marriage with a man you dated for eight years, and suddenly he turns around and proposes to your best friend—”

“Of fifteen years, might I add.”

“I guess this just happens when you give eight years of your life to a man and turn into an elephant overnight.”

I could hear footsteps as everyone approached us. My eyes stung, and I bet they were already red from the tears I'd been holding back.

“Hey, guys…did you hear?”

They whispered in front of me, and I stood immobile. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't say anything. And what could I have said? They were all right.

I was the one who had wasted years on a man.

“It's so sad, isn't it? He dumped you, and you're here looking hopeless and drenched in alcohol.”

“She definitely looks the part,” they joked, and there was an uproar of laughter.

“You should start exercising. You know what? I can help! One of my cousins owns a gym nearby. I could tell him to give you a discount on registering.”

“Wow, that's amazing, Freya!”

“She could probably find someone who's ready to take her.”

As they continued talking, my watery eyes dried up. Slowly, my hurt—that pain in my chest—turned into nothing but fucking rage. How dare they talk about me like this?!

How dare they have the nerve to judge my character and my personality?!

“It's the least I can do to help.”

I raised my head and looked back at them. I wanted to shut them up for good!

“I have a new boyfriend,” I blurted. The words came out before I could take them back.

Everyone looked at me, shocked and then interested.

“Who is it?” Freya asked, narrowing her eyes at me.

My eyes darted everywhere but at them. I was fucked.

“Easton Carter,” I blurted. I did it again!

“The hockey star Easton Carter?” someone asked from the crowd.

“I don't believe you. Prove it.”