OLIVIA.I remained seated on the bed, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration, the pounding headache intensifying with each word from Emma's rant on the phone."When I said I didn't feel comfortable with Matteo anymore, I didn't mean you should run to his brother. What are we going to do? And what about Izzy?"I sighed, whispering back, "Do you think I planned for any of this? I came here to talk and hang out, because we're friends. Next thing I know, I wake up in his bed with a hangover.""At least tell me he was drunk too, so I'll know if I should call 911,""He was, we both were," I replied softly, stealing a glance at him to see if he was awake."I'll swing by to pick you up. There's no way he's driving you here without Izzy noticing. I'll explain to her that you had a fallout with Matteo and got drunk, ending up with some guy from the bar, not her brother," Emma exclaimed."Okay, I'll send you my location. And Emma?""Yeah?""I didn't intend for any of this to happen. I fee

I settled into my usual spot on the beach, the gentle sound of waves washing over the shore. With a sigh of contentment, I took a sip of my drink, letting the tropical flavors dance across my palate. As I glanced around, families scattered along the shoreline caught my eye, parents chasing after their children, laughter ringing out like a melody. A pang of longing tugged at my heart as I observed mothers chasing after their children, their husbands by their side, the picture of domestic bliss.My mind wandered back to Finn, the memory of him etched vividly in my thoughts. It had been a month since that unexpected recollection, since the dream that felt more real than reality itself. Since then, he had become a constant presence in my mind, his smile haunting my dreams, his voice a distant echo in the recesses of my memory.My therapist assured me that it was normal, that after years of cognitive exercises and memory training, fragments of my past would resurface. Yet, each dream felt

OLIVIA.It was a lazy afternoon, and predictably mundane.With just one class scheduled, the rest of the day stretched out before me, a yawning expanse of time waiting to be filled. Izzy was out for lunch with Lucas, while Emma was likely holed up in her room, immersed in a video call with Tyler.I found myself in the living room, sprawled on the couch with a bag of fries in hand, indulging in one of my guilty pleasures-re-watching "Wild Child" for what must have been the tenth time. I couldn't help but mouth along to some of the lines.Suddenly, the shrill ring of the doorbell pierced the air, shattering the serenity of my lazy afternoon. I groaned inwardly, my head falling back against the cushions as I silently prayed for Emma to magically emerge and answer the door.But of course, luck wasn't on my side that day. The doorbell rang again, and Emma's voice echoed from her room, oblivious to my silent plea. "There's someone at the door, Olly!!!" she shouted, her voice carrying a hint

OLIVIA.As I rode down from the intense high of my orgasm, collapsing against Dante, my breath came in ragged gasps. His whispered words, "Best birthday gift ever," sent a shiver down my spine, but as he brought his fingers, still warm from our intimate encounter, to his lips and sensually licked them clean, a rush of panic flooded my senses.Reality crashed down on me, overwhelming the lingering haze of pleasure, a sense of unease gnawed at the edges of my consciousness. What had I just done?My eyes widened in realization, and I hurriedly straightened my ridden-up dress, cursing softly under my breath. Grabbing my phone and purse, which I had barely noticed I had discarded, I rushed towards the elevator, my heart pounding in my chest.Dante's urgent calls for me to wait echoed in the background, but I couldn't bring myself to face him. I needed to escape, to put distance between us before I drowned in the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.Fumbling with the buttons, I despera