Page 109 of Awakening

Olivia

It’s been a week since Austin’s punishment was determined. It’s almost impossible to concentrate on wedding details for Holly at the pack house when I know what Ethan and Nick are doing on the other side of the pack territory today. We’ll finally have vengeance against Austin.

“Olivia?” Chloe clinks her fork on her cake plate, pulling me out of my daze. “Hey. Are you okay?”

I take a deep breath and release it slowly. “Sorry. I’m just distracted.”

“Yeah, but it’s supposed to be with cake and flowers, not with the thought of Ethan teaching Austin a well deserved lesson. Talk to me.”

“Honestly? I’m disturbed by how okay I am with what’s going on over there today.”

Chloe reaches over and takes my hand on the table. “It’s okay, Liv. You’ve earned the right to feel that way. You’ve been through hell, and it all started with Austin’s cooperation with Ian. I’m more than okay with it, and it didn’t even happen to me.”

“I’m just having a hard time reconciling these feelings with who I know myself to be, or at least, who I used to be.”

“You’re allowed to have complicated feelings right now.”

I nod and force myself to put a smile on my face as Holly rejoins us at the table in the pack house common area, placing a glass of champagne in front of each of us. “I thought you might enjoy this with the cake. So, what do you think?” she asks, gesturing to the cake selections. She pauses for a minute as I try to decide on cake flavors in my scrambled brain.

“She’ll take both,” Chloe says.

“Both?” Holly asks, looking to me for confirmation.

“Sure. Why not?”

“Okay, perfect. Are we still decided on the pastel pink roses and white hydrangeas for flowers?”

“Yes, that sounds beautiful,” I say, trying to sound as enthusiastic as possible.

“Wonderful. I think we have everything nailed down. I’ll go make sure everything is in order. Thank you, ladies.”

“Thank you, Holly. You’ve been amazing,” I say.

“Of course. Enjoy your champagne, ladies,” she says as she leaves our table.

Chloe holds her glass up. “Shall we toast to your wedding?”

“Chloe, don’t you remember what happened the last time we drank champagne?” I say with a giggle.

“I do.” She laughs. “But, just one glass this time.” I hold my glass up and she says, “Here’s to letting go of the past, and looking ahead to your lovely day. You’re going to be a beautiful bride. Cheers, girl.”

“Cheers,” I say, clinking my glass to hers. I take a small sip and it immediately tastes sour on my tongue. “Oh, I think this is bad. It tastes awful.”

“Really?” Chloe says. “Mine tastes amazing. Here, taste mine.” She hands me her glass and I take a drink with the same reaction.

I scrunch up my face and shake my head. “No.”

“Hmm. Maybe it’s just because we drank too much of it last week,” Chloe says.

“That must be it,” I say, placing the glass down on the table as my phone chimes with a text.

“Is that Ethan?” Chloe asks as I fish it out of my purse.

I look down at the screen. “Yes.”

Ethan

It’s done.

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