Page 3 of Behind the Mask

Understanding crossed her features. I didn't know her long, and I certainly didn’t spill my life to her, but she knew bits and pieces. She knew all about Axel and she knew about the threats I had been receiving.

Disappointment crossed her features. “I think it's time we get you a new phone, hun. Torturing yourself like this will never help you move on.”

I shrugged. “I can’t afford a new phone. I can barely afford rent and bills, let alone groceries. This one will have to do. They will stop calling eventually.

She frowned. “Nope, sorry. We’re going to the apple store today. It’s time to let go of the past and move on. First and foremost, getting a new phone so they can no longer contact you.”

I went to open my mouth but she cut me off.

“I don’t want to hear it. I’ll buy you a new phone. I’m not having my new bestie suffer through this heartache.”

Tears brimmed in my eyes. “Thank you.”

“Of course! Now eat up! We have a new phone to buy.”

I didn’t know what I did to deserve her kindness, but I would do everything in my power to pay it back. Maybe she was right, maybe I would eventually start to heal. Getting a phone might be the perfect step in the right direction.

Chapter Three

Axel

She was just as stunning as I remembered. Her long blonde hair was wet and stuck to her shirt, and her hazel eyes shined as if they were a bright star. My eyes roamed over her curves. I swallowed. Damn.She was perfect without even trying.

Her gaze remained on mine, and though I resented her, I couldn’t help the way my heart sped up when she looked at me. She used to be mine. I gave her everything and she threw it all away. My jaw ticked. I’d never forgotten the night she walked away from me, and fuck, I couldn’t forget what it was like to be in love with her.

A faint squeeze on my bicep reminded me that Vanessa was in the room with us. I met her two years ago. When I thought I'd never be able to love another, she waltzed into my life and made me see that it was possible.

My eyes were drawn to the yoga pants that were tight on Olivia’s hips, and the long shirt she wore flowed down her chest, covering those perfect breasts I remembered. God, I loved her once. I would've done anything for her, but she damn well threw it away.

"Mom?" Her sweet voice sounded in my ear like a soft violin playing in the night.

"Don’t you remember Axel, dear?"

Her eyes narrowed. Of course she remembered me. She managed to plaster a smile on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Axel." My name dripped off her tongue, but her focus wasn’t on me. It was on Vanessa. "And you are?"

Vanessa smiled and reached out a hand to Olivia. "I'm Vanessa, Axel's fiancé." Olivia reached out to shake her hand, as the words I’m sure she dreaded rolled off Vanessa’s tongue. The grip on my arm grew tighter, and I knew it was a territorial move. That’s just how Vanessa was, she was very protective of what was hers. I watched Olivia’s reaction, but her face remained passive. One thing I noticed about her was that she could hide behind her mask much better than when we were teenagers.

"It's lovely to meet you," she said.

"Axel was just telling us about his life down in Texas." Stan clapped a hand on my shoulder. He grinned and spoke with confidence as he told Olivia how my life had been since we’d last seen each other. While Olivia and I had our dispute, my relationship with her parents never changed. They had always welcomed me into their home with loving arms. I knew my parents missed their best friends more than they’d like to admit. Our families had a special connection and I think that was part of the reason Olivia and I had become best friends. It was destined to happen.

Olivia listened to her dad speak, but she retreated into her closed-off shell. His words were going in one ear and out the other, not even realizing she wasn’t paying attention.

A phone went off upstairs and she used it as an excuse to leave. My pulse raced, but I was determined to get answers. I left Vanessa in the living room with Olivia’s parents, after I lied and told her that I had to take a leak. Instead, I stood right outside Olivia’s door and listened to her private conversation.

"I'm scared, Lindsey,” she paused. “Why is he here? Why did he come back now, after all these years?” She laughed, but it was forced, weak. “He’s engaged, and I can’t even begin to process the fact that he’s officially moved on. Not that I blame him.”

I pressed my ear against the door so I could hear more clearly.

"No, maybe this was all just a mistake in the first place.” Her bed squeaked and then feet paced against the floor. I swallowed. I was hanging off her every word to get something.Anythingabout why she left.

A hiccupped sob escaped her. “There’s too much… history here. Did you know I have night terrors, Linds? I relive that night over, and over, and over. How many times do I have to keep being punished before I can have peace?”

I moved away from the door and leaned against the wall. I tried to process her cryptic words, but I couldn’t figure out what they meant. I shook my head and cursed. I was being stupid. Having heard enough, I headed back downstairs to my fiancé—who I knew would never break me like she did.

Chapter Three

Olivia

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