Page 1 of Liberty

Chapter One

Libby

“Lib, this is exactly what you need. Getting away from everything, andeveryone.”

Kylee kept saying this vacation would be good for me, and I was trying to believe her, but it was difficult.

Driving all night wasn’t the best way to kick it off, though.

I was tired. I’d spent all day at work, and then I’d had to rush home to pack. Kylee had picked me up at ten, and now we were on the road. Thankfully, Gulf Shores wasn’t too far from Oxford. We’d be there by morning.

I sat in the passenger seat, scrolling through Instagram. In the driver’s seat, Kylee was cruising down the interstate and singing along with whatever she had playing on the radio.

I sighed loudly.

Ryan, my ex, looked so happy in all of his pictures.

And I hadn’t posted a single selfie since we’d broken up.

I lifted my head as the music suddenly got quieter.

“Liberty Ann, are you stalking him again?” Kylee scolded.

I looked to Kylee, as I shot her a frown. I hated it when she used my full name. I hated it when anyone used it. I didn’t feel like a Liberty. Libby fit me better. It seemed to fit my curves and long blonde hair.

Kylee’s name fit her perfectly. She was so pretty. Fit and petite, with blue-gray eyes and brown curls, and stylish clothes. She’d been my best friend since we were little, but I couldn’t help feeling jealous of her sometimes.

And she was doing the mom thing again.

She’d been doing it since the break-up, and I was trying to be patient, but sometimes it got old.

“I’m just—I’m bored, and trying to stay awake.”

“Stop. You aren’t doing yourself any good looking at that asshole on social media.” She sighed dramatically. “I swear, I’m gonna throw your phone out the window.”

“No you’re not.”

“Okay, well, I’m going to block him from all of your social media profiles and change your passwords until you’re finally over him.” Kylee giggled, but I knew she was serious.

“I can still have it until we get to the resort. Once we get there, I’ll follow whatever rules you have.”

“You won’t have a choice. There’s barely any service out there, and no wi-fi. You’re supposed to enjoy your surroundings and live in the moment.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know why we had to pick somewhere so far and isolated.”

“Because.” Kylee reached over the console, nudging me. “You, ma’am, need a break from your phone. You need a week without Instagram and Facebook so you can stop thinking about your douchebag ex.”

“He’s not that bad.”

“He’s definitely that bad.” Kylee shook her head.

I huffed in response and locked my phone. “Then why did you let me date him for so long?”

“Because you were happy! We didn’t figure out he was an asshole until the end.”

She was right.

Kylee kept talking. “It’s been six months, Libby. You keep saying you’re over him, but you look him up online all the time. You need a distraction.”

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