Page 103 of Olivia's Only Pretending
“It hurt a little. Everyone joking about some other girl. About how girls always find you or whatever.”
“Olivia,” he said, his voice crumbling over my name, like it broke his heart to see me hurt. “They might not know we’re together, but everyone knows you’re the only girl I care about.”
“Maybe that’s true.” I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “But it still hurt. I care what your family thinks about me—about us. I care if girls like Georgie, or the barista on my campus, know you’re not available.”
“You’ve got it,” he said. “StampOlivia’s manon my forehead.”
“Or introduce me as your girlfriend,” I offered. “That’s also an option.”
“You’re right,” he said. “Tonight, I was being careful because my family was there, since they don’t know yet. Next time, it’ll be clear.”
Maybe after the past few weeks, my heart was ready for things to finally be clear.
Someone brushed past me, pushing me into Victor’s chest. We were so close, my body pressed into his. I looked up into his eyes. “I care about how we handle this relationship.” I swallowedaround the lump in my throat. “I don’t want us treating it like a secret. Or a joke.”
“You know I’d never try to keep you a secret,” Victor said, shaking his head. “Tonight was just bad timing. Things have been a whirlwind with the wedding. I’ve barely had a chance to talk with anyone.”
I nodded, biting my lip. “I get it.” And I did get it, in my head, but my heart would need a minute.
Everything between us felt so new, so delicate.
“I’ll be right back,” I said, taking a step back. Tears prickled against my eyes.
He held onto my hand. “I don’t want you feeling sad tonight.” Victor tugged on my hand as I pulled away.
“I just need a minute,” I said and pointed toward the restroom with my free hand.
His face fell.
“I’m okay,” I promised, before turning to leave.
I locked myself into a stall.
A few tears escaped. I took a few breaths. I hadn’t wanted to escape Victor, but I’d wanted to escape everything else.
I hadn’t realized how much it would matter to me to call him mine.
We should’ve talked about this beforehand,I thought.We should’ve told his family.
Over and over, I surprised myself with how deeply I cared when it came to Victor. I used to be so skilled at containing my feelings. With my exes, I used to be able to ignore anything that bothered me until it faded.
I couldn’t ignore anything I felt about Victor. Nothing about my feelings for him ever faded. It only grew, spreading like a wildfire.
I wiped my watery eyes before exiting the stall.
A few tipsy girls gossiped at the sink.
Tonight was important to Victor, and I wanted to see him before he left. I washed my hands and wiped my eyes in the mirror before heading out to find him.
Istood in the toes of my black leather boots, squinting around the bar, but Victor and his brothers weren’t anywhere to be found. Out of the corner of my eyes, I spotted Lucy walking out the door, and I followed behind her.
Once I walked out onto the downtown sidewalk, I realized Lucy walked away down the street with her phone pressed to her ear. I heard a familiar voice and realized in the opposite direction down the sidewalk, Victor was talking with his brothers, their backs to me.
The boys were standing in a huddle, facing downtown, streetlamps shining overhead.
I stepped closer but stopped in my tracks when I heard my name.
“You know, you’ve got to be careful with Olivia, man. She’s dragged you along for a while,” Luis said.
