Page 107 of Olivia's Only Pretending
My body, my brain, would be here showing up for the school, but my heart was already driving back to Sweet River to show up for the guy who always showed up for me.
Ispent the next couple of hours familiarizing myself with the lecture I was supposed to give tonight. I’d given it a few times, so it came back to me pretty quickly. I sent the slides over to the team.
And before I knew it, I was backstage. The other presenters’ voices boomed through the speakers while I prepped and went over beats with the stagehand. And, admittedly, I kept checking the time and imagining what Victor would be doing right then.
While I hung backstage and sipped from my plastic water bottle at 6:44, Victor was probably practicing walking down the aisle with the maid of honor.
At 7:12, as I was about to walk on stage, Victor was probably finding his name card on the table for dinner.
“Well, here’s our savior of the night.” Dean Oates woke me from my visions of Victor’s night without me. “I wanted to thank you for stepping up. I know it’s not easy to jump into an event like this with only a few hours to prepare. It’s huge, and the whole department is grateful.”
It felt surreal. Weeks ago, I was angry that Ryan would be giving the grand finale to the Fall Seminar Series as a speciallecturer, and now here I was, begged by the moderator to step in and take his place. With only a few hours to prepare, at that. Not enough time to really enjoy,orenough time to properly freak out.
“Of course, I’m happy to help. I want the whole night to be a success.”
Istepped on stage. The spotlight was bright on me as I pulled the microphone to my lips with shaking hands. Once I began talking, it felt easy, natural even. This presentation was such a passion project that it felt more like a conversation, my excitement palpable to the audience. I recognized many of the students in the front rows, and seeing their interest as I spoke got me buzzing. Time flew by. The only thing missing was Victor grinning proudly in the front row.
Next thing I knew, I was backstage again.
They were preparing us for the ending Q&A panel. While Alexis was briefing us, I glanced toward the clock backstage. 7:50. Victor probably hadn’t even given his toast yet.
If I left right now …
“I’ve got to go,” I interrupted Alexis. She looked immediately panicked. “I’m so sorry. I filled the important slot, I gave my time, but I know these speakers can handle the Q&A panel. You guys will barely feel the lack of my presence, but there’s somewhere my presencereallymatters.”
Alexis took a beat, taking in the information. “Okay then. Go where you need to be.”
I ran out the back door, slipping off my ankle boots, with my bare feet running down the cool sidewalk. The campus was quiet and dim in the fading sunlight.
I climbed into my car, turning it toward Sweet River. Toward Victor. With my gray trouser slacks and matching blazer andponytail nearly coming undone, this was what I was wearing to the rehearsal dinner—so long red halter dress.
But I was going to show up for him, messy and late, but I would be there.
Thirty-Three
Ihad to park a few blocks down from Coffees and Commas since the streets were lined with cars, probably because of the rehearsal dinner and the fact it was a Friday night downtown. I slid out of the car, letting the door slam behind me. I held my shoes in my hands again and raced barefoot down the cold street. It was 8:26 p.m. The dinner was supposed to be wrapping up soon.
The sky was sapphire with twinkling stars overhead and the air crisp. Streetlamps lined the street and passersby crowded the path as I weaved toward Coffees and Commas—toward Victor.
I swung the doors open, hit by the warmth of the close quarters filled with guests sitting around tables set up for the dinner. Candles at the center of every surface and twinkle lights strung overhead. Everyone was facing the center of the room, where Victor stood with a microphone in his hand.
The door swung closed behind me. No one looked my way. Every eye was on Victor, whose eyes were on Gabriel and Emma as he spoke.
“But I’m happy to share him with you,” Victor said, his voice playful but still thick with emotion.
Emma nodded, wiping a tear away.
I took a few steps forward. A few guests glanced my way, and I smiled politely.
Victor’s warm, booming voice filled the small space. “I used to spin my wheels, terrified I’d let down the people I loved. But lately, I’ve gotten an up-close look at love.” His throat caught on the word love like rough sandpaper. “When love is good and right andreal,there’s no space for that kind of doubt because that kind of love lifts you up. It gets you reaching for things you never thought were possible before.”
Tears pooled in my eyes. I’d heard this speech before, but each word still plucked at the strings in my heart.
“And that’s what you two have—a love that lifts each other up.” Victor raised his glass, casually glancing back out toward the crowd, his eyes stopping like a record scratch when they landed on me. His face melted into a smile like I was the best surprise.
I gave a small smile and perked my shoulders. His grin widened as he clinked glasses with the tables around him, everyone toasting the couple.
After he took a swig, he set his flute down and walked straight to where I stood in the center of the room.
