I Love You - Elizabeth Olsen

12

July 16, 2021 Los Angeles

"After that, the honey wasn't a secret anymore and nether was the garden. Pooh's friends stayed busy picking tasty vegetables, the bees stayed buzzy sipping nectar from the flowers and Pooh stayed happy and rather sticky collecting all the honey he could eat" I finish reading the last page, the bedside lamp giving just enough light to read comfortably.

I lift my eyes to see Max sleeping soundly, his thumb in his mouth as he breathes calmly. I smile lovingly at the sight, putting the book back on its place before I kiss Max's head.

"Goodnight, my sweet boy" I whisper adoringly, brushing some hair from his face and tucking him one more time.

I walk out of his room, leaving the door slightly open, per my son's request.

It's only a little after 8 p.m, so it's still early for me. I'd love to sit with my fiancée for a moment, but unfortunately, it's not possible right now. Why? Oh, because we didn't speak the whole day.

I returned home after spending a few hours at Harry's and she wasn't home. She came an hour later, apologized about it, but never saying where she was. And frankly, I didn't care too much.

See? You can act like adults and have your own things in life. You don't have to share every little detail with each other or asking for permission to go out.

I decide to grab a drink and sit outside with my guitar. And I do just that. I pour myself some whiskey and grab my guitar before I walk to the garden. I sit on one of the chairs, resting the glass on the table in front of me.

I release a deep sigh, grabbing the guitar on my lap. I start tuning the strings, but when I'm done with it, I lean to take a sip of my drink. As I put the glass down, my phone lights up with a new notification.

It's Penelope, my publicist, sending me a link.

What you want to do with this?

I narrow my eyes at the question and click on the link from my favorite website, Page Six.

"You gotta be shitting me" I mumble, but it turns into a groan when I see the pictures.

My fiancée, sitting with her old co-star, holding bloody hands. The date says that these photos are from today, so that's where she was earlier. She wasn't home because of him? Fucking bullshit.

I debate for a moment what to do, not really keen for a confrontation. But it isn't my choice because the door swings open, revealing Lizzie. She's wearing a frown on her face, showing how troubled she is.

"It's not like it looks like" That's her first words and a sarcastic laugh leaves my mouth involuntary.

"Really? Then why you didn't mention it earlier? I have to find out about your lunch with someone by paparazzi?" I shoot back, putting the instrument away and picking up my drink. I see Lizzie's eyes flicker to the glass, but I only relax in my chair, ignoring it. "Why didn't tell me, hm?"

"It didn't matter, not really. It was just a lunch" Lizzie shrugs, looking down on her feet. Which gives me some feeling it wasn't just a lunch. "You can go out without telling me, what's the difference?"

"What do you mean without telling you? I'm always saying where I'm going" I respond defensively, taking a sip. "If you're still talking about my day in studio, then this conversation is pointless" I warn her, but in a soft tone. I worked too hard with my therapist to act like I did years ago.

"Pointless? Wow, okay. Good to know that our conversations are useless now" She says flatly.

"Elizabeth-" I sigh tiredly, closing my eyes briefly. "Do not put words in my mouth"