Ready to Run Part 2

Chapter 13

Olivia

The next morning I wake up buried under my blankets with a pounding headache. My mouth is dry and I can feel the telltale nausea of an awful hangover coming on. I definitely over did it last night. I wanted to shut off my brain and the never ending stream of thoughts that have been running through my head all week if only for a night and it seems like I did the job. To be honest, I don't remember much except my serious conversation with Lexie at the bar. The fact that I actually have a hangover is proof that I probably had a lot of fun so it's unfortunate that I can't remember most of it.

I reach out from my blanket fort to grab my phone and try to connect the dots. When I first see the many texts I have from Liam, I'm annoyed. It seemed that he understood that I needed some space without my telling him because he hasn't been trying to contact me constantly like I was afraid he would. We've talked on the phone and texted a few times, just enough to remind me how much I care about him and how I need to make a decision soon, but not enough to make me feel like I'm being smothered. I'm a little shocked by the content of his messages until I see what I sent him. Apparently drunk me felt the need to send him a few rather racy pictures before I passed out. When he woke up he was pleasantly surprised to say the least. We've never had to resort to sexting so reading his reaction is a little unexpected. Still, seeing what he wanted to do to me spelled out in such graphic detail is making me wish he was here right now. I'm deleting the pictures from my phone, grateful I didn't slip up and send them to anyone else when Lexie walks in.

"Are you alive?" She asks in what seems like a very loud voice. She hands me a glass of water and Tylenol and I take them gratefully.

"Barely." I tell her, pulling the covers back over my head.

"Well according to Liam I probably should have taken your phone away last night." She says with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh god. He told you? That's so embarrassing. Apparently drunk me is much more shameless than sober me."

"Hey, you'll get no judgment from me. I'm in a long distance relationship after all." She says with a wink. "But seriously, don't be mad at him. He just wanted to check in and make sure you were ok. He was concerned. From what I saw last night, for good reason."

"Can we not start with this? It's too early." I try to protest.

"You need to talk about what's going on now. I've been trying to give you some space but after last night it's clear you need help figuring things out."

"Fine. I'll admit it would probably help to have some advice right now. You know, I always considered myself to be a bit of a romantic at heart. Or I thought I would be given the chance to be in an actual relationship. Then I moved to London. And I met Grant. And was played by Grant. I hate to give him the satisfaction of having any power over my life but that changed me."

"What does that have to do with Liam?" She presses.

"He was such a great friend to me. He was always there for me when I needed him, even when I didn't think I did. Then he swooped in and completely swept me off my feet. He's perfect. I'm dating my best friend, besides you of course. Lexie, he's everything I ever wanted. Yet for some reason, I can't tell him that." I admit.

"So you do love him?"

"I'm definitely falling in love with him. I just don't know if I'm fully there yet." I tell her, skirting around the question.

"Oh, that's a cop out pulled straight from The Bachelor and you know it. I think you know, you're just too afraid to admit it." She says, calling me on my bullshit.

"Even if I do, not saying that I do but if I did, does that mean I uproot my whole life and move over there?"

"What's wrong with that? You love London. You've been living over there for the past four months anyways. You haven't been doing anything school or work related. The only thing that's changing is now you'll have a diploma. I don't get why you're so against it." She argues.