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Chapter 7 : London (Pt. 1)

"WE ARE OUTSIDE," Steve announced from the other side of the line, his croaky voice and cheerful tone were always uplifting.

I bent down to hug and kiss George who hung his head low, his eyes drooping as he quietly whined,  he had been fully aware that I was leaving for a few days. Straightening up, I slid my engagement ring off my finger and put it inside an envelope that had Matt's name written across the front. It took me a few seconds to let go and place it on the kitchen counter. Matt and I had arranged for him to come and gather his things while I was in London promoting my movie. It would have been too hard for me to be there witnessing how he removed all traces of him from our house. 

While in L.A., Steve and Jake decided they would travel two days earlier to London to have some time off there and I tagged along. It was long since the three of us had spent some time together, so I was also excited about that. I grabbed my coat, my bags, and headed to meet them at the front door.

Steve was standing outside of the van talking to Jake who was sitting in the back seat. They were heatedly discussing something about hockey that I simply didn't even try to get.

"Hey! Ready for some quality time?" Jake asked.

"You bet I am!" I chuckled.

*

I WALKED TOWARD the big window and opened the curtains to find out I was able to see Hyde Park from my room. Smiling, I spent a few minutes admiring the view; London is one of my favorite cities. 

The flight was long, and after a shower an changing into more comfortable clothes, I climbed into bed and pulled the pristine white fluffy duvet over my body, my eyes feeling heavy and as I drifted off to sleep I found myself wishing that at least while in London I could leave the last events of my life behind.

A sharp knock on the door woke me up, I looked at the time on my phone and realized I had been sleeping for over four hours. Groggily, I managed to get up and walk across the room to get to the door. I checked the peephole and saw Jake standing outside, his hands firmly placed on his hips.

I opened the door in my pajamas and didn't need to look at myself in the mirror to know I had a critical case of bed head. Jake's eyes widened, "Are you kidding me? It's 7 Liv!"

My voice came out deep and raspy, "I was tired...come in," Jake followed me as I walked into the room and collapsed back in bed, "are you wearing cologne?"

"Yes, because we are going out! And I mean the three of us, Steve is already kinda drunk at the lobby," he stared at me, his hand on his hips.

"I was planning to order room service and watch a movie, to be honest," I confessed, even though our original plan was to go out.

"No way, you are coming with us. The night is young," he said while opening my suitcase.

"Hey! What are you doing?" I called while reluctantly getting back up

"You are wearing this," he pulled a short lowcut dress I took as an option for the premiere party after Jill's much insistence, but probably wasn't going to wear.

"That is a little bit revealing for a chill night out, Jake," I chuckled and took the dress from his hands.

"Oh, I know, that is why you have to wear it. You are back in the market, Liv."

I shook my head and grinned, "I'll find something to wear, just wait for me downstairs."

An hour later we were playing darts and drinking pints at a pub near the hotel. I ended up wearing a much less revealing dress than the one Jake suggested. Steve was already hammered and trying to hit on a random girl by the bar.