Olivia

Chapter 26

I show up at the beach. Gladys said we would run along the beach for a change of scenery, but she is nowhere to be seen. I sit on the bare sand and wait. A few minutes go by, and Olivia approaches me. Oh! I didn't know she would be here, too.

She sits next to me, "Hi, Simone. How are you?"

I don't turn to her, but I can see her chewing through my peripheral. I miss this.

"Hey, Livvy. I'm good."

"Good, good. Why don't you call her? It's not like her to be so late."

As I reach for my phone, it rings. Gladys.

"Where are you?"

"The two of you need to stop acting like kids. Talk."

She hangs up before I can answer.

"Well?" Olivia says.

"She wants us to talk," I look off in the distance, "she knew, and I couldn't hide it from her anymore, so I kinda told her."

"Told her what exactly?"

"Everything. The first kiss, the second, and the argument."

"I see."

She looks off in the distance.

I turn to her and look her directly in her eyes, "she is right, Livvy. I'm not acting grown. I'm sorry."

Livvy tucks her hair, which has escaped from her ponytail, behind her ear.

"It's ok. I guess everything kinda got out of hand."

I smile, looking off in the distance, "it did."

"What did you feel, Simone?"

I don't want to answer her question. I don't want to lie to her, but I don't want to tell her the truth.

"How's the new place?"

She looks at me and shakes her head, "didn't we just agree to be grown? Tell me. I want to know."

I play with my fingers and avoid her eyes, "it doesn't matter, I'm married."

"It does to me. Tell me."

She shifts a little, almost sitting in front of me now. I drop my head in my hands, not wanting to talk about this.

"Simone..."

I look away, "I get butterflies with you just sitting next to me. Any part of my body that you touch comes alive in a whole new way. I can't get the taste and feel of your lips out of my mind. I feel jealous of Tina. I know everything that I feel is so wrong, but I can't help it..."

Everything comes rolling off my tongue.
I look at her, and she is smiling that smile. Even her smile makes me feel something.

She reaches for my hand, "wanna see my place?"

I'm glad that she isn't asking me anything else. I am glad for the change of topic. I, quickly, agree.