Olivia

Chapter 31 (Olivia's POV)

It's been almost three weeks, and I have not heard from Simone since. Something in the atmosphere told me that day that was my last moment with her. There was just a certain gut feeling.

I feel so lost. I have asked Tina to let us take a step back. I have expressed that I no longer want to keep hooking up. I have thrown myself in my work.

I feel so unsettled, not hearing from her, but I want to respect her decision. I don't even want to call my uncle. I don't want her to think that I'm trying to find out about her.

It's lunch, and I push my food around on my plate. Some days, I have quite the appetite, and then there are days like this when I keep thinking of Simone.

Without a second thought, I grab my phone, and I dial Gladys number. I'm about to give in, but I'm doing so indirectly.

"Livvy! What's up?"

"Hey, beautiful. How are you? It's been a while."

"It sure has. I'm doing just great. Even more excited because Simone is coming to see me this weekend. Shhh...our secret."

I am baffled. What does she mean coming to see her? From where?

"Uh, what do you mean? Where's she been?"

"You don't know? She didn't talk to you?"

Gladys sounds so stunned, like there is something I should I know.

"I haven't seen Simone in a very long time. I decided to just respect her space."

"Oh. Well, maybe, that's for the best then."

I can feel like she suddenly wants to get off the phone. I didn't call her just to feel even more confused.

"Gladys, can you just talk to me? It's obvious I don't know what's going on, and I'd like to know."

She sighs, and for a minute, I am thinking she won't talk to me, but then she does.

"Livvy, Simone told me she will have a final talk with you before her move. I thought she did. Apparently, the last day that she went to your house, the day she took the gift, she couldn't continue anymore. She went home, and she and Phillip got into a fight. She ended her relationship with him. She came to my place crying that evening. She stayed with me for about three days. After those few days with me, she said she would move two towns over. She no longer lives here. She is now three hours from here."

I cannot believe all I am hearing. All this happened, and I had no clue. Why did she say she would talk to me, but then didn't? Was I the reason for the breakup? Does my uncle know about Simone and I? Where is Phil now? I feel so many emotions in this moment. I try to regroup as quickly as I can, considering I'm on the phone with Gladys.

"I see. Thank you, Gladys."

I hear her calling my name as I'm ending the call. I don't want to hear anything else. I have so many unanswered questions floating around in my head.

Does moving away mean she never really cared about me the way I do for her? Will she ever reach out to me? Look how long it has been! I doubt she ever will. I won't stand in her way either. If this is what she wants, I'm not about to trample on that.

I feel a sting. I can't deny that. All the little moments that we have had. I thought she felt all the things that I did. I guess I was wrong.