time - j.w [BOOK 1]✔️

59.

David had decided to throw an engagement party, in hopes of footage, but also because he wanted Jeff and Olivia to be happy. And what makes people happier than partying? Jeff had abstained from drinking and drugs, but alcohol wasn't off the table for Olivia. Olivia arrived at David's house in a short, black dress and trainers. Jeff in his smart casual attire.

"You look beautiful." Jeff whispered to her. "I'll be with Zane and Todd." After watching Jeff walk off, Olivia headed toward Mariah. Who had poured her a shot and handed it to her. Feeling the sting of the liquid down her throat and the warmth of her chest, she had taken in the moment and realised how happy she was. Her friends were all here, celebrating her love with her fiancé. Half of her just wanted to get married right now, despite only having the clothes sorted. But she wanted it all to be perfect. And all of her family there.

After more and more shots, dancing on the pool table, rolling around with Zane and making sure David got his footage, she hadn't seen a glimpse of Jeff. She didn't even know half the people here, so she couldn't just ask anyone. She walked in with him, and he had vanished. She put her empty shot glass down somewhere, and stumbled around the house, looking for her fiancé. She had searched everywhere and she had convinced herself that she was walking past him and oblivious to the fact it might be him. But not a single person she'd seen was her, tall and handsome fiancé. She decided to check bedrooms, bathrooms and maybe even the podcast room. He might be getting away from the music.

And low and behold, there he was. In the podcast room. The purple light from the neon sign had dimly lit his face. His lips on someone else's. That wasn't her. His hands gripping her thighs, a place he'd grab her. Olivia stood back, she felt sick. They hadn't even pulled away to check who had opened the door. She looked around them, drinks scattered all over the floor, broken glasses and her heels by the door. Olivia clutched her mouth and ran, outside, to the garden and away from everyone, emptying the contents from her stomach. It burned, the alcohol had burned her throat.

"Are you okay?" She heard.
She looked up to see someone she didn't even know. Olivia ignored them and pulled her knees up to her chest. And cried, she cried harder and harder until she was a sobbing mess on the floor. And she was finally in the arms of Natalie, a heroine to Olivia every time something flies off the rails.

"Come on," Natalie spoke. "Let's go."

Natalie stood her up and led her to her room, Olivia still a crying mess. All her girls had joined her, comforting her. Olivia had explained it all, Natalie had left. But Olivia hadn't noticed, as she was still crying into her lap.