That One Summer: A Collection of Steamy Contemporary Romance

Chapter 12

Three days after Oliviahad spoken to Ava, an idea struck her.

Her father seized all her social media accounts, so she knew she couldn’t use those. Not that she didn’t try. Locked out, probably because her father had changed her passwords as an extra measure to have her not address this whole scandal.

But just like with any kid with strict parents, Olivia had options—a burner account she used for close and trusted friends. In this case, she was followed by her brothers, Ava, and another girl she starred in a movie with way back when. It wasn’t enough to get her the attention she needed, but it was enough of a start. So, at Nikos’ guidance, she used his phone, plus his office where the WiFi and network weren’t cut off, and put her plan in motion.

First, she had to follow a few people. She started by making her Instagram profile public and decided that she would leave up the images she had been sharing on the account. These were so unlike the public image people were used to seeing of her, so she knew they would get her the attention she needed. They were all selfies and very random in a way that screamed “human.” They were not the coordinated nightmare that was her “official” account.

The next thing she did was follow a few gossip sites she knew that were all about breaking the “next big Hollywood story.” She followed about ten accounts before she got notified that someone had followed her. And then, a few more followers came in and she knew she had the attention she needed.

Then, her real plan started.

She was going live.

“Hello, world,” she started, already having ten people on her stream. “My name is Olivia Clarke. I need to talk about something important, something that has been eating away at me for a while now.” And then, she started addressing the rumors like she had wanted to for the longest time.

She spoke about that night when the scandal happened. What had pushed her to say what she did, why she did the things she did, how much she betrayed her best friend, and also addressed the speculations about her that had come up along the way. She’d had to write it all out after spending a few hours searching the internet and reading as much of the gossip that was circulating about her as she could stomach.

No, she wasn’t on drugs. She certainly was not pregnant, nor was she in rehab. She spent more time addressing Ava and clarified that, at no point during their night, had Ava drugged her or forced her to do any drugs of any kind.

She didn’t dare look at the number of people watching her live because she knew she would chicken out.

“I feel trapped, you see,” Ava said, reaching the tail end of everything she wanted to address. “I want to be the best person I can be for myself and the people I love, but it’s hard when I’m not being authentic.” The comments section was buzzing, but Olivia pressed on, intent on ignoring everything and everyone. “I’ve spent a lot of time hiding behind a persona, projecting an image of myself that wasn’t entirely true because that is what’s expected of me. I’ve been living a version of myself that fit into the expectations of others. But, in doing so, I’ve lost touch with who I truly am. I was afraid of showing my flaws, afraid of being rejected for who I really am.”

“I want to change that,” Olivia continued, her voice shaking. “I want to be honest about who I am and who I want to become. And that starts with speaking my truth, letting you all know what happened, and how I plan to move forward. I’ve been living in fear of disappointing everyone, of not meeting the standards set by society or the people around me, but all I’ve ended up with is being a disappointment to myself. And, in that fear, I sacrificed my authenticity too. It’s exhausting trying to be someone you’re not,” she concluded, shaking her head. “But, I’m done with that. I want to break free from this trap and embrace who I truly am, flaws and all. It’s just so damn hard when you’ve built a fa?ade for so long. But I need to do it for myself, for my sanity, and for the relationships that matter to me.”

“To Ava, and to everyone hurt by my words and actions. I can’t change the past, but I can promise you I’m committed to being better. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me.” She stopped, not knowing if she should say this or not, but decided she just as well might. “I miss you, Ava, and I want a chance to make things right. You are my world and I’m sorry I’ve been such a rotten friend to you. I hope we can mend what’s broken between us, because I need you. I love you.”

With a heavy sigh, her eyes wandered to the top of the screen to check how many people were tuned in. Olivia balked at the number, but thankfully she was done since all her confidence chose that moment to vanish. She quickly ended the live stream, and all but threw the phone she had borrowed face down onto the table.

2.5 million people! 2.5 million people had tuned in? What the hell?!

At the very least, she had expected about two hundred. Her neck and armpits itched as nerves overtook her, but, thankfully, she was done.

* * *

“How did it go?” Nikosasked Olivia some time later.

It was early evening and they, once again, found themselves in each other’s company. It had become such a routine source of comfort that Olivia didn’t know she was missing him until he found her in the music room, where she was playing on the piano.

“I don’t know,” she shrugged, as she stopped and stood to look at him. “I’m too afraid to look.” Nikos enveloped her in a hug and then kissed her. He had started doing that a few days ago and, if she was being honest with herself, she didn’t hate it. Not even a little bit. “How did your thing go?”

He’d told her about his last conversation with his grandfather and how much he wanted to make the man trust that he wasn’t going to sell their hotel anymore. “Not as well as I would have wanted to. I think it’s going to take some time.”

“I hear you,” Olivia said. “I think my thing will also take some time. But I’m glad I finally addressed it.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. I feel like this heavy burden I’ve been carrying around was suddenly lifted and I can breathe much better.”

“Have you spoken to your dad?”

“Not yet. He called, though. I’ve been dodging Iossif for most of the day.”

Nikos laughed, which made her smile. “Tell you what, why don’t we shake off this day? I don’t know about you, but I could use a break right about now.” Nikos suggested, an excited twinkle in his eyes.

“Sounds like a plan,” Olivia said, appreciating the opportunity to not think about what the world had to say about her confession, if Ava had watched it, and also not wanting to know what her father had to say. Maybe in a few days, she’d have enough courage to do so, but not today.

“Let’s go swimming,” he suggested.