Chapter 8
“Olivia, I need to talk to you about Noah,” I said, glancing at her as she helped me pack for the weekend.
“Oh God… what happened?”
“Did you know he’s been with Sydney for the past six months?”
Olivia whipped her head around, eyes wide. “Excuse me?”
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my anger in check. “Yeah. Sydney is..well, Liam’s almost step-sister. We had lunch with them last week, and she went on about how Noah’s family still loves his ex and doesn’t like her… even after six months.”
“That piece of shit! Six months? That means she was in the picture the whole time you two were together!” Olivia shouted, her face red with disbelief.
“That’s exactly what I told him,” I said, smirking at her in spite of myself.
“In front of her?”
“Nope. He cornered me in the kitchen after Liam’s mom mentioned meeting him at Easter,” I said, slamming clothes into my suitcase.
“Easter, Liv! He was at my house on Easter! What the hell is going on with him? This is not the Noah we grew up with. And as his best friend, I can’t even- I’m so disappointed in him. ”
Olivia dropped the shirt she was folding and crossed her arms, staring at me. “Babe… I can’t even. Six months? ”
I shook my head, trying to hold back tears. “I don’t get it, Liv. How could he… how could he let this happen? He lied to me. He manipulated me. I thought… I thought I knew him.”
Olivia stepped closer, pulling me into a tight hug. “No, you did know him. You just didn’t know THIS version of him. The Noah we grew up with? He’s gone. And he doesn’t deserve a single ounce of your heart right now.”
I buried my face in her shoulder, letting out a shaky laugh that was more frustration than humor. “I feel like such an idiot. I should’ve seen it. I should’ve-”
“You are not an idiot,” Olivia interrupted sharply. “He’s the one who’s pathetic. He’s the one who’s been playing games while you’re actually living your life. And guess what? You’re done being his game.”
I nodded, gripping her arm. “You’re right. I’m done. But…” My voice faltered. “…then there’s Liam.”
Olivia raised an eyebrow. “Oh no… what now?”
I sank onto the bed, staring at my packed suitcase. “I don’t know if I can fully trust him anymore. He knew about Sydney and Noah and… he didn’t tell me until it blew up at his mom’s house. I feel like I’m constantly choosing between what I want and what’s real.”
Olivia shook her head, but gave me a small, reassuring smile. “Bella… your heart’s going to figure that out. But first? Forget Noah. Forget the drama. This weekend? Focus on you. And Liam… he better not screw this up, because you’ve already had enough bullshit to last a lifetime.”
“So what did you ever decide about Oliver?”
“I’m trying to decide if I want to be friends,” I said, shrugging. “He knows I’m in a relationship. He’s playing the field like the disgusting man that he is.” I rolled my eyes.
Just then, my phone buzzed on the counter. I glanced down-and froze.
Ollie.
My heart skipped a beat. Part of me wanted to ignore it, pretend it didn’t exist. But curiosity, that stubborn, reckless part of me, made my fingers swipe open the message.
“Well, speak of the devil,” I muttered, glancing down at my phone.
Oliver: Hey, I was just thinking about you.Isabel: Hey. What’s up?Oliver: Just storm prepping. Any big plans for the storm? Wanna come to my hurricane party for two?Isabel: Haha. I’m actually heading to St. Augustine with Liam.
Oliver: St. Augustine, huh? Fancy. You and Liam? Already getting serious, or is this just another “summer thing”?
Isabel: Um… just a weekend getaway. Nothing serious.
Oliver: Uh-huh… sure. That’s what they all say . I mean, don’t get me wrong, I get it. He’s lucky to have you.
Isabel: Thanks, I guess.
Oliver: But I can’t lie.. I kind of wish I was the one going with you. You always know how hurricanes make me want to party.
I stared at the screen, my stomach twisting. Part of me wanted to fire back something witty, flirty, but the rational part of me knew better
Isabel: I’m flattered, but I’m really looking forward to the weekend with Liam.
Oliver: Fair. But hey, text me when you get back. I’ll be curious how St. Augustine treats you.
I set my phone down, feeling a mix of irritation and something else I wasn’t ready to name. Liam had no idea the storm he brought with him wasn’t just outside.
“So whatever happened to taking things slow?” Olivia asked, grabbing the box of condoms in my bag.
“I am just going with it, Liv,” I said, zipping my bag and trying to sound casual, even though my heart was racing.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt again,” Olivia said, squeezing my hand.
“Bella, I do not want to see you deconstruct like you did with Noah. And that’s still not over.
I see it-in your eyes, every time I even mention him, or think about him with Sydney.
Now saying you’re dating Liam, her almost-stepbrother… I don’t see that pain just going away.”
I swallowed hard, looking down at my hands. “I know… I know, Liv. But Liam… he makes me feel safe. He makes me feel like someone actually cares. I want to trust him. I have to try, right?”
She shook her head, frowning but softening.
“Bella… wanting to trust someone and actually being able to trust them are two completely different things. You’re moving fast, and I see it.
I just… I don’t want you giving your heart to someone who could tear it apart just like Noah did.
You’ve already given so much of yourself, and you still haven’t healed from him.
Please… just don’t let that happen again. ”
Her words sank into me, heavy but undeniable. I nodded slowly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I hear you, Liv. I really do… I just… I can’t stop myself from hoping, okay?”
She sighed, letting go of my hand but keeping her eyes on me. “I know, Bella. I know. Just… be careful. Promise me you’ll at least try to slow down, even if your heart doesn’t want to.”
“I promise,” I whispered, though a small part of me knew my heart would do whatever it wanted anyway.
That comment stung because she was completely right.
I’m still raw from Noah, still carrying the pieces of my heart he shattered, and it doesn’t help that every time I think I’m moving forward, something new comes along to rip at the scar.
He was sneaking around with Sydney the entire time I was in love with him.
He strung me along, made me wait, made me hope, and now…
to this day, he still wants me. It doesn’t make sense.
How can someone hurt you this badly and still expect to be welcomed back?
My head knew the answer, but my heart… my heart wanted to scream, to fight, to somehow make sense of the chaos.
And that’s why Olivia’s words hit so hard.
She was seeing what I couldn’t or maybe what I refused to admit.
Liam moving closer, our weekend getaway, the way he looked at me…
it all felt like a chance to start over, to heal.
But even that came tangled up with the mess Noah had left behind, and I wasn’t sure if my heart could tell the difference anymore.
Just as I got lost in my own head, my phone lit up with a message from Liam, cutting through the silence.
Liam: Hey babe, I’m heading your way! I’ll be there soon. I love you!
Bella: Okay, see you soon. Love you too!
That was a new phrase we had started saying.
I did love him-I cared about him, wanted to be with him-but I wasn’t sure if I was in love with him yet.
That feeling hadn’t fully settled in my chest. This weekend would tell, though.
It had to. St. Augustine, just the two of us…
it felt like a test I couldn’t avoid, a chance to see if what I felt for Liam was real, or just the pull of someone who made me feel seen after everything with Noah.
“Well, I can’t wait to hear all about your steamy weekend,” she said with a wink, walking toward the door. “Be safe with the storm, Isabel. Keep me posted, I want to know you’re alive.”
I smiled, a little nervously. She paused at the door, turned, and added softly, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I called after her, my chest tightening as the door clicked shut, leaving me alone with my thoughts-and Liam.