Page 1 of Love Under Construction

Chapter 1

Olivia

The final bell rings,and I sigh in relief.

“Okay, don’t forget, book reports are due when we come back on Tuesday! Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!” I’ve already lost the students. They’re far too excited that it’s finally Thursday afternoon and rushing out the door as fast as their feet will carry them. Not that I blame them. This week felt like it would never end, even though it was shorter than usual thanks to the four-day break for the holiday.

Typically, if I were back home in Georgia, my whole family would be heading to Shell Point Beach, in Florida for the long weekend. Mom, Dad and all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins will be cramming into my parent’s beach house without me this year. I’ll be here, in New York, missing out on all the fun, according to what my mom had to say this morning anyway.

“Oh Livy, it’s such a shame you won’t be joining us, Dear. Why don’t you let your father and I fly you down for the weekend? As a treat. Our gift to you, because we can. Everyone’s going to be there and you know we always have so much fun when we’re all together like this.”

Leave it to my mom to throw around money like it’s no big deal. The thing is, money is a big deal. It’s just that, and Mom has yet to realize it.

My parents have done well enough in their lifetime. We were not ‘rich’ by the world’s standards, but we certainly didn’t hurt financially like many other families. Their hard work allowed me to go to the University of Georgia without a worry in the world about what my scholarships wouldn’t cover. Not to mention many of the other luxuries in life that I never did without.

That didn’t mean that my parents' money would last forever. Something I learned just before moving to New York when I stumbled upon financial statements in my father’s office while retrieving my birth certificate and passport from the safe.

It was because of that little discovery that I almost decided not to leave. My dad made me swear not to tell my mother and promised that he would be the one to tell her, soon enough. And he made me promise that I wouldn’t stay in Leesburg to try and somehow ‘save the family’. I’d been given a fantastic opportunity in New York, and I needed to take it.

As it was, I could afford the swanky apartment thanks to a small trust fund from my grandparents and some well-placed investments while I was in college. I’d been planning my financial future for years. Living in New York wouldn’t be cutting into my parent’s budget at all.

If I stayed, I could have - and would have, spent my money taking care of my parents. Something my father was vehemently against.

Still, I transferred money into an account with each paycheck with a note to my dad, that it was there if he needed it. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

No, I wasn’t going home because I couldn’t afford to. I was staying here because I didn’t want to be around my douchebag ex-boyfriend who was sure to show up. And, like one too many times before, I’d likely end up drunk and in his bed. Then I’d spend weeks trying to convince Tucker that it was a mistake, thatwewere a mistake.

Not to mention Jameson Phoenix would likely be there too. And he’d probably spend all weekend reminding me why I shouldn’t sleep, Tucker, which in some twisted way would only make me want to rebel against Jameson’s warnings.

“That’s sweet, Mom. I appreciate that offer. I do. But, I’m going to stay here. I’ll come down once school is out for the summer. I’ll sublease my apartment here and spend time with you and Dad. I promise.”

“Well. If you insist, I hate the thought of you being up there all by yourself. Perhaps your father and I should sell the beach house in Florida and look for a place in the Hamptons instead.”

I let out a muffled groan and hear my father in the background reminding my mom that she’s got to learn when to let her little bird fly.

“Oh hush Marvin. She’s my only little bird. You can’t blame a woman for wanting to keep her daughter close.”

“Mom, listen, I’ve got to go. Class starts in an hour, and I need to head out. I love you. Just a few more weeks and I’ll come home to visit,” I quickly try to shut down this conversation.

I don’t recall her being this clingy when I was in college.

My last student exits the classroom, and I begin gathering my belongings. I have work to do. Papers to grade. But all of that can be handled from the comfort of my apartment with a glass of wine and a binge-worthy show on Netflix. I’m already dreaming of my favorite pair of fuzzy lounge pants and kicking off these heels, after a long run with my dog - Peaches. If I'm not with my family, I’m damn well going to enjoy this weekend here.

I think I’ve earned the break if I say so myself. Especially since when I’m not teaching, I’m busy working with the developers on The Mason Center project. Something I never thought I’d see come to light. Bringing a state of the art facility for special needs children in New York City is going to be amazing.

“Liv!” Gwen’s voice echoes into my empty glass room as she bounces through the door. “Drinks tonight? Leo has so graciously offered to handle the home front for a few hours so I can have a bit of a break.”

Any other time, I’d eagerly agree to a night out with Gwen and the other ladies. Tonight, not so much.

“Thanks for the invite, but I think I’ll pass this week. I’m not feeling so well,” I lie to hopefully ward off any further questions from my friend and co-worker.

“Aww, well, bummer. We’ll miss you,” Gwen says as she leans against one of the student’s desks.

“I’m sure you’ll have plenty of fun without me,” I tease. “And then you’ll get to come home to your brooding hottie and have even more fun.”

“Yes, well. That last part is certainly true,” Gwen’s face flushes, and I chuckle.

I’m happy for her. I truly am. She finally found her happy ending, ironically with the father of one of her students and the owner of 425 Madison, the building that Gwen once lived in and where I currently reside. No judgment at all. Her involvement with Leo Eastman did us all a favor. Her presence in Mr. Eastman’s life slowly dissolved his asshole attitude toward the rest of the world. Gwen’s never been happier.

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