Page 18 of Always Been You

He stands quickly and faces me in the kitchen. “Hey man, I’ve got to go. Liv needs her locks changed; Zoey didn’t want to tell me what happened over the phone, but said it should be done sooner rather than later.”

“Yeah, of course. Let me grab my tools and I’ll drive you.”

“Thanks, man,” he says before taking his bottle to the kitchen.

“We’ll head out,” Caleb says, getting up from the table. “Let us know how Liv is once you’re done.”

Matt pats his shoulder. “Will do.”

We say goodbye to Grayson and Caleb and then I grab my tool bag from the storage closet and my keys before we walk out the front door. Then we head to the hardware store before going to Olivia’s place.

Isit on mycouch curled up with the girls and a blanket as we watch Criminal Minds on Netflix in my apartment. Zoey picked me up from the store shortly after I called her and brought me to my place. One reason I called Zoey is because she can read my moods. She didn’t question anything when she picked me up, we rode in silence to my place. When we got inside, she gave me a few minutes as I sat on my couch and cried while she held me, and then she asked, “Do you want me to call the girls?” I nodded and within 45 minutes, Hannah and Liz showed up at my apartment with food and booze.

The girls made me a drink; we started eating the pizza they brought, and I told them about what I walked in on at Drew’s place. He’s texted me a few times and tried calling, as I missed our appointment to sign the lease. They must have contacted him because I doubt that he remembered as he had been fucking some skank when we were supposed to be meeting. I hate to think nasty things about her. She might not have known that he’s in a relationship, butbile rises in my throat every time I flash back to standing outside his bedroom.

I haven’t responded to any of the texts or returned his calls. I have no idea what I am going to do. I gave notice on my apartment, and now I have nowhere to go at the end of my lease. It’s going to be hard to find another place on such short notice, and I need to make sure I get my name off the lease at the new place. I don’t want to be tied to that place in any way.

After I tell them everything, they hold me as I cry, and then Eliza asks, “Liv, doesn’t Drew have a key to your place?” My breath catches in my throat, my arms immediately wrap around my stomach protecting myself, and I nod. I realize I didn’t think about that; Drew could choose to show up here whenever he wants.

“I’ll call Matt and we will get your locks changed,” Zoey says before she gets up and calls my brother.

Oh, god. I’m not ready for Matt to know about this. He didn’t like Drew to begin with, but he didn’t push the matter. I knew it, and now Matt is going to be proven right. I know that he won’t rub it in, and he’ll just be pissed about the whole situation, but no one wants their older brother to be right about something. I begin to cry again as my world continues to crumble around me. How did I let this happen? How did I miss the signs? Was I that desperate to have someone other than my family and the girls love me that I just chose to ignore all the signs? I feel like such an idiot.

We all sit and watch the show on my couch while we wait for Matt to show up and change my locks. When the sound of the lock being undone comes, the girls all sit up and look, and I notice that Hannah and Zoey move to block my view. My guess is in case it’s Drew walking in the front door insteadof Matt. I hear Matt’s voice before I see him. He is talking to someone when he comes in. God, I hope it’s not Drew.

Matt rounds the corner with Josh and they both stand there taking in the situation, concern is written over both of their faces as they take the four of us in. There are empty pizza boxes on the living room table and alcohol spread out, too. I probably have mascara streaks running down my cheeks from crying, and I know my nose is red and my eyes are puffy. The worry on their faces causes me to break down into tears again and wrap my arms around myself. Matt is across the room in seconds, pulling me to his chest and running his hand over my hair the way he used to do when I was a kid.

“Shhhh, shhhh, you’re alright Livy. What’s wrong? What can I do?” he whispers to me.

I can’t make myself form words. I wrap my arms around my brother and absorb his strength as he attempts to comfort me. Hurt and shame course through me at the same time. Hurt from Drew cheating and catching him in the act, and shame because Matt warned me against the guy and now, here I am crying in front of him and Josh. I take all the strength I can from my brother in my time of need.

I still can’t manage to get words out. Matt turns his head to Zoey, “Zo, what happened to her?” he asks, worry coating each word.

She makes eye contact with me, and I can see the unasked question in her eyes. ‘Can I tell him?’ I nod. Matt is my big brother and I know all he wants to do is protect me. Josh is Matt’s best friend and my friend as well. He’d find out eventually, anyway. I just wish I didn’t have to witness him finding out.

Zoey takes a deep breath and Hannah rubs my back, “Liv went to Drew’s after brunch with Josh, so they couldsign the new lease.” She reaches out and squeezes my arm, lending some of her strength as she continues, “She walked into his place and saw him fucking some girl in his bed. She didn’t confront him about it, and she doesn’t think he saw her, but he has called and texted her about missing the meeting. He has keys to her place; we’re worried that he might show up here. She has also already given her landlord notice and now doesn’t have a place to go when her lease is up,” Zoey says.

I feel Matt tense as Zoey tells him, “Motherfucker,” I hear him curse in a whisper. I release my hold on him and sit back on the couch, wrapping my arms around myself again.

“I should have listened to you,” I whisper to Matt as I look at my crossed legs.

“Don’t, don’t blame yourself for any of this.” There’s a harshness to his words, but not in a way that scares me, but one that makes me feel safe. Knowing that Matt will always protect me. He places his fingers under my chin, forcing me to look him in the eyes as he says, “This is all on that stupid motherfucker. You did nothing wrong, Liv. Everything will be fine. You will get through this. You are strong.”

Looking into his eyes, I see the truth in his words and the anger that he is holding back. I nod, allowing some of the shame to fade away. I look past Matt at Josh. His face is full of anger and his hands are in fists at his side. I can’t force myself to make eye contact with him. Having him know this happened to me is too much. I drop my gaze back to my lap.

Matt grips my knee. “Josh and I will change your locks for you. It’s going to be okay.”

I nod and he gets up, walking across the room to Josh, and they move to the front door, and I hear a drill as they work. When they finish, I pull together the energy to stand and hugmy brother, Josh comes over next and pulls me into a hug as well, he leans down and whispers in my ear, “It’s his loss, Olivia, that man is an idiot. Don’t let him make you feel less than or bad about yourself. You are amazing and you deserve someone who will treat you like a goddess. Keep your chin up.” I nod into his chest, taking a deep breath and inhaling his scent before taking a step back.

Everyone in the room turns toward the front door as we hear the sounds of keys trying and failing to open the front door. I stiffen. Drew must be here. Matt moves to the door; I place my hand on his arm and shake my head at him. I need to put on my big girl panties and deal with this. It has to happen sometime, so what better time than now when I have people here to back me up?

“Liv, it’s me. Open up.”

Drew’s voice comes from the other side of the door. I slowly move to the front door; I can feel everyone move with me, with Matt and Josh in front of the girls. They stop a few feet behind me as I open the door. Drew looks at me with furrowed brows when the door opens and I brace one arm on the door frame, not allowing him the space to enter my apartment.

When he sees me, a smile spreads across his face, along with a look of relief. “Liv, I’ve tried texting and calling you. You missed our appointment with the rental agency.”

He looks over my shoulder and sees the gathering of my friends and brother. “What happened?” Drew asks with a questioning look on his face.

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