Page 81 of Easy Steal

I heard Toni calling my name, but I didn’t respond.

There’s nothing he could say to keep me here right now.

“Fucking idiot,” I heard before I closed the door.

21

Chapter 21

Livie

Ikept my eyes focused on the menu at the little cafe, and tried my best not to make eye contact with Evan. It had been over five years since I had last seen him, and I was hoping that it would’ve been longer than that.

I could feel him watching me, and I tried not to squirm under his gaze.

We had walked to the cafe in silence, and had barely said a word to each other in the last half an hour.

“You look good,” he said, a kind smile on his face. “Love the purple hair.”

“Thanks,” I said flatly.

To be fair, I had changed a lot since he had last saw me.

I had some weight on me now, and wasn’t unhealthily thin, I had grown out my short black bob and dyed it purple. I had completely transformed myself - and for a reason other than aesthetics.

I didn’t want to beOliviaany more.

She was weak, and scared.

Livie wasn’t.

Livie was the character I built for myself, like an alter ego that I eventually just became. It helped that I didn’t interact with anyone who even knew me as Olivia, but whenever I did, it was hard not to fall back to her.

Evan was probably the second biggest reminder, next to my father, who made me hate the little girl that I was.

Livie was so much stronger than Olivia ever was.

“I’m surprised you stayed in Melbourne,” he tried to force the small talk.

“I’ve been around,” I shrugged, and he nodded.

Evan hadn’t changed a bit.

If anything, he was a little more muscular now, which I tried to pretend didn’t scare me. He still dressed as if he were a teenager, with his tight black tee with a bright graphic print and acid washed jeans. He also still had the big diamond stud in his right ear.

“Hi, can I take your order?” the young waitress bounded over with a smile on her face.

I watched Evan straighten in his seat and look her up and down like she was the meal itself, even though I would put money on this girl being of high-school age.

“I’ll have a steak burger,” he said. “Pancakes for you, Oli?”

I sighed and closed the menu.

“I’ll just have a cappuccino, thank you.”

“You’re not eating?” Evan frowned.

I shook my head and waited for the waitress to leave, once she was out of sight I sat back in my seat.

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