Page 30 of Light My Fire Three Times
What the hell does that even mean?
“Yeah, she’s my sister’s best friend, and her whole world has basically just imploded. So maybe give her a break.”
Shit.
And I called her a bitch.
That was a mistake.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Olivia
NOVEMBER 4TH
I’min full-on pajamas mode, wrapped in the fluffiest, coziest blanket I could find, with my hair a tangled mess and my face bare of anything remotely resembling makeup.
I’m not proud of it, but this is where I’ve been for the last few hours. In my own little self-imposed hibernation after the whole…thingwith my boss.
What’s the point of putting on a brave face when all you want is to ignore the world? I even tried a bit of online Christmas shopping, but I don’t have the strength for it.
And on the one time youdogo out, with your head all over the place, you end up being called abitch…
I might have acted like one, but I’m under a lot of pressure. So much. Without my job, I no longer know who I am.
Just as I’m about to groan and hide under the sheets forever, there’s a knock on the door.
I grunt. It’s probably Ivy. She knows I’m a mess, but she’s always barging in anyway, no matter how I look.
“Liv? You in there?” She’s too cheerful, like she has the energy of three toddlers and two pots of coffee all rolled into one.
I drag myself off the couch and open the door, squinting against the light. She’s standing there, wearing that ridiculous, way too stylish for someone with kids grin.
“Hey! You ready for some fun?”
She bounces on the balls of her feet like she’s been caffeinated for a week straight.
I raise an eyebrow. “Fun? I’m in pajamas, Ivy. It’s barely noon.”
She doesn’t even seem to notice. “Well,Ihave a few hours of child-free freedom, so I’m going to do something with it. And you’re coming with me.”
I stare at her, still in my pajamas, the blanket wrapped around me like a shield. “Child-free? So, you're, what, pretending you're on vacation too? Nice try. You're not getting me out of this house.”
Ivy grins, knowing that resistance is futile. “Come on, Liv. You can’t spend the whole day hiding out here. Plus, you’ll love this. We’re going to do something spontaneous.”
I sigh dramatically, feeling my resistance start to melt. “Spontaneous. Right. Because that worked so well for me the last time I tried it.”
Ivy laughs, all too used to my dramatic flair. “You’ve been holed up in this cabin long enough. Trust me, this’ll be fun. And you can put on something other than those pajamas. I’m not dragging you out looking like that.”
I glance at my reflection in the window behind her and immediately regret it.
“Okay, fine,” I grumble, “But only because you’re my best friend, and if I don’t leave this house, I might lose my mind.”
“Atta girl!” Ivy claps her hands, and I turn around, making my way to the bedroom.
A few minutes later, I’m dressed in something vaguely human. Jeans, a sweater, and shoes that are more “I’m ready togo out” than “I’m still in mourning for the life I didn’t know I was going to lose.”
I step outside just as Ivy is revving her car engine. She's already sitting behind the wheel, her face lit up with excitement, probably because her life is a whirlwind of activity, and mine is more of a quiet, “please leave me alone” type of existence right now.
