You Distract Me - S01 E69

Story 4 months ago

You Distract Me - S01 E69

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 69

Olivia

"My exams are a nightmare, Noel."

"Oh please, you're just like your father, pretending you're not kicking ass when you're doing exactly that. You aced your previous exams like they were nothing."

My bi-weekly lunches with my paternal grandmother were among the few things I looked forward to, even though it had taken almost a year for me to agree to them.

"I promise you, whatever I'm kicking, it most definitely is not ass. Oran probably kicks ass with a blindfold while dangling on a string of thread. I still don't believe half the stories you've told me this past year."

"You'll ask him yourself when you see him next week. I'm really glad you finally agreed to meet him," she said softly over the quiet buzz of the busy restaurant.

"He's waited long enough."

"He really has. He'll be happy to see you." Her smile wavered. "How are your parents?"

I sat back in my seat, shrugging slightly. "For a couple that just finalized their divorce a month ago, they're doing pretty well. And to be honest, I feel like they're better off this way. My dad's traveling the world with his buddies, while mom's Iooking after Loretta."

"How is she? Your half sister." She smiled at the waiter that brought our food. "Thank you, it looks delicious."

I took a bite of my sauced salmon before speaking. "Loretta is doing incredibly well. Her moving in with my mom has really shown it's upsides, she's getting better by the day. I thoroughly enjoyed the last dinner I had at their house."

Noel grinned, a sparkle in her eyes. "Oh that's lovely. And forgive me for being frank, but I think getting away from your mother has done everyone some good."

"I completely agree with you actually. Loretta's constant setbacks in her recovery was most certainly caused by the lack of my mother's full attention. And if anything, my relationship with both of them has never been stronger."

"Everything works out well, doesn't it?"

I bit my lip, a sudden thought crossing my mind. "Yup," I said quietly, forking up my salad.

Noel could read me like a book. "You know, they're about five pairs of eyes that have been on you since you stepped in. I'm sure one of them could stand a chance, no?"

I laughed, genuinely amused. "As if my exams could survive a honeymoon romance right now. I don't have time for that now and certainly not right after. I'll be flying back to California for my internship next week."

"You haven't given anyone a chance ever since you started college. The first two years aren't all about your academics, you know? It's about making memories and falling in love."

"I'm studying fashion and design with three minors under Law School at Yale University. Making memories I can do, but that's just about where my credits can take the hits."

"Could you at least try? You can't keep waiting for her, darling."

I stopped chewing mid-way and swallowed hard. An eager drink of water saved me from the brief chock. "I'm not waiting for anyone. That would be dumb," I said, clearing my throat and avoiding her gaze.

"Dumb? Not at all. You were in love with each other. It's normal for the heart to hold out hope. But I also don't want to see you missing out on so much because what you really want is no where within reach."

"I don't want Shayne. She chose to leave me and didn't say goodbye. She's never even let me see her." My voice came out sharper than I intended. "She's the last person I'd want right now," I said more softly, my vision getting blurred with unshed tears.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

"Oh honey," Noel said despairingly.

I chuckled as I wiped a tear. "You'd think I'd have gotten over it all this time. I'm sorry, Noel. I promise this doesn't happen as often as it used to anymore."

She reached over and touched my hand. "Hey, no need to be sorry. You can take as much time as you need to grieve what you lost. But for your own sake, don't be scared to let others help heal your open wounds. Your family and friends can only go so far, but even we can't fill Shayne's place."

She was right. Even though I certainly wasn't interested in getting romantically involved at the moment, I had to let Shayne go.

"I guess I'll audition for The Bachelor then, might just find the one."

Noel laughed. "Hey, who knows?"

🍀

Internships were a great way to gain experience but this one in particular was a pain.

I was back at Vogue, interning at the very building I'd modelled at a little over two years ago.

That much time had past but I'd had more than enough flashbacks of every corner where a particular pair of Hazel eyes had landed on me.

As I walked through the lobby on my third day, coffees in hand, my gaze instinctively went to the reception area. I could, in my head, create the image of her lifting me up as I lay helpless in her arms, falling for her.

I swallowed hard, something I'd been doing often since three days ago.

Before my eyes left the reception area, a familiar head of blonde curls bounced in my direction.

"Olivia!"

It was Victor, my intern partner and course mate.

I paused in my step and waited for him to reach me as I smiled widely.

"You waited for me?" I said.

"Yeah, you need help with that?" He smiled charmingly. The guy was quite handsome, plus he was kind of funny.

"Yeah, thanks." I let him take the tray of coffees.

He gave me a quick appraisal. "You look beautiful today."

I looked down at my blouse and jeans, laughing. "I wore this same exact style yesterday."

"It must be the emerald from the blouse, brings out your eyes. Especially with your hair tied up like that."

I scratched the back of my head. "Well then, I'll try not to wear anything that doesn't bring out my eyes."

"You really can't take a compliment, can you?"

I feigned solemnity. "It's even embarrassing at this point."

We laughed as we headed for the elevators.

Several hours later, I was elbow deep under a dress, pinning and sewing.

The fashion designer we were assigned to had left us to finish up her designs. Victor was currently waiting for his model while I worked on mine.

"You sure you're on the right side?"

I looked up at the model. "I'm sorry?"

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"Come on, I'm sure you've heard this before. You're freaking gorgeous. and applicably so. You'd make me want to buy whatever you'd put on. I mean you make a simple jeans and heeled sandals look like a million bucks."

Unable to help myself, I felt embarrassed. "Thank you, but I'm fine right where I am."

"I can't believe you honestl—" She stopped and looked behind me. "Penny, can you believe this girl doesn't model?"

A rush disembodied voice spoke. "I'm sorry I'm late, I had a photoshoot that didn't finish in time.

I recognized the voice instantly and turned towards it. "Penny?"

All curls and blue eyes, Penny lit up with recognition. "Olivia?!"

She ran to me and almost knocked me off my feet from the impact of the hug. "Oh my God! I'm so glad to see you." She pulled away. "I've been trying to reach you for such a long time. After we heard you actually survived the fire, we tried to find you but we failed miserably. Where the hell have you been?" she exclaimed.

"Started college two years ago."

"Really? Where?"

"Yale."

"Nice! But that's all the way across the country."

"I know. But I'll be in LA for a bit, we should definitely catch up."

"Abso-fucking-lutely, are you kidding me?" She gestured to the model I was dressing. "Amy, this is Olivia, the girl I was telling you I've been trying to reach all this time."

Amy smiled incredulously. "You're kidding! The one with the hot CEO girlfriend?"

My smile fell a fraction. "Well..."

"I heard what happened to Shayne. I hope she's alright."

The topic was already starting to weigh me down. "Me too."

When work was done and the sun was just going down, I was still thinking about my response to Penny's question.

I really did hope she was okay, even if I was angry at her. The first year, I'd made countless rejected visits and written letters until it dawned on me that I was not doing myself any favors. Shayne had cut me off completely.

Moving on was my best bet.

The elevator opened and I got out into the lobby, actively ignoring the reception area.

Victor had asked me out before he'd left, and I'd agreed without hesitation. If I'd had a moment more I'd have refused. But I needed to get started on this healing thing Noel had been pushing me towards for a long time. Why not start with a good-looking guy?

I stepped out into the sidewalk, suddenly regretting not owning a car. I dug into my bag for my phone to call an uber.

"You need a ride?"

Now I'd gone insane, hearing her voice in public like a psycho.

But when I looked up, there she was.

My first emotion was happiness so overwhelming, tears instantly whirled in my eyes. The second was anger, fierce and consuming.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

I shook my head, refusing to face whatever was happening. "No, I can't do this," I said quietly and turned to start walking down the sidewalk.

In only a few strides, she was standing right in front of me.

"Go back," I said, baring my teeth and trying to get a reign on the overwhelming emotions. "I can't do this."

I started to move away but she caught my arm.

"Let go of me." I myself could hear the ice coating my voice.

Her brows drew together, dazzling hazel eyes covering every inch of my face. "You know I can't do that."

"Please, go back and leave me alone." My voice went up an octave, not caring that there were several people walking past us.

"I can't do that either."

"You'll just have to find a way, because..." I stopped to contain the sob I knew was coming. "...I don't have the capability to continue on this roller coaster. Please let me live." My tears escaped, big fat tears that didn't stop.

"You're not living without me, not this time."

I bit my lip, praying she didn't see the little burst of hope in me. Don't be foolish, Olivia. "Please," I said, shaking my head. "I won't be able to survive any more pain."

She reached up, gently wiping away my tears and I just let her. "You won't need to. Come on."

She began to pull me towards her Jeep and against my wishes, my body just followed along.

During the entire ride, the lump in my throat didn't let up. All I could do was drop silent tears while Shayne held my hand against my thigh, giving it a squeeze every now and then.

When the car came to a stop, I realized we were at the very beach we'd come to nearly three years ago. Things had been so much simpler then.

When we got out and she came to me, she gestured towards the shoreline. "Care to walk with me?"

I looked at the setting sun, the waves lively but calming. It was the most perfect place at that very moment.

Wiping away the rest of my tears, I bent to unbuckle my heels but Shayne stopped me. "Let me."

I let her.

When she reached out her hand for me to walk beside her, I took it.

It all felt like a daze. Deep down I knew not to let this moment register before it went away as quickly as it had come.

"I'll get straight to the point." She dropped her gaze to mine for a couple of seconds and turned to look at the waves. "I'm not going back, Olivia. I'm not leaving you again."

I remained silent.

"Oran let me come back to you, with conditions to love and protect you of course. He gave up his chance at ever getting out just so he could see you happy."

The lump in my throat melting away, I was able to speak again. "I don't quite understand."

"He used his get-out-of-jail-free card on me."

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

"What was the card?"

"He gave up every asset, every connection and every money trail in exchange for my immediate release, instead of his own."

She stopped in her step when I did.

I looked up at her. "Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"So you're not going back?"

She caressed my cheek, offering me a gentle smile. "No I'm not."

"I see." I looked down at our joined hands and then back into her eyes. "Shayne, it's been a couple of years now. I've been trying to move on for my own good. I'm not sure if I can trust your presence in my life anymore."

"I know—"

"No you don't." I slipped my hand out of her grip, walking ahead of her before turning back. "You don't know what it's like waking up not being certain of how to live. Just when I've started to get a proper handle on things, you step right back into my life."

"I swear I wouldn't have come back if it meant I'd end up leaving anyway. I wouldn't do that to you or myself."

"You've done it before already. And then proceeded to leave without saying goodbye." I swallowed hard, but maintained eye contact.

She closed her eyes a moment. "I didn't have the courage to look you in the eye and leave then. I was a coward."

"Yes, you were."

She sighed, lowering herself to the sand. She sat with her elbows against her raised knees and stared at the space between her feet. "I don't want to lose you." She paused, taking a deep breath. "But I understand where you're coming from. If it gives you peace, I'll walk out of your life," she said the words with palpable strain.

I walked to her and went to sit in the space her eyes had been, hugging my knees to my chest. "I'm not sure about peace. Knowing you're free and well but no where near me would probably drive me insane."

She raised her gaze to mine and saw my smile. Relief overwhelmed her features. "Olivia," she whispered, taking hold of my hand and pressing the knuckles against her lips, her eyes closing with the action.

When she opened them again, they shone with moisture. My heart sang and somersaulted at once.

"But..."

She paused, and gave me a curt nod. Ready for whatever came next.

"I have to know for sure that you won't let any more harm come to you. You're not indestructible, Shayne."

She continued to caress my knuckles with her mouth, raising goosebumps all over my body. "I stepped down as leader of the Raven Angels and handed over power to Drew as soon as I was behind bars."

"But you're back now. Don't you want that power back?"

"Not at all. You became my priority the moment I cemented your position in my life, and the Raven Angels came second every time. It's always been you over any and everything."

I smiled big, tears I'd grown accustomed to running down my face. "I love you, God knows it's with my entire heart."

"I know that too," she said. "I'm sorry I didn't let you visit. I didn't want you to hold onto me for longer than you deserved. I just wanted you to be happy, even if it wasn't with me. For what it's worth, I kept all your letters."

"I've been angry at you for a long time, but I never once stopped loving you. Your plan to cut me off backfired miserably unfortunately."

She chuckled and her brows drew together in mock seriousness. "You didn't get married out of spite though, did you?"

I laughed, bliss overwhelming me. "No, but I did just agree to go on my first date in years. You're welcome to join us if you want."

"Really? What should I wear?"

"Well, you can start with my lip gloss."

"Your lip—"

I pulled her in and pressed our lips together, pleasantly feeling her body shudder. She groaned against my mouth and wrapped my entire body in her arms, moving me in closer.

Her lips hovered above my own as she stared into my eyes. "I love you, Ms. Ryans."

"You'd better."