Smile.

I lied to my parents about having to make a work call and told them to go inside without me, and I'll follow after a few minutes. I honestly needed those minutes to myself to gather my strength and courage before I went to tolerate what was yet to be the longest afternoon of my entire existence.

I took steady breaths before practicing my smile on the rearview mirror. I've been doing this for years, today was not going to be different. I'm just needed to smile and laugh until my cheeks hurt.

You can do this Liv

You can act like you're happy even though you're breaking inside

No one can see through your sadness

All you have to do is grin like your life depends on it-

A knock on the passenger seat window bought me back to reality, his blue eyes questioning towards mine. I probably must have zoned out again.

He yanked the door open and slid inside to seat next to me. My lips involuntarily turned into a smile. That was just the thing with Tristan, I didn't have to force anything or convince myself to try too hard, it was just simple that with him.

“Hey Pumpkin”, he grinned, and I rolled my eyes, throwing my head back on the headrest

“You're very funny”, I faked laughed, earning a soft chuckle from him

“What's going on?”

“I just needed to make a call”, I put my phone away, and he scoffed, blinking slowly at me

“That lie may have worked on your parents, but I know you better than that, Liv”, he shifted in his seat to face me

“What's going on?”

“I just needed a minute to myself”, I shrugged, and he rose a brow at me, interrogating me with his eyes before humming in response

“This has nothing to do with that one-night stand you had the other day?”, he questioned with his eyes narrowed and I groaned

“Of course you would bring that up at a time like this”, I sighed heavily. “I don't know why I told you”

He laughed. “You have this thing of wanting to hide things but eventually end up telling me because you're not so good at keeping things from me”

At least that makes one of us

“Well at least I now have a wild night experience”

“You used protection, right?”

“Of course we did, Tristan”

“I'm just making sure”, he put his hands up before he fixed his eyes on me, like he was waiting for me to say something

“There's something you're just dying to ask me, isn't there?”

“Eh”, he shrugged carelessly. “Not that I'm being noisy or anything”, his face turned serious suddenly. “But who's the guy? Do I know him?”

“Tsk tsk tsk”, I shook my head and he laughed

“I don't think you know him-”

A knock on the window interrupted, and we turned to see Catherine, Tristan's mother looking at us with her eyebrow raised

“You two can catch up while you're helping to set the table”, she motioned with her hand for us to get out of the car. Tristan and I groaned in union before we got out. Catherine opened her arms wide for me for a hug.

“It's nice to see you Olivia”, she cupped my face in her hands as we broke away from the hug

“Same here Catherine”, I smiled, and she reciprocated my smile. “I hope you baked your delicious chocolate brownies, they're the reason I decided to even show up today”

“How can I not when I know they are your absolute favorite?”, she entwined her arms with me and Tristan's, pulling us to the direction of the door. “Ever since you were kids”

Before everyone set down for lunch, I took a quick trip to the bathroom. On my way back I noticed Tristan's bedroom door wide open, and I walked towards it, finding him sitting on the bed. His mind seemed to be far, far away as he looked out the window.

I knocked on the door frame, gaining his attention before he shifted on the bed, tapping his hand on the space next to him

“Come sit with me”, he smiled, and I walked towards him and plopped down hard next to him that we both bounced on the bed.

“God Dammit Liv, you're going to break my bed”, he scowled playfully and I laughed

“You weren't worried about that when you would do those dangerous backflips on this very same bed”

“Well it's my bed”, he smirked. “I can do whatever I want”, his smile on his face faded a little as he looked around us, like somehow by doing so he was replaying something in his mind.

“Hey”, I bumped my shoulder with his. “What's wrong?”

“Don't you miss those days when we were still young and carefree?”, he turned to look at me

“We're not even in our thirties yet, so I consider us still very young”, I said and he laughed

“I know that”, he drew a breath. “I'm just saying when we didn't have all these adult responsibilities, we could do what we want, whenever we wanted”

“Yeah, I kinda miss those days too”, I entwined our arms and rested my head on his shoulder. “Things were so much easier than”

“But we kinda did good for yourselves right? I mean you're the youngest, successful, bright and talented marketing director of your advertising company”

“And you're the renowned Catering Chef everyone can't stop talking about”

He chuckled. “That's not true, and you know it”

“No, you are and you know it”, I rose my head to look at him. “You're not afraid to try out new dishes and go to the ends of the earth to find that perfect ingredient to add that unique flavor to the dishes you prepare, and they're literally the best”

“Liv please stop-”

“I know you don't like to be complimented but jokes aside, you're excellent at what you do, and I'm really proud of you”

“I'm really proud of you too”, I felt him entwine our fingers together before giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “You know, I wouldn't have got here without you”

I felt my cheek redden, and I laughed nervously before shaking my head, looking everywhere but him

“I'm serious. You've been my biggest supporter from day one. I mean sure I've had support from other people, but you really stood by me and believed in my dreams before I could even launch them”

“That's what I'm here for, to be in your corner as long as you want me to”

“I know”, his lips spread into a grin “Thank you, Liv”

“It's always a pleasure”, I smiled to myself before bringing my face to look at him again

“You know, we haven't actually found the time to talk about things lately, I mean your engagement to Melissa was quite the shocker”

“I know what you're probably thinking, that we're probably rushing into this marriage thing because our relationship hasn't been stable thorought the years”

“We both know that your relationship with Mellisa is nowhere near perfect”. It was actually toxic if you ask me. “But there's really no need to commit yourself to a woman who makes you feel less of a man when you're around her. You don't have to do this”

“I love her, Liv”, he breathed out. “I mean yes our relationship progressed through a lot, but we're learning to deal with our differences and are willing to make things work this time”

“You don't have to get married though, marriage is a huge step, a huge commitment

“I know you mean well and that you have my best interests at heart, but I know what I'm doing, you just have to trust me”

“Of course I trust you”, I looked into his eyes. It's her I don't trust. “I just don't want to see you getting hurt again”

“I'm going to be fine”, he wrapped his arm around me, giving me a gentle squeeze. “It's you I'm worried about”

“Why?”

“This whole thing with Greg really changed you and I felt like you're not talking about it enough, so it's just eating you up inside”

“Some things are better off left unsaid, you know? I just need time to get used to the idea and find myself. I'll be okay”

“You'll find love again, Liv”

“Yeah, I don't know”, I shrugged my shoulders, looking away from him

“Heyy...look at me”, he urged, and I bought my face up to look at him, his blue pools piercing through my soul.” You will find love again, okay?”

I nodded my head. “Okay”

“Hey guys”, our head turned to see Melissa standing on the doorway. “Your mother told me I may find you in here”, her eyes diverted to me as her lips spread into a smile.

“Hi Liv”

“Hey Mel”

Tristan stood to his feet to kiss her on the cheek. “What's up babe?”

“It's actually Liv I'm looking for”, she said and my eyebrows arched up in confusion. Well that was a first.

“Why?”

“I wanted to introduce you to Nathaniel, you seem to be the only one he hasn't been introduced to”, she put out both her hands to help me stand to my feet

“Uh, okay”, I let her help me up, there was really no need for all of this to be honest. “I could have met him even after lunch though”

“He's really eager to meet you”, we descended the stairs, with Tristan following closely behind us. Kevin caught my eye, and he raised his hand up, waving at me. I waved back at him even though we were approaching him and the person he was talking to, his back was facing me. Tristan quickly walked past us to grab the other man who I was assuming was Nathaniel by his shoulders and playfully shook him from behind.

“Nathan, my bro”, Tristan forced him to turn around and my chest tightened, my lips parting slightly in surprise.

It couldn't be

“Tristy tristy”, he chuckled as they pound hugged. “It's been a minute”

“That it has man”, Tristan looked quite chuffed before he squeezed the other man's upper arms. “Have you been working out dude?”

“Yeah, when I find the time in my tight schedule-”

“Nathaniel, there's someone I would like you to meet”, Mellisa interrupted, and he turned to face us, I blinked in surprise repeatedly at this figure standing opposite me. It turns out I already knew Nathaniel because him and I had already met,

.....the night he introduced himself to me as Anthony

****

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