O L I V I A
"My beautiful Olivia!"
I smile warmly at my Aunt Macy as we step into her apartment.
She still had boxes cluttering her living room that hadn’t been packed. I’m pretty sure she had been here for at least five years. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82MBsi0cNC
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Not to mention the fake plants and her seven cats really added that special touch.
Macy is my mom’s older sister. There’s about a five year difference between the two of them. She’s a fit woman with silver streaks in her dark brown hair and a cigarette always in her mouth. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANExRXsToK
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If she’s not running a marathon she’s smoking cigarettes. The irony in it all kills me.
"We've missed you, sis." Mom grins and they hug.
Macy wobbles a little as they break their embrace and tries to hop back to the couch.
"Tore my damn meniscus!" She groans loudly. "You’d think I’d learn by now.”
"Maybe it is time to give the gym up?" Mom chuckles.
Macy pulls a cigarette out. " Hell no! I don't plan to slow down any time soon."
"You know you'll probably be down for a good 3 months." Mom bats at the smoke.
"I know, I know. Once you two leave, mom is going to come stay with me for a bit."
"Wow," Mom shakes her head in disappointment. "She couldn't have made it out to see us?"
Macy shrugs, "You know how she is."
"I know," Mom nods. "Maybe one day she'll take the stick out of her ass."
I roll my eyes at the two of them and pull my phone out to let Alessio know I made it here safely.
Be safe, beautiful.
I smile at his text but part of me wonders if Mateo is actually here already and looming in the shadows.
"What are your plans, Liv?" Macy chirps. .
I shrug," Probably going to see Amy and stop by the college."
She smiles and tosses me something heavy and silver. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbehDpXJVf5
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Car keys.
"Take my car."
"Macy!" Mom snaps.
"She's 18 and she has had her license for three years, Susan."
Mom scoffs, "She hasn't driven since we left New York."
"Actually," I chirp up and eye my mom cautiously. "Dad let me take his car a few times when he worked from home."
She glares at her sister,"If she wrecks YOUR car, I am not paying shit."
"Get the wine, bitch. You need to calm down."
I laugh at them as I pull the door shut and head down her apartment stairs towards the little Camry.
I pull out my phone and quickly dial out to Amy.
"Wow! The bitch is alive."
I shake my head, "Missed you, whore. I'm in the city, let's hang."
"What are you doing in New York?"
"Aunt Macy is having surgery so mom is going to help her out for the week."
"So you're leaving again?"
I frown to myself. I hadn’t been back in almost 5 months now and it really sucked how much I had missed my friends. My life had been so great out here.
"I got accepted to Cornell so I'll be back soon." I tell her.
"Such a smart, bitch," She laughs loudly into the phone, "Meet me at my place and we can go check it out."
I ended our call and drove directly to her house where she lives with her older sister and boyfriend, Matthias. She has been dating him for the past 2 years and it's honestly a shock to hear he wouldn't be clinging to her side on our little day trip today.
I had also decided after ten minutes of driving in New York traffic that I’d stick to cabs when I came back because it still is fucking nuts.
"Oh my god, I can't believe you are here!" Amy screams as I step out from the car.
Her blonde hair is pulled into a high ponytail and she has her favorite cheer sweatshirt on and black leggings. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouC3kdCwSn
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We had so much in common but our interests were completely different. Amy was always boy crazy and loved cheerleading. She was a complete girly girl and was always trying to convince me to let her try makeup ideas on my face.
"I know! I'm so excited." I exclaim and hug her tightly.
"So," She wiggles her brows. “Any hot boys there?"
"Duh!" I snort and wave down a taxi. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Es8mOoKk4
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“You don’t want to drive?” 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPI7gZbknE
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I glare at her. “God no.”
We hop in the taxi together and head off to Cornell. The school is a complete dream and seeing everyone out and living their lives there made me want to go even more. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4xiVimiom
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The Art department was exactly how I pictured it. Students crowded the halls and school classrooms with canvases and tarps laid out along the floors. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TcqrsLpnt
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“You want to do this...forever?” Amy wondered. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPSSKfEnCz
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“Absolutely,” I nodded eagerly. “I love this, Amy, I always have.” 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL9YfFSojL
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“You are really good. I still have that canvas you did our sophomore year.” 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9v6QirxQp
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I smiled at her and noticed an unfamiliar girl walking up to us with dark purple hair and several piercings on her face. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBoQzS1tdA
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“Hey! Are you guys new?” She grinned. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXocb6iteZM
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“Yeah, I am!” I tell her. “I won’t be starting until the Summer though, I was just in the city and wanted to check it out.” 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76rCfp1YNM
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“Are you in the Art program?” She asks and adjusts her lip ring. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhW39el9tLM
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“Yeah! I’m really excited.” 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5M2XhW5WL
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“You’re going to love it! I’ve been attending for a year now and the program is out of this world. I wish our instructor was here you would just adore him. He’s a really great guy,” She smiles and leans close. “He’s also crazy freaking hot.” 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLwZq1pTeh
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“Oh, go find him!” Amy teases. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzOsre1w8l
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“Anyways, my name is Jane.” The girl says. “You’ll see me around here a lot so don’t be shy when you start. I’d be happy to help you out.” 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsWnz9l5Hh
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“Thank you! I really appreciate that.” 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1akNfS8OD
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She nods and walks back towards a group of people who were seated at the back. They were all so different from one another. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbNS5HlHuF
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A mix of punk and art hipster.
I’m going to love this school.
Amy and I head back towards the front of the school together. “How are you feeling about it?” She asks.
My smile is huge," I love it so much, Amy."
"Come on, let's go get some coffee and you can tell me about Cali."
She takes my hand in hers and we rush across the busy street as soon as there’s a break in traffic towards the little corner bakery.
“Bet you didn’t miss the traffic.” She laughs.
I look back at the cars lining the streets. “I kind of do.”
"I'd be happy to trade places." She teases as we approach the counter.
We settle on two caramel latte and cookies before taking a spot at a little table in front of the store window.
"Tell me about your new home." She says as she takes a sip.
“It’s a lot of fun. We don’t live far from the beach and I’m walking distance to the school and my job there.”
“That’s good, babe. Any lover’s in your life?” She winks.
My cheeks blush and she narrows her eyes at my expression.
"What's the name?"
"Uh," I say softly and nervously glance around for Mateo. “His name is Alessio.”
“Ooo,” She purrs. “Is he foreign?”
"Italian."
She shakes her head, “Lucky bitch! I bet he’s a dream.”
"You have no idea," I chuckle and roll my eyes. "He’s over six feet and sculpted to perfection. All muscle and the most gorgeous black eyes and dark hair. I’ve never met a man like him before.”
"Where did you find him?" She swoons.
"Shockingly, he attended my new school."
"Does he have any brothers?" She winks and I snort.
"He has a tank for a brother who would scare the shit out of you and the cousin is obsessed with polo’s and Oakley’s.”
"The sunglasses?" She laughs loudly.
"I swear he owns at least 50 pairs."
We spend the rest of our time catching up on how she’s been doing throughout her senior year and what her plans are. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjAAx7ozFc
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I guess her and Matthias hadn’t been doing good so she was considering breaking things off and attending school for a law degree. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoYWbvnvLJ
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It felt nice talking to someone outside from California. When I left early in the school year I felt like so much of me was left behind. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OmKIENPtY
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I have history here and Amy understands me more than anyone I know.
Today I was finally just able to relax. I didn’t have to worry about people asking me thousands of questions about Austin or what the hell happened to Tucker. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRXYCDJpZD
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No Romano mafia drama or anything else. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcegsSZ31r
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Just fun with a good friend.
Eventually 6pm had rolled around and Amy and I parted ways after a very long, tearful goodbye. I hurried back to the apartment to catch dinner with my mom.
"Are you ready?" She shouts from the living room.
I toss my hair back into a ponytail and settle on a thick black dress and some boots. I wasn’t really used to the New York weather anymore. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWsroWAklT
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I pass by Macy on the couch and look down at her. “Are you sure you don’t want to come?”
She's still on the couch with her leg propped up and wine drunk.
“Go eat with your mom!” She waves me off. “I have plenty of chinese takeout, shitty tv, and my cigarettes.”
I laugh and give her a quick kiss on the cheek before heading out with my mom. “Where to?” She asks.
We headed out onto the sidewalk heading into the city and I spotted my favorite Pizza place when I was a kid. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWmDj76omv
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“Toni’s?” I ask and she doesn’t even respond.
We rush across the street together and right into the restaurant. The owner Antonio was standing at the front and had a big smile on as soon as he saw us.
"Olivia! Susan!" He cheers out.
Antonio is a long time friend of the families. He’s a sweet, older man and has the best Pizza I’ve ever had.
"Antonio! How are you?" Mom says and pulls him in for a hug.
"Well! Doing very well. What are you doing here?"
"Macy is having surgery on her knee."
Antonio gasps,"What has she done now?"
"Tore her meniscus. She'll be needing some help for awhile." Mom rolls her eyes.
He shakes his head and yells something in Italian back towards a worker.
"Please sit", He smiles and guides us to a booth."Take your time!"
"What are you thinking?" I ask and flip the menu open.
" Not too sure..." She mumbles but her eyes are locked on her phone.
"Dad?" I question.
She nods and puts it away. They must be fighting again.
"He's just...not doing good."
"You can't make excuses for him all the time," I frown."You guys never fight like this."
"I know, Liv." She says quietly."He's under a lot of pressure."
"You're still his wife. He's supposed to be your best friend, vent to you when he's down. "
She eyes me,"I wonder who raised you to be such a smart woman?"
"Who knows."I smile at her.
"Mind if I interrupt?"
I freeze as I hear a familiar voice rip between us.
"Alessio?"538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveNi2CLnoU
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Why is he here?!
Alessio's dark locks are neatly styled back away from his face allowing the dim lights to cast shadows against the curve of his jaw line. He’s dressed in his usual black on black attire and looks amazing as always. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIIg2mOhiw
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My mom smiles at him and he reaches down to kiss her hand. “Good evening, Mrs. Moore! Pleasure to see you again.” 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiUz47CfZW
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“You as well, dear.”
“W-what are you doing here?” I stammer. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsllvPCBHs
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Mom glares at me,” Olivia! Be nice.” 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMNoaJAq5B
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“I’m just...confused.”
"I'm in town for business," He says casually. "I noticed you here and wanted to say hello."
"Really? Who are you here with for business? " I narrow my eyes.
He's a bad liar.
"Mateo," He points at a table behind him. "I'm sure you remember him."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIicVT9iZV
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Mateo is sitting alone at a table towards the back of the restaurant and awkwardly peaking around from his menu.
"Anyways," He continues, "I wanted to make sure I came over to say hello.”
“I’m always glad to see you!” Mom smiles. “Your family is such a delight.”
"You're too kind," He says and grabs a champagne bottle from the waiter passing by. "Grazie, signore." He tells the boy and slips him a hundred dollar bill.
"My treat to you tonight, Mrs. Moore." He smiles as he pours her a glass.
She looks at me accusingly. “Aren’t you Olivia’s age?”
"Yes ma'am, but I know the Antonio family very well."
"Really?" She beams. "We've been huge fans of Antonio's pizza for over 10 years."
"He is the best," Alessio grins and his eyes lock on me. "So Olivia did you have a chance to see your college?"
. "I did, I love it."
"When will you be making the big move back to New York?" He asks and I hear the sarcasm lacing his words.
"As soon as I can." I say smugly.
"So, if you don't mind me asking," Mom interjects and motions for him to sit. "What are you to my daughter?"
I groan, "Mom! Please don't do the parent thing."
"Hush! I have the right to know."
"Well, I can assure you that I have nothing but the best intentions with Olivia. She means a lot to me and I would never do anything to hurt her," Alessio begins and keeps his black eyes on me. "She has really...changed me into a better person since I met her. I'm extremely grateful to have her in my life."
"Well, I love him!" Mom cheers and knocks my shoulder with her own.
The next half hour is complete torture with my mom deciding to share all of my my embarrassing phases I went through during school. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCVzlHE4DO
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She decides Alessio needs to know about my obsession with wearing my Halloween cape for months when I was 7 and how I messed up in my elementary school Spelling Bee when I was 10 and messed up on the word chair.
Of course, he was a gentleman the entire time. She was laughing with him and they were chatting like old friends while I sat there in complete horror as she continued to spill all of my dirty secrets.
Here and there he’d throw me a little smile and my stomach would flutter. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb4yQbts2M
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This was the most normal I’d ever seen Alessio. He didn’t seem like some dangerous killer. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgylSKRHF9
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He was just a normal boy.
"Well, it was a delight, Mrs. Moore." Alessio says politely and glances at his watch. "I do have some things to wrap up here tonight before I head back home."
"You aren't staying longer?" I frown.
" I wish I could, but I have other things to finish up in California."
"Do you mind if I talk to him privately before we leave?" I ask my mom. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVa4kxLwYo
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She smiles and stands up from the table. "Not at all! I know I'm a pest, I'll just head back across the street and see you soon."
“Nice seeing you!” Alessio grins and kisses her hand again. “Tell Mr. Moore I say hello as well. He’s welcome to connect with me when he needs.”
“Of course, son,” She beamed at him and gave me a tight squeeze. “Not too late, Liv.”
I wait until she’s left the restaurant completely and move back to my seat. Alessio follows quickly and wraps his arms tightly around my waist. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhZ7RFP5HF
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He kisses the side of my neck and turns my face towards him.
"I missed you."
"You didn't even give me a day." I tease.
"Is that an attitude?"
"If it is?" I challenge back.
His dark eyes narrow and a mischievous smile creeps across his face. "I have no problem fucking you in the bathroom."
I can feel the dull ache pick up between my legs and try to push them closer together.
"No! No!" I nearly shout and several people around us glance over.
"Not feeling adventurous?" He whispers and bites at my earlobe.
"Not here."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2lQe2X1wB
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"I just wanted to see you at least," He mutters. "You make it hard to stay away."
"Do you actually have business here?"
"I do actually," He tells me and pulls me closer to him. "I'll see you when you are back in San Diego."
"Mateo stays?" I huff and glance back to where Mateo is. He’s staring down at a piece of Pizza bigger than his face and scrolling through his phone.
"We discussed this, Olivia."
“I don’t always need to be watched, Alessio. Can’t I have privacy? Why can’t we discuss this?”
“We have.”
“You have.”
He glares, “Let’s talk more later.”
I roll my eyes and he steers my face towards him until our lips meet. I melt in the moment and he pulls back to kiss my cheek.
"I'll see you soon, love. I'd walk you home but I am going to start receiving some pretty angry calls. Mateo will escort you."
"It's really fine! I can-" I start but stop when I notice his expression.
"Soon, beautiful." He smiles against my lips and kisses me again. "I love you, Olivia. I really do...and I hope one day you'll marry me."
My heart picks up quickly as I watch him exit the diner.
Only day one and I'm already ready to go home to him.
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