Chapter 2

Olivia

Ryan’s head whipped around, his eyes widening with shock. For a moment, time suspended itself. My lungs refused to work, and the room seemed to tilt sideways.

“Liv-” Ryan stammered, still connected to Sophia. “This isn’t—”

“What it looks like?” I finished, my voice surprisingly steady despite the earthquake happening inside me. “Because it looks like you’re fucking my friend on her birthday while I wait downstairs for a drink that’s never coming.”

Sophia turned her head, meeting my gaze without a hint of shame. She didn’t even bother to adjust her dress; she just rested her elbows on the dresser and sighed like I’d interrupted a business meeting.

“Oh, Olivia,” she said, her voice dripping with condescension. “Did you think a man like Ryan would be satisfied with just you?”

Ryan finally pulled away from her, fumbling to pull up his pants. “Baby, please, this is just a… a thing. It doesn’t mean anything.”