What a Lie

Ethan paced the length of his living room, his jaw tight and his phone gripped in his hand. He raked his hands through his hair, frustration mounting with each unanswered call to Olivia. 

"Why, Lauren? Why couldn't you just leave it alone?" he muttered, anger simmering beneath the surface.

The realization stung—what he'd had with Lauren had been a convenient arrangement, not love. On paper, they'd looked like a perfect match: ambitious, successful, aligned in goals. But there had been no depth, no fire. With Olivia, it was different. Everything about her was real—raw. She made him want to be better, to tear down his walls and be vulnerable. She wasn't just someone he wanted; she was someone he needed.

And now, he'd hurt her again. Unintentionally, but the damage was done. He clenched his fists as he thought about the pain in her eyes, the tears she tried to hide. His chest ached at the memory, a mix of shame and fury bubbling inside him. He wasn't angry at her but furious at himself for letting Lauren manipulate the situation. And Lauren—his jaw tightened further at the thought of her relentless interference.

Ethan groaned, staring at his phone. Olivia wasn't answering, and barging into her space right now would only push her further away. But he couldn't sit here, paralyzed, while she was hurting. He needed help—someone who could get through to her and ensure she was okay. 

His thumb hovered over a familiar number before he finally pressed it. The phone rang twice before Logan's voice answered, his usual teasing lilt in place.

"Big bro! What's the emergency? Did you finally admit you need me for something?"

"Logan," Ethan said, his voice rough, "I need your help."

Logan's humor vanished instantly, replaced with concern. "What's going on? Is Olivia okay?"

Ethan hesitated, his frustration threatening to boil over. "No. She's not answering my calls or texts. She thinks... she thinks I'm back with Lauren. She saw us tonight—Lauren kissed me, and Olivia saw. I—damn it, Logan, I need to fix this. But I don't even know where to start."

There was a pause, and then Logan's voice returned sharp and biting. "Are you serious right now? I warned you, Ethan. I warned you not to hurt her."

"Logan, you think I wanted this to happen?" Ethan snapped, pacing again. "Lauren cornered me. I didn't ask for it, and I sure as hell didn't want it."

"You should've seen this coming," Logan growled. "I told you Lauren wasn't going to back off, and now look where we are. Olivia's hurt and it's because you didn't handle this sooner."

Ethan stopped pacing, his voice dropping to a low plea. "I know, Logan. I know I screwed up. I just... I need your help, okay? You and Olivia are close. She trusts you. Talk to her. Make sure she's alright. Please."

Logan sighed heavily on the other end of the line. "You have no idea how pissed off I am at you right now, do you?"

"Believe me, I do," Ethan muttered. "But right now, Olivia is my priority. She must know that what she saw wasn't what it looked like."

"Yeah, well, you better be ready to grovel. This isn't something you can fix with a bouquet of flowers, Ethan," Logan said sharply. "She's not some temporary fling, and you'd better start acting like it."

"I know that!" Ethan snapped. Then his voice softened. "I know, Logan. She means everything to me."

Logan let out another sigh, his tone grudgingly softening. "Alright. I'll talk to her. But if she doesn't want to see you right now, you're going to have to respect that."

"Just let me know she's okay," Ethan said, his voice thick with guilt. "Please."

Logan paused, then said, "I'll let you know what I find out. But Ethan, you've got a lot of work to do to fix this. Don't screw it up again."

The line went dead, and Ethan sank onto the couch, the weight of the night pressing down on him. Logan was right—he'd have to work harder than ever to prove himself to Olivia. And this time, he wouldn't let anything—or anyone—stand in the way. 

Olivia

Olivia stared at the door, her heart pounding as the knock echoed through her apartment. She sat frozen on the couch, refusing to move. How dare he? she thought, her emotions swirling between anger and heartbreak. Doesn't he know how much he's hurt me? She clenched the necklace around her throat, the delicate infinity symbol now feeling like a cruel joke. Together forever, he'd said. What a lie.

Her phone chimed, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced down, expecting another message from Ethan. Instead, it was Logan: 

Open up, buttercup.

Her heart softened at the sight of his name, and she sprang to her feet, rushing to the door. When she opened it, she immediately threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his shoulder. Logan wrapped her in his embrace, his strong arms pulling her close as she began to tremble.

"Shh, it's okay, sweetheart," Logan murmured, his voice soothing and protective. "I'm here for you."

All the emotions she'd been trying to hold in came bubbling to the surface. Tears streaked down her cheeks as the sobs she'd been suppressing finally escaped. "How could he?" she whispered, her voice cracking with raw pain. She reached for the necklace again, clutching it tightly. "He said together forever, Logan. He promised me, and not even 24 hours later, I find him in her arms?"

Logan's expression darkened, his jaw tightening at the sight of Olivia's pain. He rubbed her back gently, his voice firm but gentle. "Olivia, there's more to this story. I swear, it's not what you think. But right now, you need rest. You can't let this tear you apart."

Olivia pulled back slightly to look up at him, her tear-filled eyes searching his face. "How do I even begin to believe that, Logan? I saw it. I saw them."

"I know, Liv, I know," Logan said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But tonight isn't the night to unravel this mess. It would be best if you had distance. A change of scenery. Pack a bag—you're coming with me to my place."

Her brow furrowed, but the suggestion tugged at her heart. She was exhausted and emotionally drained, and the idea of leaving her apartment—and all the memories of Ethan—sounded like exactly what she needed.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. She stepped back and gave him a slight nod. "Okay, I'll go. Logan, thank you. For coming for me, for being here…"

He tilted her chin gently, his blue eyes filled with unwavering sincerity. "You know I'll always be here for you, Liv. No matter what."

Her lips trembled as a small, grateful smile broke through her anguish. She turned to pack a bag, and Logan waited patiently by the door. His presence was a steady comfort in the chaos of her emotions.