CHAPTER 21: When sense keeps knocking!
1743 Words
ODESSA
Jessica is quiet the entire ride to Palm Springs which is the location of Liam’s wedding ceremony this weekend.
I was in the hospital for 3days.
Since I haven’t replaced my burnt identification documents, the hospital didn’t call anyone while I was asleep because they didn’t know who I was.
Which means I woke up alone and with a cast around my wrist.
Jessica who eventually found me in my apartment packing is furious after she found out about the accident. Which despite me having a public panic attack, was not my fault.
The driver was searching for his phone and wasn’t looking when he curved into the side walk and hit me. He asked to settle but money was not my priority so I asked for time to think.
Did I mention the man is the son of some real-estate mogul? His father is a literal blood hound but you can’t torture something that is already in turmoil.
And I am practically the Alice of hell-wonderland.
Maybe sense finally got knocked into me or maybe the pearls of wisdom from the Choi’s finally clicked but whatever Jessica thinks I am about to do is wrong.
It is the complete opposite actually because Olivia is 12 and ½ weeks pregnant, which is the same amount of time I have been gone.
I looked Liam right in the eye but still, he didn’t say it. He didn’t even try, he just kept hiding and lying.
His cruelty since I have returned has me doubting myself which is wrong because I am poetry and I refuse to be a slogan in someone else’s life.
The bitter ex-girlfriend that broke a family, no.
That is not me.
“I am leaving.” I speak up when the song ends. “I am going back to New York after this but I’ll be visiting Cambridge as regular as possible.”
I am not missing her pregnancy journey.
“Why would you come to Cambridge?” Jessica makes a turn to follow the arrow on the GPS.
“For ultrasounds and check-ups,” I try to smile. “There is no way I am missing any appointment, that is my kid too.”
I am still the only family Jessica has for now and I want to show my support.
“That’s true.” Jessica relaxes a bit.
“I want you to attend the wedding,” I look at her again. “Despite the complications, Liam is still your friend and he will need you there.”
According to Neels and Tommy, he hasn’t been getting much support which is crazy because a baby is involved.
How could anyone stand against his decision?
“Fine but only because I want to see this sh*t with my own eyes.” Jessica glances at me, “but are you sure you should be here? You just got discharged and—”
“I need to see it with my own eyes too.” I look at my phone because the Choi’s keep calling.
I found missed calls and several texts to call back when I replaced my old phone but I have been flagging them. I have enough on plate and don’t need anymore.
“Vecker?” Jessica is obviously concerned.
“Did you know Olivia was pregnant?” I sound sad as I add, “13weeks. Almost the same time that I have been gone.”
If she wasn’t driving Jessica would have tumbled over because her jaw literally drops as her siren eyes widen to show the amber iris.
“No, I didn’t but it does make a lot of sense now.” It’s like the puzzles are finally connecting. “Wait. I am 3months pregnant which means—”
“Liam didn’t even wait a week before my body was cold.” The worst part is, he is the only one that knows the truth about everything.
My real identify.
My family business and secrets.
My fears and weaknesses.
My true goals and aspirations, new and old.
My real name and my real body counter (the m*rder kind and s*x kind.)
He knows every thread it took to be Vecker and Odessa. The true reason why I am called Frostbite, he even knows my blood type—imagine that.
That is why he could use it all against me before because I will never give him normal, not when he is already half way there with another woman.
“Damn, I really believed in that look of fate.” Jessica seems to me questioning everything now.
And she is not the only one.
“Do you want to know something crazy?” My smile is bitter as I watch the road, “I believed in it too,” eventually so did Liam.
When long distance got hard, we remembered Jessica’s version of our meetcute and it was all worth it. It kept us going, strong but now—
I don’t know.
“Oh Vecker,” Jessica holds my hand when I start shaking.
“I mean who wouldn’t want a love written in the stars?” I stare at my cast and snort, “who would dare doubt that look of fate? Well, sadly I am more of the losing game type of love.”
My heart literally splits in half when I admit it out loud. The pain is consuming me and I am tired of hiding it.
“Odie, maybe we should—”
“Turn here.” I release our conjoined hands. “The resort should be down the road,” I point to where cars are piling up.
“Fine we will pretend everything is okay but any sign of bullsh*t and I am pulling you out.” She parks across JJ’s car and turns the engine off. “I mean it Vecker, Liam is my friend but you are family.”
“I know.” I exit the car and look around. “Everyone is here,” I recognize most of the cars in the guest parking lot.
“And it looks like we are the last to arrive,” Jessica agrees.
“Just in time then,” I follow her to the entrance.
As Jessica checks us in, the reception clerk gives us an itinerary and it seems we are just in time for welcome drinks in the back garden.
Tomorrow night will be brunch, the engagement party and the rehearsal dinner. Followed by the vow ceremony and reception on Saturday morning, I do not bother to read the rest because I won’t be here.
I am not even staying the night.
“We got twin beds with an ensuite to Alek and I’s room, how sweet is my baby daddy?” Jessica pulls out her phone to text him hearts.
“The sweetest.” I agree as we follow the bellman to the elevator only to find America and JJ kissing inside.
“Wow,” this is going to be one hell of an interesting wedding weekend.
LIAM
Despite having reservations and objections, everyone showed up to our weekend. Coach Carter, my family and even my friends.
Old and new.
Odessa is here too which for some reason gives me relief because she disappeared for days with no contact. The relief dies when I see the cast around her wrist and plaster on her forehead.
Nevertheless, she is here in a simple black dress with side knots and string straps. The dark strands of her ink black hair is pulled back and she didn’t even bother with makeup not that she needs it.
She tries to stay hidden in the background but my mother embraces her and takes her to the bar where they stay the rest of the party.
I hear from Tommy, that America forced her to come down and that the reason Jessica is skipping it is because her boyfriend just arrived.
Still as awkward as it is, I am glad our old gang is all here. Junior year was a core memory because of all of them, especially Odessa.
“Are you ready to meet my mother?” Olivia runs her fingers through her short bob.
She is blonde again but the doctor assured me the dye wouldn’t harm the child in any way.
“Sure,” I nod manically and follow her to a corner table where her mother and her aunt are talking.
Olivia’s family is what one would describe as typical southern people pretending to be socialites. I mean that in the most respectable way possible.
They both have accents and look like they just stepped out of a modern suburban housewife sitcom but something tells me they are playing a part.
That Olivia made them dress up and pretend to be well off.
They may own a small vegetable farm in Arkansas but I doubt they can truly afford all the designer clothes they are wearing. Mrs Fisher (Lemon) pronounced her Versace dress as “ver-say-ssh” which made Olivia cringe but I smiled to agree.
It didn’t matter to me what she was wearing, I just cared if she was a decent enough person to leave a child with.
“Good for you for correcting your sin,” the aunt (Anna-Mae) approves when the silence stretches.
“Sin?” I watch Olivia who looks at Lemon with palpable plea.
“Fornication and a child out of wedlock is a sin Liam, I don’t care if you’re richer than Go—” Lemon stuffs a finger food inside her mouth to stop her from speaking.
“What she means is, she is glad you and our Liv are in love and getting hitched!” Lemon grins painfully and I stiffen.
“Sure,” I take her empty glass. “Let me get you a refill Mrs Fisher,” I try to make my exit smooth but my feet don’t move fast enough. “Me too sweetie,” Anna-Mae puts her glass in my hand after chugging it.
Olivia doesn’t wait long enough before whisper-yelling at her family for embarrassing her. She wanted to meet mine too but I advised against it since no one has talked to me since they arrived.
Not even Neels or my father who texted a we’re here an hour after they checked in.
I knew this weekend would be hell but I didn’t expect the furnace to start this scorching hot.
- Writer
