A Tragic Wreck (21 page)

 
She would occasionally look out her front window to see a black SUV parked on the street, Carter usually in the driver’s seat, his eyes trained on Olivia’s home. He would nod at her, a stoic look across his face. At first, Olivia would ignore him. Then she started to leave the couch to sit in the bay window, drinking her coffee as she stared at him. After a few days, he caught on and would have a coffee with him during that time each day. It made her smile.

In the evenings, Carter left and Martin would sit in the SUV, keeping an eye on things. Olivia wondered why, even after everything, Alexander still felt the need to protect her. Maybe he did still care about her. She recalled her last conversation with Alexander and how he couldn’t even tell her that he loved Chelsea.

One day, after several weeks passed, she woke on the couch and trudged over to make a cup of coffee. She was pretty much surviving on just coffee and alcohol. After preparing her drink, she walked over to sit in her bay window, feeling the cold winter air on the window. She spotted the black SUV and raised her cup to her mouth, hoping to meet Carter’s eyes.

But the eyes that stared back weren’t Carter’s. They were those green eyes that she kept seeing in her dreams every night. Her throat let out a silent cry. She sat there, drinking her coffee and staring at Alexander. She willed him to get out of the car and come talk to her, tell her that he made a mistake and that he wasn’t going to marry Chelsea. She pleaded with him with her eyes, but he never moved.

He sat there every day that week, not getting out of the car, keeping watch over her house. Her self-imposed prison.

She listened to all the people on the street, bustling about the busy Boston neighborhood, and Olivia sat on her couch. All alone. Exactly how she wanted everything, or so she thought. Her only comforts were the multiple bottles of liquor that she had.

On a snowy day, Olivia stood up from her couch to feed Nepenthe and felt weak, wondering when she ate last. Walking to the cupboard, she found a few snacks to munch on as she looked at the calendar. She didn’t know how long she had been moping around her house. Alexander still remained outside in his SUV. He hadn’t come crawling back to her, saying he made a terrible mistake. He had said nothing. He just sat and watched her.

Olivia heard a buzzing in her kitchen and walked over to the island. It was her cell. She continued to ignore it, just as she had been doing since she got home after Open Mic night all those days ago. But she finally realized that she couldn’t ignore life forever.

“Hey, Kiera,” Olivia said, reluctantly answering the phone.

“Jesus H. Christ, Libby! What the fuck is going on?! Your door is dead-bolted, and that’s cool, but holy shit!”

“Yeah. Sorry. It’s been a rough week, I think,” she replied dryly.

“I figured as much. But try several weeks, bitch. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Do not lock me out or I swear to God…”

“I know, I know,” Olivia interrupted. “You’ll cut a bitch.”

“Yes. Yes, I will,” Kiera said chirpily before she hung up the phone.

Olivia groaned and unlocked the dead-bolt before dragging herself upstairs to take a shower. She stood underneath the running water, thinking about what went wrong. She knew she was taking a risk pouring her heart out to Alexander. And he did say he was happy, although he didn’t sound too convincing. He couldn’t even say that he loved Chelsea.

“Olivia? Where are you?” Kiera’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“I’m in the shower,” she shouted. “Be out soon.” She jumped out of the shower and, after being absolutely disgusted looking at her skeletal frame, threw on some yoga pants and a sweatshirt. She brushed out her hair and put it up in a messy bun before heading downstairs to see Kiera.

“Happy birthday!” Kiera and Mo shouted when Olivia walked into the living room. She stopped in her tracks, surprised. It was long past her birthday, but she had missed celebrating it with her friends.

They made up for it, carrying in bags of food. “Sorry. It’s all we could manage last minute,” Mo said as Olivia grabbed a piece of sushi. She looked at her friends and immediately started crying, feeling overwhelmed by their kindness.

“Thanks, guys.” Her friends pulled her close and the three of them stood in the living room, embracing. Sushi was her favorite thing in the world, except for oysters. But Alexander ruined oysters for her.

“I don’t know what I’d do if you two weren’t in my life.” Olivia looked at her two friends.

“Okay,” Kiera said, bouncing up and down. “No more crying. From now on, only smiles.”

“Don’t I wish…” Olivia said, giving her a sideways glance. She grabbed a glass of wine from Kiera and walked over to the large bay window, meeting Alexander’s eyes.

He gave her a weak smile, taking in her frail figure as Mo walked up to her and put his arms around her. Alexander thought how he wanted to be able to comfort her now, but it was Mo instead.

A tear fell down his face, wishing he could turn the clock back several weeks, or at least build up enough courage to face the woman he let walk away from him more times than he could count. But he was with Chelsea now, and she tried to make him happy.

“Come on, baby girl,” Mo said, leading her away. “Let’s get some food in your system.” He looked out the window, nodding in Alexander’s direction.
 

Olivia and her friends sat down at her dining room table and dug into the food, eating in relative silence for several moments. When everyone seemed to get their fill, Mo finally spoke. “So tell us. What’s going on?”

Olivia glared at him.

“Livvy, I’m not putting up with your shit so just spill it. You need to talk about it and I won’t give up until you do.”

“Fine,” she exhaled. She proceeded to tell them about going to Alexander’s office, pouring her heart out to him, bumping into Chelsea in the hallway, running out of the building, and Alexander finding her on Boylston Street to return her jacket. She left out the part about some weird guy chasing her, not wanting to worry her friends. Then she told them all about her exchange with Alexander outside of Johnny D’s that same week, when he all but said he wanted to be with her, but had to push her away to protect himself. And that he couldn’t admit that he loved Chelsea.

“You should give it one more shot, Livvy,” Mo said. “He's definitely not over you. You need to give him a reason to fight for you.”

“Mo, he made it quite clear that he wanted nothing to do with me. Apart from him telling me that I'll always be his ‘Eve’, which I have no fucking clue what that even means, he's shown no indication that he's not going to go through with that goddamn wedding.”

Olivia began breathing heavy, noticing her two friends exchange a look. “What? What is it you're not telling me?”

Mo sighed. “You're his Eve. Come here, baby girl. Take a look at this.” He grabbed his cell phone out of his pocket and, after searching for a video, handed the phone over to her.

She hit play on the screen, not fully comprehending what she was seeing. She glanced up at her two friends as she watched Alexander sitting at the piano at Johnny D’s, starting to play a song she knew quite well. It was actually a band she had turned him on to.

“I don't understand,” Olivia said softly.

“Every week for about a month, starting right around Thanksgiving, he would show up at Open Mic and perform,” Kiera explained. “This is the song he chose to perform right before proposing to Chelsea.”

Olivia's heart sank in her chest. She could see the pain in his face as he sang about someone he loved leaving, making him empty inside. Then about finding that person, only for them to push him away again. “I'm his Eve,” she whispered.

“Exactly,” Mo said. “The one he'll always put above all others. The one he'll always care about. The one he’ll never be able to let go.”

Olivia stood up from her chair and walked over to the bay window, staring at Alexander. “I don’t know if I can put myself through that again.”

“The fight's not over yet,” Kiera said. “I mean, he’s sitting out there, keeping an eye on things over here. Apparently, he’s had round-the-clock surveillance on this place. He still cares about you, Libs. A lot! I don’t believe for a second that he’s going to go through with that wedding. Hell, he barely spends any time at his place anymore. Just the other night, we ran into him and his dog when he was heading to the office just to get out of the house.”

Olivia sat there, thinking. Maybe there was another way.

“Is there anything I can do, Livvy?” Mo asked, seeing the wheels turning in her head.

Olivia turned around and faced her friends. “Well, funny you should ask. Can you think of any way you could convince Alexander to go to MacFadden’s next time you guys play? There’s a song I’d love to do if you don’t mind, Mo. It’s a little slower, but I would really appreciate it if you back me up.”

“We’re playing Friday, as usual.”

“Well, good. Wait. What day is it?”

Kiera laughed. “It’s Wednesday.”

Olivia looked down. “What month is it?” She had completely lost track of time.

“It’s February thirteenth, jackass,” Mo sneered.

“Jesus. I’m sorry, guys.” Olivia straightened up, hoping to find her backbone to actually go through with her plan. “Well, let’s do it this Friday then.”

Mo stared at Olivia. “Really? You’re willing to get up in front of over five hundred people and pour your heart and soul out, all with the hopes that Alexander is actually there and listening?”

She thought for a minute. “Well, yeah. That about sums it up.”

“Let’s get to work then. I’ve got a song to learn,” Mo said, dragging Olivia upstairs.

“Oooohh. I’ll be your pretend audience,” Kiera said, leaping up from her chair and following them up the stairs. “Wait a second, guys,” she said as Olivia opened the door to the music room. “It’s the thirteenth. That means…”

Olivia’s heart sank. “That means he’s getting married this weekend.”

Mo grabbed his cell phone. “Don’t worry. I got this.” He searched his phone, finally landing on the number he needed before dialing. “Tyler, it’s Mo. I need a favor.”

“Y
OU
WANT
TO
GO
to a bar with your brother after the rehearsal dinner tonight? Are you crazy? For crying out loud, we’re getting married tomorrow morning, Alex!” Chelsea huffed, glaring at him as he stood in the lobby of Old Trinity Church waiting for their guests to arrive to go over the wedding processional.

“Yes, I do. Just for a little bit. A few of my friends will be there. Mo’s band is playing and I want to go and support him. Plus, Tyler feels short-changed that he didn’t get to throw me a bachelor party. So, yes, I’m going to the bar. You can feel free to come with some of your friends, if you’re that worried about me.”

“That is so not how I was expecting to spend my last night as a single woman,” Chelsea replied, taking a step closer, running her fingers down his chest. “I was hoping this weekend would be incredibly romantic and not spent at some shitty bar,” she whispered in a sultry voice.

“Chelsea. Please, don’t. I want to spend some time with my friends before I have to spend the rest of the weekend with you.” He stared at her, his eyes fierce. No matter what he wanted to do, she had something to say about it.

She took a deep breath. Going to the bar that night wasn’t worth losing Alexander over. At least he had finally invited her out with him and his friends. “Fine. We’ll go to your little bar then.” Chelsea grabbed Alexander’s hand, leading him toward the vestibule to begin their rehearsal.

“Alexander, darling.” An older woman stopped him, pulling him into her arms while Chelsea stayed firmly planted at his side. “Wonderful to see you again, Chelsea. I wonder what you ever said to convince my son to marry you.”

Alexander chuckled a little at his mother’s words and Chelsea’s scowl.

“Oh, come, dear. It’s just a joke. But I would like a word with my son before we begin, if you don’t mind.” Colleen Burnham glared at Chelsea, waiting for her to give her some privacy with Alexander. After returning the glare for several long moments, Chelsea finally spun on her heels, seeking out her sister.

“Hi, Ma,” Alexander said, kissing her cheek. “How’s Miami?”

“Oh, you know. Same old thing. Sun, sand, and sangria.” She winked.

“I’m glad you were able to be here this weekend. It means a lot to both of us,” Alexander said, smiling at his mother’s gentle face. Although she was in her mid-sixties, she still had a youthful appearance about her.

“Well, I needed to be in town anyway to help plan our charity auction next month so I’m killing two birds with one stone, although I’m sensing something’s just not right here, Alex.” She grabbed her son’s hands in hers, staring deep into his eyes. “What’s going on? Are you sure you’re ready to marry that girl?”

Alexander exhaled loudly. “Why does everyone ask me that?”

Colleen narrowed her gaze on him. Even though he towered over her by a foot, he would always be her baby. “Because we care about you, Alex. And we want to make sure you’re not getting into something you can’t get out of. Marriage is a big deal. One you should not enter into lightly. Have you signed a pre-nup?”

“MOM!” Alexander exclaimed, aghast.

Colleen shrugged, her demeanor unchanged. “It’s a legitimate question. Have you?”

“I don’t need one.”

“Oh, come on, Alex. I’m sorry, but you better be damn sure you want to spend the rest of your life with that one if you’re not going to make her sign a pre-nup. Yes, she comes from some money, but nothing compared to what she’s about to marry into.”

Glancing over at Chelsea showing off her ring excitedly to people that he didn’t even know, Alexander wondered what he was getting into. And why Chelsea wanted to rush into a wedding so badly. “If it will make you happy, I’ll have my lawyers draw one up.” He turned to walk away.