Olivia’s POV
"Breathe, Olivia. Just breathe," Kira said in that annoyingly calm voice she used whenever I was spiraling out of control. She positioned herself in front of , hands on my shoulders like she was my personal therapist. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. Co on, follow ."
I wanted to tell her that breathing exercises weren’t going to solve the fact that I might be carrying a stranger’s baby, but I was too panicked to argue. So I followed her instructions, taking deep breaths until my heart rate started returning to sothing... well, normal.
"Good," Kira nodded, like I was a good girl. "Now, how long ago did this happen?"
"Like... two hours ago," I whispered, still feeling shaky.
"Two hours?" Kira’s eyebrows shot up. "Girl, you have up to 72 hours to take ergency contraception, and it’s most effective within the first 24. You’re going to be fine. First thing in the morning, I’ll get you the pill and everything will be alright."
"Okay," I nodded vigorously, still feeling like a baby might be forming inside right now if I didn’t take action.
Then I stared at Kira, waiting for her interrogation. Any second now, she’d start bombarding with questions about who, what, when, where, and why. She’ll never let anything slide tonight without getting every juicy detail.
But instead, she just looked at with concern in her eyes.
"You need to sleep," she said softly. "Whatever happened today, you’ve been through hell. We have all the ti in the world to talk about it tomorrow, but right now, you need rest."
I blinked at her in shock. "That’s it? You’re not going to interrogate ?"
Kira laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, don’t get wrong baby. My ears have been burning to hear this tea ever since you called, screaming for contraceptives. But you look so stressed and exhausted that I’m actually controlling myself. Don’t test my patience though - tomorrow morning, I want every single detail."
I couldn’t help but smile at that. "You’re being so mature about this. I’m shocked." I placed a hand over my mouth for dramatic effect.
"Don’t get used to it," she warned. "Tomorrow I’m going full gossip mode. I’m talking diagrams, tilines, maybe even a PowerPoint presentation if necessary."
We both burst out laughing, the action lifting so of the burdens from my shoulders.
I crawled into bed, and the mont my head touched the pillow, I was out like a light.
*********
The next morning, I woke up feeling better. Sunlight was streaming through my bedroom window, and I could hear birds chirping outside. It was going to be a beautiful Saturday, and maybe - just maybe - things would start looking up. No drama today.
I reached over to grab my phone from the nightstand, but my hand t sothing else instead. Small boxes and a bottle of water sat right where my phone should have been. I picked up one of the boxes and read the label: Plan B One-Step Ergency Contraceptive.
I smiled, feeling a wave of affection for my roommate. Kira had sohow managed to get the pills even though all the pharmacies had been closed last night. She really was the best friend a girl could have.
I turned to thank her, but she was still fast asleep, curled up under the blanket like a baby. I decided to let her sleep a bit longer.
I took the pill imdiately, washing it down with the water. One crisis officially handled.
After brushing my teeth and washing my face, I felt almost human again. The hot shower had worked wonders last night, and a good night’s sleep had restored my ability to think clearly.
When I erged from the bathroom, Kira was just starting to wake up, stretching and groaning like a cat.
"Morning, sunshine," I said, sitting on the edge of her bed.
Her eyes flew open imdiately, and she sat up.
"Did you take the pill?"
"Yes, I did. Thank you so much, Kira. Seriously, you’re a lifesaver. How did you even manage to get them when all the pharmacies were closed?"
She waved dismissively. "I have my ways. The important thing is that you’re covered now." Her expression suddenly beca very serious. "Now, it’s ti for you to spill everything. And I an everything, Olivia. What the hell happened last night?"
I had been preparing for this mont since I woke up, rehearsing the story in my head. I couldn’t tell her the truth. The truth sounded completely insane, and knowing Kira, she’d probably call the police.
So I went with the safest lie I could think of.
"I bumped into David," I said, trying to look a little embarrassed. "You know, my ex from two years ago? The one who moved to France?"
Kira’s eyes widened. "David? Crazy David? What the hell, Olivia! Why would you do that?"
"I was devastated," I said, letting genuine emotion creep into my voice, which wasn’t hard to do - I really had been devastated yesterday, just not about David. "I was vulnerable and completely out of my mind. I’d just lost my job, I was feeling like a complete failure, and then I saw him and... I don’t know. I just wasn’t thinking straight."
Kira stared at for a long mont, her expression shifting from shock to concern to disapproval.
"Olivia Christine Hopton," she said, using my full na the sa way my mother did when she was really serious. "Please tell you’re not thinking about getting back together with that psychopath."
"God, no!" I said quickly. "It was just... a mont of weakness. I was emotional and stupid, and it will never happen again. I promise."
"Good," Kira said firmly. "Because that man put you through hell. He was controlling, jealous, and extrely possessive. I watched you lose yourself completely when you were with him, and I never want to see you go through that again."
I nodded, feeling guilty about lying to her but knowing it was necessary. "You’re right. It was a huge mistake, and I regret it already."
"Just promise ," Kira continued, her voice softening, "that you’ll never go back to him. No matter how lonely or desperate you feel, David is not the answer. You deserve so much better than that toxic piece of garbage."
"I promise," I said, and I ant it. Even though I was lying about the David part, I genuinely had no intention of ever getting back together with my actually crazy ex.
Kira seed satisfied with my response and was just opening her mouth to ask for more details when we heard the sound of my mother’s voice from the hallway, getting louder as she approached my bedroom.
"OLIVIA!" Mom’s voice bood through the apartnt. "What the hell is wrong with your phone?"
Oh no. I had forgotten about airplane mode.
Before I could even react, my bedroom door burst open and my mother stord in, holding her own phone and looking furious.
"Gabriel has been trying to reach you since last night!" she waved her phone in the air like evidence in a court case. "The poor boy has been calling and texting nonstop, worried sick about you!"
I felt my blood run cold. Gabriel? Couldn’t he read the room after I declined his first call? What did he want?
"Mom," I started, but she cut off.
"Don’t ’Mom’ , young lady. Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is? Martha called at seven in the morning - SEVEN IN THE MORNING, Olivia - to tell that Gabriel had been up all night trying to contact you. He thought sothing terrible had happened!"
Kira was looking back and forth between and my mother like she was watching a tennis match, clearly trying to piece together what was happening. I didn’t understand what was happening either. Why was the young man worried sick about soone he hadn’t t?
So much for a peaceful Saturday.
"I put my phone on airplane mode last night," I said weakly. "I needed so quiet ti to..."
"Airplane mode?" Mom’s voice went through the roof. "You put your phone on airplane mode when you’re still single? On the night before your date? What kind of person does that? What if there had been an ergency? What if Gabriel needed to change the plans for today?"
"Wait," Kira interrupted, looking confused. "Who’s Gabriel? And what date?"
Mom turned to Kira with an expression of pure exasperation. "Gabriel Fisher, Martha’s son. The lovely young man I’ve been trying to set Olivia up with for weeks. They’re supposed to have their first date today, and Olivia has been acting like it’s so kind of punishnt instead of the wonderful opportunity it is."
I wanted to sink through the floor. This was getting worse by the minute.
"And now," Mom continued, turning back to , "he’s probably thinking you’re not interested, or that you’re rude, or that you’re the kind of person who can’t be trusted to keep her phone on. Do you have any idea what kind of first impression this makes? How can you find a husband when your phone is off?"
My phone, which was still on the nightstand, suddenly started ringing. We all turned to look at it, and I could see Gabriel’s na flashing on the screen.
"Answer it," Mom commanded. "Right now. Apologize to that poor boy and explain yourself."
I looked at the phone, then at my mom. This was a disaster. I had no desire to go on a date with Gabriel, I was dealing with the aftermath of my mysterious stranger encounter, I was probably about to lose my job on Monday, and now I was being forced to have a conversation with soone I didn’t want to.
The phone kept ringing.
"Olivia," Mom said in a dangerously quiet voice, "answer that phone right now, or I’m going to answer it for you and apologize on your behalf. And trust , you don’t want doing that."
The threat in her voice was real. And I didn’t want to face the consequences. It was still too early to begin my day with drama.
With a deep sigh, I reached for the phone and hit the accept button.
"Hello?" I said, trying not to sound irritated.
"Olivia! Thank God!" Gabriel’s voice ca through the speaker, "I’ve been trying to reach you all night. Are you okay? I’m sorry I missed your call."
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