Page 90 of If We Were Perfect (If Love 4)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Olivia was in a funk. She didn’t get into a funk often, so she had no clue what to do. Her usual methods of coping with stress all failed.

Deep-cleaning her off-campus apartment until the place sparkled like a Tiffany diamond? Failed.

Purging and donating half her closet to Goodwill and re-color coordinating the rest? Failed.

Eating her weight in Ben & Jerry’s while watching every Meg Ryan rom-com ever made? Failed.

“Get it together.” She glared at her reflection. She was wearing her only pair of sweatpants and an old tie-dye shirt she’d forgotten she owned. Eleanor would have a heart attack if she saw her dressed like this.Too freaking bad.Olivia was over trying to live up to her mother’s unrealistic expectations. She hadn’t spoken to Eleanor since that terrible brunch with her, Alina, and Richard, and she didn’t want to. She was stressed enough, thank you.

Olivia’s phone buzzed with a text—a photo of Kat and Ty (whom Olivia could finally think of using his first name), holding glasses of wine in what looked like Napa. Kat was beaming; Ty was more reserved, but his eyes twinkled with contentment.

Messages in the book club’s group chat flew fast and furious.

Natalie: Omg this is so freakin’ cute! YOU GUYS.

Tamara: Jess says to tell Ty he owes her a hundred bucks. Lost a bet, something about Zuckerberg?

Tamara: P.S. Pic is cute. I almost gagged, which means it’s epically adorable. *thumbs up emoji*

Olivia: Agreed.

Olivia: With the cuteness part, not the gagging part.

Olivia: Have you eaten at The French Laundry yet? It has three Michelin stars.

Donna: Can you bring me back a bottle of wine?

Olivia: If you go to TFL, try their salmon cornets. Heard they’re good.

Kat: Lol thx, yes, and I will.

Kat: Ty says Jess cheated because she had inside info so it doesn’t count.

Tamara: Oh ffs. Now I’ll have to hear about this all day!

Tamara: Dude’s a billionaire. He can pony up a hundred bucks.

Kat: This is Ty. Please tell Jessica it’s not about the money; it’s about the principle.

Tamara: *Facepalm emoji* Gawd, men suck. This is why I’m a lesbian.

Natalie: LMAO

Donna: *laughing emoji*

Olivia smiled a small but genuine smile for the first time in two weeks. Her instincts had been right—Kat and Ty had hit it off at happy hour, and they’d secretly gone on several dates since then before they announced they were officially dating. It was the definition of a whirlwind relationship, but Olivia was happy her friend had ditched her toxic ex and was now with a great guy—a billionaire, to boot. From what she could tell, Ty treated Kat like a queen, and they could nerd out about Roman emperors and obscure trivia all they wanted together. It was a match made in history nerd heaven.

Even though she was in school, Olivia made time to attend the book club meetings and weekly happy hours virtually. Since she was joining by computer, the club had pledged to host all their events at the members’ homes on a rotating schedule. She felt bad that they had to give up The Catalina’s margaritas for her, but they insisted they would rather see her than drink jumbo-sized cocktails that gave them massive hangovers, anyway.

She was about to ask whether they’d read the latest release by L.M. Slade, her favorite erotica author, when an incoming call from her sister interrupted her.

Alina had the worst timing when it came to phone calls.

Olivia groaned. If she had to confirm one more time that yes, she was attending the damn rehearsal dinner, she was going to lose her shit.

Nevertheless, sisterly obligation compelled her to answer. “Hey, this isn’t—”