Chapter 1

Olivia

Standing on the curb next to a cab, Van wraps me in his arms tightly, his sweet words and tender kisses lingering on my lips as I prepare to head to the airport. Whistles sound out around us as a group of male teenagers pass by, catcalling and telling us to get a room.

I'm heading on a business trip for the weekend to meet a client to photograph their wedding. Leaving Van is never easy. My life has taken a turn for the better in the past six months, all thanks to him. I can't help but feel like I'm truly thriving. With one last lingering kiss, I enter the cab as Van playfully waves goodbye, his goofy smile etched in my mind as the driver speeds off.

"Wheatland Airport please," I tell the cab driver as I pull out my phone, already seeing a notification for a message from Van.

Van- I can't wait for you to come home. I miss you already.

Me- I've barely been gone thirty seconds.

Van- Baby, you know you're it for me, so thirty seconds is way too long to be without you. How do you expect me to live a weekend without you?

Me- I'm sure you'll be okay. Plus, you got invited to Russell's tonight for that party. That should take your mind off missing me.

Van- Yeah, but idk if I'm going. Barbi is supposed to be there and you know she's more touchy-feely than I like. I know this sounds weird coming from a guy but it makes me uncomfortable.

Me- Barbi is Barbi. Pay her no mind, she's like that with everyone. Go and have fun! Love you!!!!

Van- Love you 2 baby!

I can't help the cheesy smile I've been wearing since I met him. I slide the phone back into my cross-body fanny pack just as the driver pulls the taxi up to the curb. "We're here."

Fuck, were we texting that long? It doesn't seem like it. Didn't I just leave him standing on the curb?

I easily make my way through the airport, encountering no problems at the security check, then grabbing a snack on the way to my departure gate. Happy with my purchase of Flamin' Hot Cheetos, water, and a smutty romance, I hit the bathroom to pee before it's time to board.

I know there's one on the plane, but I hate using it. The bathroom is so small I feel like I'm in a coffin.

"Good afternoon, passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 89B to Strathmore. We're now inviting passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes. Thank you," comes over the loudspeaker in the terminal. I grab my carry-on, prepared for when they call my section.

Twenty minutes later, I'm shoving my carry-on in the plane's overhead compartment as the old lady behind me impatiently taps her foot on the floor. I take my seat and slide my camera bag under the chair in front of me before buckling my seatbelt.

Once everyone is seated and the doors closed, the flight attendant starts her speech, but I tune her out as I pull out my phone and switch it into airplane mode.

"Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is prohibited for the duration of the flight. Once we reach cruising altitude, we will begin serving your inflight snack. Thank you for choosing Mountain Airlines. Enjoy your flight."

Pulling out my book, I recline back the seat as far as it will go without bothering the person behind me and read. I enjoy a good romance, and flights are the perfect time for some uninterrupted reading.

As I'm reading, I can't help but think of Van. He tells me all the time that, even though it's only been six months, he knows I'm his future, his whole life, and I can't help but feel the same.

He's brought so much joy and love into my life. When I get back, I'm going to ask him to move in with me. It makes the most sense since he lives with Cal and I have my place to myself.

Besides, isn't that the logical next step?

I know many people would say marriage, and at one time even I thought that. But I don't want Van to think I'm trying to trap him. So moving in it is.

I'm lost in the pages of my paperback when the captain's voice startles me. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Strathmore Airport. Local time is 1 PM, and the temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. On behalf of Mountain Airlines and the entire crew, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip. Have a great stay!"

I grab my camera bag before exiting my row and pull my carry-on from the overhead compartment, thankful that I didn't have to check any luggage. I fall in line behind the other passengers disembarking and beeline to the bathroom once I've cleared the gate.

I don't have to wait for a cab since there's a line of them waiting. The cabbie takes my bag and I climb into the backseat. "Hi, can you take me to the Sunrise Inn?"

"No problem. I'll have you there in a jiffy." He smiles at me in the rearview mirror before looking over his shoulder and pulling away from the curb.

My meeting with the soon-to-be newlyweds is at four, so I only have a few hours to freshen up and get to the hotel bar for our meeting. Grabbing my phone, I turn the airplane mode off and see another text from Van.

Van- I'm gonna go to the party. I'll tell Barbi you said hi… if she'll speak to me.

Me- Just got a cab. Headed to the hotel. See you Sunday! Call later?

Van- You know I will, baby.

Me- I love you.

Van- I love you more.

God, he's so perfectly cheesy!

I'm glad that Van decided to go to the party. He needs to hang out with his friends more. I know he doesn't care for how flirty Barbi is and while I get it, she's harmless. She just seeks attention differently. We met in high school, bonded over having either no or absentee parents, and have been friends ever since.

We were the Betty and Veronica of Havenwood High.

The meeting with the future Fornas went perfectly and we're all set for the wedding tomorrow. I even got everything done in plenty of time for us to make it to the wedding rehearsal without being late. During the meeting, they requested photos from the practice run so they could add them to their wedding album.

Normally, I don't provide that, but they offered to add another five hundred to the total price they're paying me.

After I get back from the rehearsal, I stop at the hotel bar, grab some dinner and a margarita, and head to my room to prepare for tomorrow.

Pulling my sundress out of my bag, I hang it up, so it's not so wrinkled. I would have done it earlier, but I was running late, and then shooting the rehearsal last minute threw a kink in my plans. Running through my bedtime routine, I wash my face and rub some lotion on before heading to lie down. Once in bed, I grab my book and text Van goodnight. I get through five chapters before I realize Van never messaged me back, but maybe he just didn't want to wake me.

I shut my Kindle down and close my eyes, running through the shots I need for tomorrow. Before I know it, I'm out like a light.

The room phone rings, waking me with a startle. Rolling over, I pick up the receiver. "Hello?" I mumble, groggily.

"Hello, this is the seven AM wake-up call you requested," a feminine voice on the other end responds.

"Thank you." Hanging up, I wipe the sleep from my eyes.

I do a big stretch, reaching my arms over my head, before sitting up and getting out of bed. I head straight to the shower and turn it on, anxious to step under the hot spray, knowing it will help me wake up fully. The water rains down on me as I run my fingers through my brunette strands before reaching for the shampoo and washing it and my body. A quick look at my armpits and legs lets me know I need to do a little touch-up, especially since I'm wearing a dress.

Once I'm done, I step out and wrap a towel around my body and hair. Sitting down, I start on my makeup. Painting my lips in my favorite nude lipstick, I throw some highlighter on the inner corner of my eyes and the tip of my nose. Lastly, I coat my lashes in a layer of mascara and call it a day. Ready to tackle this mess of hair, I blow dry it and tie half of it up in a ballerina bun, letting the rest hang down my back.

Checking my watch, I see I only have twenty minutes before I need to be at the venue for pre-wedding shots. Hurrying, I dress in my tie-back daisy sundress and slide my feet into my brown flats. Spritzing perfume on, I grab my camera bag and head out the door, calling a cab as I head to the elevator and down to the lobby.

The drive to the venue is only ten minutes, but I need to get there, set up, and grab a coffee, so I'm ready for the long day ahead of me. I can feel my phone vibrating like crazy in my pocket, but since I'm short on time, I ignore it. Breezing into The Citrus Garden main building, I see the bride, Gloria, waiting for me.

"Hi, Gloria, I'm so sorry for cutting it so close. I slept like the dead. This isn't how I normally work." My stomach is tied up in knots, afraid of the impression I'm making on her and the potential bad review.

She wraps me in a quick hug. "No big deal, you're here and we haven't started yet, but let's get you set up and ready to go."

I follow her to the bridal suite where her bridesmaids, her mom, and the groom's mom are all unpacking their items. Immediately, I set my bag down, pull out my camera, and select the lens I want to shoot with.

The morning goes flawlessly, capturing all the ladies getting ready. I even snuck out without them noticing to go steal a few shots of the guys getting ready and some as they prepared to take their places. My favorites are the ones of the mother placing the veil on Gloria and the dad pinning the groom with the boutonniere.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride!" the minister announces and everyone cheers as the newlyweds kiss.

I'm squatting down in the front row, getting the perfect shot while trying not to show anything. Scurrying from my position as the couple walks down the aisle, I slowly walk backward in front of them, snagging shot after shot of their first walk as a married couple.

Visions of Van and I doing this one day flood my thoughts.

We head out to take a few pictures of the bridal party and family together and then make our way to the reception barn where everyone is waiting. I take my assigned seat right by the DJ booth, so I have a clear shot when the couple walks in after they're announced.

The reception flies by and before I know it, I'm saying my goodbyes and telling Gloria I'll be emailing her the gallery in three to four weeks. She smiles, glowing from the inside out, and grabs me. Pulling me in for a hug, she thanks me over and over. When she lets me go, the groom catches her attention, pulling her away, and I wave as they disappear into the crowd.

Quickly packing my camera back in its case, I make my way through the cluster of people to the front, hailing my cab when I get there. Gloria told me I didn't need to stay to the end as the family plans to party until the wee hours of the morning. Ten minutes later, it pulls up to the curb and I jump in.

When I get back to my room, I collapse onto my bed in exhaustion. After lying there for a bit, I get up and change into my pajamas. I'm ready to crash and head home first thing in the morning. I miss Van.

Shit! I haven't checked my phone at all today. Van is probably worried sick about me.

Grabbing my phone from my pack, I tap the screen, bringing it to life, and see that I have dozens of missed calls and texts.

What the hell?

Most of them are from Barbi and I smile, knowing I was right; she's out of her funk and ready to talk. I'm sure it's all pictures of the party and how much fun they had. Tapping my messages icon, I open our thread and see it's a video.

Below it is a bunch of laughing emojis and a text that says ‘Karma is a cunt, but so am I.'

I scrunch my nose. What the fuck is she talking about? I click the video and hit play.

Van!

I watch as a very drunk Van lies on his bed in nothing but his black boxer briefs. A gasp escapes my lips when I see Barbi rolling his briefs down as he lifts his hips, allowing her to do it easily before it pans back to Van, his lips parted in a deep moan.

All I can hear is loud slurping sounds, and I just know what is happening for him to make noises like that.

My stomach rolls and tears stream down my face, but I can't take my eyes off my phone.

Barbi's in nothing but a thong, and she climbs up Van's body, straddling him. "You want me to ride you, Van baby?" she asks.

"Always, babe," he whispers back, but it sounds off somehow.

Barbi lets out a moan as she rolls her hips against Van and the video cuts off.

Sinking to the floor, a sob rips from my throat, and I can barely breathe. Tears stream down my cheeks and my chest feels like it's caving in.

I throw my phone across the room. It hits the wall, falling to the floor, as a feral scream leaves my lips.

How fucking dare they do this to me? How could Van do this?

He said I was his forever; I was his everything.

I sit here a moment, before crawling over, picking up my phone that now has a crack in the screen, then scoot back across the floor to the bed, just holding it in my hand as I gaze down at the paused video.

Barbi was supposed to be my best friend. I know she's always been jealous of me, but I thought we were adults and she was over that. I never thought she'd do something like this.

Reaching up, I pull the comforter and pillow off the bed and stay on the floor, wrapped in the comforter, as I cry myself to sleep.