Chapter 16: The Confession
“Actually, I didn’t have trouble finding friends to try that escape room. I specifically
wanted to invite you.”
I stared at her.
“You probably don’t know this, but Jake’s been in a terrible mood for the past two months. He’s been sulking every day, always claiming he’s too busy when I want to go out. Even on the rare occasions we’re together, he never smiles at me.” She looked up at me. “It started right after he found out you and Alex were dating. “Several times when we were together, I caught him looking through old photos of you two, checking your message threads. He was always waiting for you to contact
him.”
I was stunned. “But originally-”
“Originally, he was the one who rejected you, right?”
Olivia smiled sadly. “At first, I believed he only saw you as a friend. I thought, if he liked you, why would I be in the picture?
“I thought he liked me. Someone like him–with all the women who’ve wanted him over the years–only brought me home to meet his parents.
“But then I realized it wasn’t like that at all. He doesn’t remember that I hate celery, but he always remembers you hate mushrooms. He says he doesn’t like. you, but every time we go out, his eyes follow you. He says he wants you to date someone, but when you actually do, he’s more miserable than anyone.” Olivia looked down, laughing bitterly. “I finally understood–he doesn’t like me. He just thought I was the most suitable match for him. Jake always wants the best of everything, and when it came to dating, he picked the person he thought was
most compatible.
“But suitable doesn’t mean loved.”
A tear fell onto the dark blue tablecloth, spreading like a drop of ink.
“He never loved me at all.”
I felt lost. “Are you saying he likes me?
“But if he likes me, why would he reject me? Why would he introduce Alex to me?”
1/2
“I don’t know,” Olivia shook her head and looked up. “Maybe even smart people like Jake can be stupid about feelings. Maybe he only realized what he felt after you were gone. I can’t say for sure. I only know he really does care about you. “That’s why I invited you to the escape room. I wanted to confirm my suspicions, though I was afraid I’d be right. And sure enough, Jake would never be interested in something so childish, but the moment I mentioned inviting you, he agreed immediately. He’d already turned me down for several dates before that.” She tugged at her lip. “And of course he knows the difference between you and me. He’s always watching you.”
I sat in silence, not knowing what to say.
“When we got home, I brought up breaking up. He didn’t try to stop me. He actually looked relieved.”
Olivia laughed, regaining her composure. “But I’m Olivia Bennett–I’m not some désperate girl nobody wants. Breaking up is his loss, not mine.”
I could see why she’d said this, and she was right. Jake didn’t deserve her.
“I’m leaving for France soon. There’s a project I was offered there–I kept putting it off, but now there’s nothing keeping me here. I can focus completely on my
career.”
Olivia stood up and leaned closer to me, her eyes still red but smiling. “Jake will probably come looking for you soon. I’m telling you all this because he’s an idiot who can’t see what’s right in front of him. Don’t take him back. I want to see him
suffer a little.
“I’m out of here.”
She waved without looking back. “You’re buying the coffee.”
