She doesn’t wait for an answer, just walks over and drops her tote bag on the floor before plopping down beside me. Olivia has this knack for sensing when I’m spiraling, her presence always steady, no matter how unsteady I feel.
“It’s just… family stuff,” I partly confess after a moment, my fingers pressing against my temples like I can physically shove the distress out of my head.
Olivia clicks her tongue, concern etched in her dark eyes. “Uh, oh. Is this anotherTíaMary episode?”
I huff out a weak laugh. “Isn’t it always? Every conversation turns into a lecture. It’s like no matter what I do, it’s never good enough.”
She nudges me with her shoulder, her tone lightening just enough to tease. “Welcome to the club. My mom is basically the president of the ‘Why Aren’t You Perfect?’ committee.”
That pulls a laugh out of me, one that feels genuine for the first time all day. “Yeah? What’s her latest deal?”
Olivia sighs dramatically, sinking further into the bed beside me. “Last week, she told me I’d look prettier if I didn’t look so tired. Like, thanks, Mom. Just what I needed, insults masked as life advice.”
I laugh, the sound bubbling out of me like a release valve. “You win.TíaMary hasn’t hit me with that one yet.”
“Give her time,” Olivia says, smirking. “But seriously, you can’t let her get to you. She probably just needs to feel like she’s in control of something, and unfortunately, you’re the easiest target.”
I sigh, turning my head to look at her. “Why does that actually make me feel better?”
“Because I’m wise,” she says, wrapping an arm around me. “And hilarious. Don’t forget that part.”
Her theatrics pull another laugh from me, and I feel the sweat in my palms dry out.
“Listen,” she says, her voice dipping into seriousness. “You don’t have to do it all by yourself. IfTíaMary’s being too much, tell her to back off. Talk to your mom… Or better yet, just pull a Yeon-Hee on her and casually throw shade.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What kind of shade?”
“I don’t know. Tell her she looks tired or something. Works every time with my mom.”
The sheer audacity of it makes me burst out laughing, shaking my head at her. “Yeah, becausethat’sa great way to keep the peace.”
“Who said anything about peace?” Olivia grins, clearly pleased with herself. “Sometimes you just got to live for the chaos.”
Her infectious energy makes it impossible not to smile. I nudge her shoulder back. “Thanks, Liv. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Probably cry into a pillow while binging sad breakup songs,” she says matter-of-factly. “But lucky for you, I’ll bring the ice cream and a list of bad rom-coms.”
Before I can respond, Olivia’s phone vibrates. She grabs it, her face lighting up as she reads the screen.
“Is that Nathan?”
“Of course. Who else would it be?” she says with a sly smile.
“The guy from the bookstore, right? The one with the cute dimples?”
“That’s the one.” She slips her phone back into her pocket. “We’re going out tonight. Wanna come? We can make it a group thing.”
The thought of venturing outside after the day I’ve had makes me shudder. “Nah, I think I’m good. I’ll take a raincheck, though.”
Olivia nods, studying me for a beat. “Okay. But only if you promise me something.”
“What’s that?”
“That if you stay in, you’ll at least treat yourself to something. I want wine, chocolate, or a bath involved. Or all three.”
I laugh quietly, appreciating the way she always finds a way to look after me without making it a big deal. “Deal.”
I trace the patterns on my comforter, finding solace in its familiar texture. Until echoes ofTíaMary’s lecture haunt my mind again. It all felt like a tidal wave, threatening to pull me under. My fingers fidget with the hem of my blanket as I try to focus on my breathing, hoping it’ll ease my hitched breaths.
