by Cole, Fiona
Liar
Fiona Cole
Copyright © 2019 by Fiona Cole
All rights reserved.
Cover Designer: Najla Qambar, Qambar Designs
Interior Design: Indie Girl Promotions
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Contents
Playlist
Foreword
1. Olivia
2. Kent
3. Olivia
4. Kent
5. Olivia
6. Olivia
7. Olivia
8. Kent
9. Olivia
10. Kent
11. Kent
12. Olivia
13. Kent
14. Olivia
15. Olivia
16. Olivia
17. Kent
18. Kent
19. Olivia
20. Kent
21. Olivia
22. Kent
23. Olivia
24. Kent
25. Kent
26. Olivia
27. Olivia
28. Kent
29. Kent
30. Olivia
31. Olivia
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Fiona Cole
To Serena
I couldn’t keep it together without you.
Playlist
Hotel Room - Calum Scott
Million Reasons - Lady Gaga
Lonely Together - Avicii (feat. Rita Ora
Close To Me - Ellie Goulding, Diplo, & Swae Lee
Bad Liar - Imagine Dragons
Chances - Backstreet Boys
I’m Not Calling You a Liar - Florence + The Machine
Girl With One Eye - Florence + Machine
Stronger - Ziggy Alberts
Hurt Somebody - Noah Kahan & Julia Michaels
All I Want - Kodaline
If Our Love Is Wrong - Calum Scott
Where It Stays - Charlotte OC
Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi
Counting Stars - OneReplublic
Liar - Camila Cabello
Mother - Charlie Puth
Shameless - Camila Cabello
The Scientist - Corinne Bailey Rae
Blackout - Freya Ridings
Legends - Now United
Peer Pressure - James Bay (feat. Julia Michaels)
Olivia and Kent’s story originally began as a short story. You can read the prequel, Watch With Me, for free HERE. It is not required to continue on and still enjoy the story!
1 Olivia
Remember that time I fucked an older man in a sex club?
I think that was when I peaked in life. Can you peak at nineteen?
I rubbed my thumb across the creased paper pinned to my Kate Spade planner. I’d folded and refolded it so many times, taking it everywhere with me as a memento. My fingers stroked across the sharp lines of his initial like maybe I could get back the feeling of touching him just by feeling the dent of his forceful strokes. Anything to cling to the night, I felt alive.
Thank you for last night.
- K
“Please be sure to have your business selections to me next week,” Dr. Arden said from the front of the room. I slapped my planner closed and shoved it in my leather tote, standing with the rest of the students who were hustling to leave class. “I know a few of you have been procrastinating on making a decision. If you don’t come with a selection, one will be made for you from the list of local businesses.”
I was one of those people, and as I walked past her desk, I knew—just knew—that if I looked up, she would be pointedly staring at me with disapproval. So, I kept my head down and got out of there. I needed to find something fast because that list of her options was lame, and I didn’t want to spend the rest of the semester with a clock and jewelry owner. Not that I knew who I did want to intern for. Hence, why I’d been avoiding the assignment. We needed to find an unpaid internship for the semester and create a mock business based on what we’d learned.
I didn’t intentionally put it off; I was just waiting for something to excite me—to make me excited like I’d been when I first chose my business major. I took a deep breath of the cold air and tried to remember that feeling. A feeling that faded with each passing semester. I dropped my head back and exhaled hard into the blue sky, trying to figure out what was missing. Why I’d been plagued with this boredom. Boredom that wasn’t just in college. Boredom with life.
“Are you trying to see if the sky is falling?” my best friend, Oaklyn, said, walking up beside me.
“Nah, just hoping for a sign for my business project.”
“You still haven’t picked one?”
I stuck with the trend of the day and avoided her eyes too. At least, I tried. I peeked at her in my peripheral. She was currently swiping long wisps of her hair out of her face where the wind had blown it. It took the effect of her glare down a notch, but the sun making her light brown eyes shine gold like a little fire of accusation, boosted it back up.
I rolled my eyes at her glare and started walking.
“What about Voyeur? I’m sure Daniel would let you shadow him.” She barely got the words out around her twitching lips.
“Oh, yeah. That would be great. I can see the PowerPoint presentation now.” I deepened my voice and said, “And on slide seven, you’ll see that gang bang is the most requested performance among women.”
Oaklyn laughed. “Actually, it’s usually just a threesome.”
I stopped walking and stared at her. “And you just look so innocent.”
We laughed and started walking again.
“You know you could always go to your dad’s business,” she suggested falling in step beside me.
Another eye-roll. “Ugh. Gas and gas parts? No, thank you.”
“You’re such a diva.”
I opened the door to the dining hall and blew her a kiss when she walked past. “You love me.”
“Unfortunately,” she grumbled with a smile.
“Whatever, you’re lucky to have me. In fact, lunch is on me.”
“Olivia…” she groaned.
She hated when I paid, but I did it anyway. I had enough money to pay for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for her entire college term, but her pride prevented it. Her pride also prevented her sexy-as-sin professor-boyfriend from paying either. At least he got her to move out of her shit box apartment and in with him.
“How’s Callum?” I asked, changing the topic.
She put her wallet back in her bag with a sigh but took the bait. “Good. We’re good.”
“And the sex? How’s that?”
“Olivia,” she whisper-shouted.
“What? He’s ridiculously hot, and I may still have fantasies from when we had him for class.”
She glared and walked off to get in line, ignoring my laughter.
We had barely sat down when a deep voice spoke right behind me. “Hey, Livvie-baby.” I clenched my jaw at the nickname and looked across the table to find Oaklyn, not even bothering to hide the look of disgust from her face.
“Hey, Aaron.” I turned and smiled at him over my shoulder.
He sat his plate down and straddled the bench beside me. “You want to hang out tonight?”
‘Hang out’ wa
s the equivalent of Netflix and chill. He wanted to know if I wanted to get together to fuck, and after thinking about my morning, sex sounded good.
“Sure.” I pretended to ignore Oaklyn’s scoff.
“Awesome. Let’s do seven-thirty. The guys will be gone tonight, so no one will hear you.”
He leaned in and placed a quick peck to my cheek, and I fought to not pull away. I didn’t like PDA from Aaron. He wasn’t my boyfriend—at least not anymore. He served his purpose, and it wasn’t to paw me in public. Once upon a time, he’d been my main priority. I’d made sure I looked good for him. I’d made sure I was available for him. I’d made sure I bought the best lingerie for him.
Then he shattered the affection I’d poured into him, sucking my happiness right along with it. I’d been…depressed, and Olivia Witt did not do depression over boys. So, I’d picked myself back up, promised to never fall again, and used him for all he was worth. Of course, for my pleasure alone. I had control. I had a say of how it went and how it ended.
My phone buzzed on the table, and I swiped to find a message from my mom.
Mom: You should come by dinner tonight. Uncle Daniel is bringing a business associate, Alexander. He’s an older gentleman who’s been working in hotels for a while. He may be a great person to talk about your project to.
My mind conjured an image of an old man, clinging to his business to hold off retirement. His hotels were probably the Holiday Inn, and that sounded about as appealing as the clock and jewelry owner.
I quickly texted her back, letting her know I had plans tonight. I could imagine her pinched lips and disappointment. I just didn’t want to deal with my parents asking me about my plans—my future. I was a junior and had plenty of time to figure it out. Not that they cared beyond what they could brag about to their friends. I would miss Uncle Daniel though. I’d just have to make a point to schedule a lunch this week to make up for it.
“Shit,” Aaron said, looking around his plate. “Forgot my silverware. Be right back, babe.”
As soon as he left, Oaklyn leaned across the table and asked, “Why?”
“Why what?” I stuffed a bite of meatball in my mouth and played dumb.
“Why do you still hang out with him. He cheated on you. He doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as you, let alone have sex with you.”
I stared down at my fork twirling noodles on the plate. Aaron had cheated on me. I’d had the pleasure of catching him with his head buried between some girl’s thighs in the library. But that was almost two years ago, and I was an island now—unable to be hurt. Having Aaron as my fuck-toy removed any chance of some loser weaseling his way in.
“It’s better to sleep with the devil you know rather than one you don’t.”
“Olivia…”
There was that warning tone in her voice. The one that said she was about to give me a monologue about how I was doing a disservice to myself by settling. I held up my hand before she could start. “I just turned down dinner with my mom, so I didn’t have to hear it from her. I really don’t want to hear from you either.”
Her shoulders heaved up and down with her sigh. “I just worry about you.”
“Why? I have everything I want. More than I need. What’s there to worry about?”
“You shut yourself off from possibility. It’s like each year you try less and less. I don’t get it.”
“I’m not shutting myself off. I’ll tell you the same thing I tell them. I have my whole life to be busy—to work. Why pile everything on in college when I should be having fun? Why be so serious?”
“But you’re not having fun. You’re just sitting there waiting for something to happen to you, and you’re wasting time by not trying.”
“No, I’d be wasting my time if I tried, and it didn’t work out. I want it to be worth the effort—to feel something for what I’m giving my time to.”
“You give your time to Aaron and don’t feel anything for him.”
“That’s a lie. I feel quite a lot when I’m with him. A lot of pleasure.” She didn’t find my humor funny when I waggled my brows. “Listen, I’m not just sitting here not doing anything. I know I’m not part of any clubs or signed up for any internships to test out the business, but it’s not wrong to wait for something that you enjoy. I have a whole other year left of college to figure it out, and I’m bound to find something that sparks my interest. Until then, I have plenty of things that are fun. Design. Shopping. Hanging out with you.”
She looked unconvinced, but I could tell she would let it go. “I just worry about you.”
“And I love you for it.”
Her eyes flicked behind me, and her whole body stiffened, shoulders coming back, and fists clenched like she was preparing for battle. I looked behind me to find Aaron brushing some redhead’s hair back and leaning down to kiss her cheek. I took it in…and felt nothing. None of the hurt I’d felt when I caught him cheating. And that feeling of nothingness was why I was okay with settling for Aaron.
I knew what to expect and got what I needed from him.
However, I didn’t appreciate his lips being on another just after they were on me. I didn’t care that he was with other girls, but I did care that he would be so disrespectful to do it right in front of me.
“That motherfucker,” Oaklyn growled.
I shifted back forward and forked another piece of meatball, taking a bite with a shrug.
She finally looked away from Aaron and shook her head at my lack of caring.
Aaron plopped back down next to me, vibrating the bench. “Hey, Livvie-baby. Can we push the time to eight-thirty? I forgot I had something to do.”
More like someone to do.
My irritation spiked a little, and I couldn’t imagine seeing him tonight. I was having a hard time seeing him right now without giving in to the cringe pulling at my face.
All of a sudden, the dinner with my family and the wrinkly, old Alexander sounded pretty appealing. I popped a bite of salad in my mouth and turned to him with a bored stare.
“Actually, I can’t. Plans with the family. Sorry.”
His face crumpled, and that, mixed with Oaklyn’s snicker, had my spirits rising. Enough to give a genuine smile.
See, I had fun.
2 Kent
“Kent,” Daniel greeted me at the door with a smile. He opened the door wider and gestured me in with a heavy pat on the back. “I’m glad you were able to make it.”
“Yeah, my flight landed a little earlier than I thought.” I still had my suitcase in the car.
“Hey, man,” Daniel’s brother, David, said. “Hope the flight wasn’t too bad. I saw the snowstorms rolling into New York.”
“Yeah, wasn’t sure I was making it out today.”
“Well, be lucky you did. Julia made my favorite: pot roast.”
My mouth watered at just the thought of a home-cooked meal, which reminded me, I needed to visit my mom soon.
Julia was David’s wife and had an affinity for cooking, even though she only saved it for her family and friends.
We all walked through the open foyer and into the dining room. The room was formal with a china hutch and chandelier but had a mix of paper napkins and tin containers on the table. The Witts’ were an odd mix that blended perfectly. Daniel and David came from humble beginnings, while Julia came from a high-society house. Which led to the current situation on the dinner table, a perfect representation of them as a family.
“Hello, Alexander.” Julia gave me a radiant smile. Just as bright as her blonde hair that was familiar and had memories, I struggled to repress, rising. She set the two bottles of wine on the table and came over to give me a hug and kiss on the cheek. “It’s been too long since you’ve let me feed you.”
Almost two years, to be exact. I’d hesitated looking them in the eye knowing what I’d done to their daughter. Hell, it had been hard enough to look Daniel in the eye, but I couldn’t avoid my business partner and best friend.
“You boys
always get together and leave me out,” she mock-pouted but also gave me a wink.
“How dare we?” I said, hand to my chest. “Next time, I’ll make sure we get reservations at the best restaurant in town for four, rather than the dingy bars us boys hang out in.”
“Good. I’ll be able to stop my husband from stumbling home drunk.”
“I very well can’t let my baby brother out-drink me,” David muttered.
Daniel laughed, sitting down in his seat. “At least try to not let me out-drink you. You never quite succeed.”
David flipped Daniel off, and Julia slapped his arm. “You’re grown men. Stop acting like children,” she chided, but still leaned in to kiss him. “Can I get you anything to drink, Alexander?”
“I’m good with the wine. Thank you.”
Julia was the only person to still call me Alexander. Well, her and my mother. Everyone else called me by my last name, Kent. Which was how I introduced myself most of the time.
I grabbed a seat next to Daniel and noticed only four place settings. A weight that had taken up residence on my chest the moment Daniel had told me I was coming to dinner at his brother’s house finally lifted. I took a deep breath and asked, “Just the four place settings tonight?” I had to be sure.
Julia sighed as she poured wine for everyone around the table. “Yes,” she said irritably. “I asked Olivia to come, but she said she had plans with her boyfriend.”
My jaw clenched, and I was only able to nod. Not that I cared that she had a boyfriend. She was what? Twenty, now? Almost twenty-one? Imagining her with someone—especially someone her own age—shouldn’t bother me.