Katie's point of view
The front door crashed open and I damn near fell off the couch. "What the-"
"Katie!"
"Oliver?"
"You need to come with me." He was panting and out of breath like he'd been exercising or something.
"Oliver, what-"
"Please just come with me," he said breathlessly. "Just trust me. I know you hate me right now but you have to do this. Come outside, just real quick."
I didn't have much chance to protest as Oliver grabbed my hand and pulled me outside to the front porch. He closed the door and turned to face me, still trying to catch his breath.
"Oliver, are you OK? Do you need some water or something?"
He shook his head. "I'm fine," he panted. He motioned toward the steps. "Let's just sit."
"Oliver, what is this about? Why can't we do this inside? Didn't you have a match tonight?"
"Katie, you have to listen to me, and you have to listen carefully," he said seriously, turning to face me.
"OK…"
"Chris had Olivia bug our house and that's how he found out about you kissing me."
…What?
"What?"
"And he and Olivia are having an affair."
…What?
"What?"
"And he never went fishing with his dad last weekend. He was with Olivia."
…What?
"What?"
"And I'm sorry for springing this all on you now, but I had to tell you."
My mind couldn't seem to process a single word he'd said. I swallowed as I went over each sentence again.
"Oliver…"
"Katie, you have to believe me."
"Oliver, just slow down," I said a bit too harshly. "What are you talking about?"
He took a deep breath. "I was with the team at the pub celebrating just now, and I saw Chris and Olivia. I overheard them. I overheard everything. Chris had Olivia put a bug in our kitchen somewhere. And I think she was supposed to seduce me or something. So that's how he found out about us kissing at the wedding. But then I heard them say they'd been together over the weekend and now they'll be together once Chris breaks things off with you. Also, they were snogging at the pub."
What?
"I don't believe you."
I knew Oliver would never lie to me, and the whole story sounded too ludicrous to be made up. But it also sounded too ludicrous to be real.
"Katie, please believe me. I know you aren't my biggest fan right now, and that's fine, but you have to listen to me."
"You're lying." For once, I got to be on the other side of that phrase. "You're just lying so I'll break up with Chris."
"Katie, I swear I'm not lying. I'm not going to let you marry him, and it's not just because I'm in love with you. I can't let you be with him. He's been cheating on you for Merlin knows how long, and he said he only wanted you because everyone else did. He's mad about his reputation, not losing you. Hate me all you want, hate me for the rest of your life, but please, just believe me now."
I wanted to slap him. I wanted to pummel him with my fists and scream every obscenity known to man. But the only thing I could focus on was the first part of what he'd said.
"You're in what?"
"What?"
"Repeat what you said just now."
"What? That I'm not going to let you marry Chris?"
"No, the other thing."
"Because he only likes you because every-"
"No, the other thing."
"Because I'm in love with you?"
"Yeah, that."
"What about it?"
"Do you mean that?"
"Oh hell, Katie, really?" He'd finally caught his breath, but he looked exasperated. "That's the point you're taking away from all this? Of course I mean it, you know that. I've already tried to make that clear to you. That's not important right now."
Part of me no longer felt angry, but my pride screamed at me to remain strong. But when Oliver caught my gaze, all of my immature, stubborn feelings subsided. I could see the honest desperation in his eyes and suddenly felt bad.
"You're sure it was them? Chris and Olivia?" I asked. Even though his declaration of love was all I could fixate on, I wasn't ready to address it and the shock of everything Oliver had just revealed was still too much.
"It was them. Katie, I'm so sorry."
I sighed and let my face fall into my hands. "No, Ol. I'm sorry." I looked up, not bothering to wipe away my tears. "I'm sorry for being so nasty to you."
"It's OK. We can discuss this later." He used his jacket sleeve to blot my cheeks. "Katie," he said, his expression turning serious again. "We need to go inside and search the kitchen. I don't think Chris and Olivia know that I overheard them."
I nodded and scrambled to my feet. "Do you know where she put it?" He shook his head.
"I only heard Chris say he could hear us best in the kitchen."
I pushed my way inside and made a determined beeline to the kitchen, Oliver following close behind me. I stopped and peered around. I didn't even know what to look for. Olivia could have charmed anything to bug us.
Neither of us said a word, as if we were afraid to speak. Oliver began rifling through papers on the table and I started looking in drawers. He stopped and appeared to be thinking carefully while I frantically continued my search.
Suddenly, Oliver reached for a box of candy on the table. Olivia had brought it presumably for him on the day she'd tried to bring me my bag after work. The box went untouched because Oliver didn't eat sweets and I didn't like nougat. Oliver peeled open the box, its contents spilling across the table. There it was. It looked like a Bertie Bott's Bean, tiny and black, hidden among the square chocolates.
I reached across the table and picked it up, examining it between my thumb and forefinger.
Oliver was telling the truth, not that I'd genuinely doubted him. I'd accused him of making it up because it was easier than facing the truth, but now the truth was in the palm of my hand.
I felt so violated. Despite what I'd done to betray Chris, this felt worse to me, and suddenly I was seething.
"Katie?" Oliver said quietly. I realized I was breathing deeply as every angry thought tumbled through my mind and I made a swift move for the door. "Katie?"
Oliver was in the street, following after me once I left the flat. "Katie, stop. Where are you going?"
"Where do you think I'm going?"
