70

Ophelia Keaton.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of utter contentment wash over me. It was as if I had finally found my personal haven, a place where time stood still and the worries of the world seemed to fade away. For me, Cuba was starting to grow on me — it was a second home, a place where I had grown to love the vibrant rhythms of the music, the warmth of the people, and the rich history that seeped from every crumbling colonial building. This was a new chapter in my life, one that I had been eagerly anticipating for months, and I was determined to make the most of it. With every passing day, I felt myself becoming more and more at ease, surrounded by the laid-back charm of this island nation that seemed to have a way of making even the grumpiest of souls feel welcome.

As we stepped into the cozy, familiar surroundings of the house, Liv sighed. "I love Miami, but I'm so glad to be back here," she said, closing the door behind us.

It was a sentiment I couldn't help but share. Here I could forget everything that occurred in Miami and focus on a fresh start.

We had boarded the plane with a sense of excitement and anticipation, eager to escape the chaos of Miami's streets and indulge in the peace and quiet that this house had to offer. But even the short taxi ride from the airport had left us all feeling a little fatigued, and it was clear that Harper was too exhausted from the pre-flight festivities to drive us here. So, instead, we opted for a taxi, arriving at the house just as the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon.

"I second that," Tamia chimed in, her voice carrying from the hallway as she made her way to her room, her suitcase wheels rolling softly on the wooden floor. "This place is starting to grow on me," she said, her tone filled with a sense of relaxation and contentment. Meanwhile, Harper had opted to settle in for the evening, too exhausted to muster the energy to make it to her own room. Instead, she collapsed onto the couch, her eyes drifting shut as she let out a soft sigh. I noticed her suitcase sitting by the door, so I decided to take care of it for her, following Olivia as we headed towards the bedrooms. As I walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort wash over me. This house was truly becoming a haven from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The thought of purchasing it crosses my mind.

"I've been meaning to ask, are you alright?" I inquired, my tone laced with concern as I glanced at Olivia's expression. She had been a bit off since our visit to Zack's, and I hadn't had the chance to talk to her about it because she seemed so distant and preoccupied. Liv paused by her bedroom door, her eyes meeting mine, and nodded slowly. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" she asked, her tone a little defensive. "If you're not too tired, maybe we can go out and grab some food for the house?" she suggested, attempting to change the subject. But I could sense that there was something bothering her, and I made a mental note to keep an eye on her and try to have a more in-depth conversation with her later.

"Sounds good," I replied with a smile, nodding in agreement. "Give me fifteen minutes."

I watched Olivia disappear into her room, my mind still trying to understand why she seemed so down despite the success of her store. I had expected her to be over the moon, but she seemed subdued. Now that I thought about it, I wondered if Zack's awkward behavior had anything to do with it. They hadn't exactly gotten along, and their interactions had been strained. Maybe Olivia would confide in me when she was ready to talk about it.

I stepped out of the shower, feeling refreshed, and got dressed quickly. Meeting Liv outside, I was grateful to be free from the constant presence of my bodyguards. After the recent events and what happened with Kain, Dan had reverted to being his bodyguard following the death of his new bodyguard.

As we walked out to the street, I spotted the sleek black car pulling up to the curb. Liv smiled, "I already called an Uber," she told me. We climbed in and headed to the grocery store. The drive was quiet, with only the occasional hum of the radio breaking the silence.

Once we arrived, we spent the next hour wandering up and down the aisles, chatting about everything from our favorite snacks to our plans for the upcoming weekend. As we stood in front of the produce stand, Liv suddenly stopped, reaching for a bag of apples, and turned to me with a look of hesitation on her face.

"What's wrong?" I asked, noticing her expression.

Liv took a deep breath before speaking. "I have something to tell you. Something that's been eating at me all day."

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is it?"

Liv looked around nervously before focusing on me again. "Zack kissed me."

My jaw dropped. "What?!"

Liv held up her hands defensively. "It wasn't a big deal. It happened the day you guys were playing beach volleyball and get asked me to help him put Zadie to bed. But then he apologized, started acting strange and yesterday he told me that he has feelings for me, but isn't ready for a relationship."

My mind was racing. I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me - shock, confusion, and a hint of concern.

Liv's eyes met mine, filled with uncertainty. "I know he is your brother, and you guys talked to me about it before."

I felt a pang of concern for my friend's well-being. "Liv, are you okay? I can't believe Zack would do that. I should call him and tell him a piece of my mind."

Liv shook her head vigorously. "No, no, don't do that. He shouldn't know that I told you. I'll get over it. Eventually, it was just hard to keep in and I want things to go back to normal."

I nodded understandingly. "Okay, Liv. Just forget about Zack and don't waste your time waiting for him to be ready."

Liv nodded, appearing relieved, as if someone had lifted a weight off her shoulders.

I sat on the couch, munching on a bag of potato chips, as we chatted and giggled about our latest drama. It was good that we had fallen back into our normal routine. It was so much more fun than going out and having people stare at me.

Tamia, who had been quietly observing our conversation for a while, suddenly spoke up. "So," she said, he focus now on Harper. "What really happened to Caleb and his friends?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Harper, who was sitting next to me, looked up from her snack. After what happened, she told us not to worry about it, but only she knew what really happened to them. Caleb had been in my class and I hadn't seen him since he and his friends tried to hurt us. "Oh, you mean after we beat them up?" she said, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"It was mostly you, but yeah," I replied before taking a bite of my Oreo.

Harper just shrugged and continued eating her chips. "Yeah, I called my uncle, the ex-leader of the largest mafia to have ever existed, and he took care of it," she said nonchalantly.

We all stared at her, unsure of what to say. It was like she was joking, but... was she? Harper had a serious look on her face.

And then, out of nowhere, we all burst out laughing. "Oh my god, Harper! Be real with us, we really want to know!" Olivia exclaimed, holding her belly.

Tamia chuckles. "I thought you were serious for a second there!"

I laughed, feeling a mixture of emotions. "Harper, be for real."

Harper's face didn't hold any amusement as she watched us. "I told you ladies not to worry about it. Just drop it and trust me, okay?"

"Fine, at least they are not here to bother us again," Olivia says before switching on the television.

"I guess you're right. I honestly don't care if they are in a ditch somewhere,” Tamia says while popping her feet up on Olivia's lap. "After what they did, they don't deserve to see the light of day. For all we know, they did the same thing to a lot of girls before us."

Liv narrows her eyes at her. "That's a bit dark, don't you think?"

"Nope," Tamia replies dramatically.

We all laughed again, the tension broken. But as we continued to chat and snack, I couldn't help but glance over at Harper now and then. She has always been a bit strange and secretive. It made me wonder if she had

just told us the truth, and we failed to realize that she was being honest.