Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(47)

“I don’t understand, Liv, you chose Axel. You were happy.”

“I’m the reason my father is in hospital. The stress I caused over the tabloids finding out I was with a rock star instead of my fiancé nearly killed him. I can’t kill my father, Ivy,” she states, bursting into tears again. Her father’s been sick for a while, so I don’t think her running away to LA with Axel would have caused him to go to the hospital, but I’m no doctor, so what would I know.

“I know, babe, I know. I love you, and I’m here for you, okay?” I reassure her.

“Thank you.” She sniffles. “Um … Mom wants to go shopping for my wedding dress this weekend. Is there a chance you could come up?” she asks with hope in her voice. I’d made some plans to catch up with Pierre and Alex, but I can’t leave my bestie hanging in her time of need, and if she’s determined to go ahead with this stupid wedding, then she needs someone on her side looking out for her needs.

“Yes, I’ll be there,” I tell her.

“Thank you so much, Ivy. I love you. I miss you so much.” Olivia continues to sniffle.

“Miss you too.”





After having to cancel with Pierre and Alex, which I’m so disappointed over, they were both understanding. I’ll have to take another weekend off from work and head to Paris to visit Pierre, since I missed him in London. Maybe I should take Alex up on meeting me at work for lunch because we haven’t been able to catch up since he’s been back because both of us are rushed off our feet in and out of meetings. Guess there is always next week or the week after that.

I pull myself out of my musings when I see Olivia’s smiling face and frantic arms waving at me as I step out of the plane at Edinburgh Airport.

“I’ve missed you so much,” Olivia says, wrapping me in her arms tightly.

Even though I’m sad about my canceled plans, I am happy to be here for Liv.

“Thank you so much for coming.” She sighs as we walk out of the airport, where a driver is waiting for us. He takes my overnight bag from me, and we jump into the back seat.

“Again, thanks for dropping everything to be here with me. Honestly, you’ve been the best. Firstly, whisking me away to Mustique to get away from Axel and Penny, then coming to The Paradise Club. I know that was a big ask. Then supporting me as I imploded my life and headed to LA with Axel,” she says on a heavy sigh.

“I would do anything for you, you know that. Just like you and Cam did when I needed you after breaking it off with Steve. You brought me back from an incredibly dark place. You saved my life,” I say, reaching out and squeezing her hand.

“Who needs men when we have each other,” she says, giving me a small smile.





“You look beautiful,” Liv’s mother coos as Olivia steps out in a hideous wedding dress. She makes Liv twirl around, and I can see how much Olivia hates the dress she’s wearing. Liv looks over at me, and I can’t hide my true thoughts—this isn’t Liv. This is not at all what I imagined her wedding dress would look like.

“Honey, smile, you’re getting married to the man of your dreams,” her mother says, but Liv glares at her, which is the first time I’ve seen her rebel against her mother. “What do you think of the dress, sweetheart?” her mother asks as if Olivia has any say in her wedding.

“Yeah, it’s nice.” Liv shrugs her shoulders.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with you,” her mother hisses out, looking exhausted by what she thinks is her daughter’s dramatics.

“Olivia’s pining after some rock star like a love-sick groupie, that’s all, Mother,” Penny replies.

Such a bitch. I’m moments away from gouging her eyes out.

“There will be no talk about that, especially not in public. Do you hear me?” her mother snarls angrily at Penny.

“I think this dress looks beautiful. It’s traditional and is similar to my wedding dress, actually. I think Eddie is going to have tears in his eyes when he sees you walking down the aisle,” Liv’s mother states as if this wedding is a happy family affair.

The only tears Eddie will be crying are crocodile tears. That man is not going to care in the slightest what Liv’s wearing because his attention will probably be pulled by another woman or a hot waitress.

“We’ll take it,” her mother tells the boutique owner, looking extremely pleased with herself as she watches Liv go back into the changing room.

“Can I leave now?” Penny asks as Liv walks back out dressed again.

“Of course, dear. See you later.” Her mother kisses Penny lovingly on each cheek and waves the devil incarnate goodbye.

Once her mother has finished paying for the dress, she turns to where Liv and I are standing and says, “I’m off to the hospital, so I’ll see you later, sweetheart.” Giving Liv a kiss goodbye, she continues with, “Lovely to see you again, Ivy.” And with that, she’s gone as if today was a success.

Can she not see the look on Olivia’s face?

Are these people delusional?

“I need a drink,” Olivia declares.

“So do I,” I agree.

We make our way down the street and find the nearest pub. We order two champagnes at the bar, and then we sit and look over the lunch menu.