Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(85)

“Wow! Things are changing then,” I say.

“I think they are. Axel and my father went shooting the other morning and had a great time. They get on really well which is amazing. While he was away, Eddie found me and apologized.”

“No, he didn’t.” I gasp. I didn’t think he knew how to say the word.

“Yes, he sure did. He also told me that Penny and my mother were not out shopping for the baby as they had led me to believe. She was having a paternity test done.”

The room falls silent at that bombshell.

“Eddie doesn’t think the baby is his?” I question.

Olivia shakes her head. “Nope, he doesn’t. He knows she was sleeping with someone else while they were together, but then again, so was he. He also told me that he found her screwing the best man during their reception.”

“No fucking way,” Isla exclaims.

“Seriously, this is like a soap opera,” I add.

“I know, right? He says that if it’s his baby, then he’ll stay married. But if it isn’t, then he’s going to demand a divorce or something,” Olivia states.

This is crazy.

But it’s exactly what I needed today—to be with my friends, drink champagne, and not think about anything else.

Isla excuses herself as she has to get back to work, looking after the sexy Spanish hotshot chef, Sebastien Sanchez.

Liv ends up staying a little longer before she has to head back to her hot rock star boyfriend.

“What happened with Alex? I thought you liked him. I didn’t buy that bullshit excuse of ‘it was a holiday fling and now it’s over’ that you gave Isla earlier,” Liv states.

Can’t get anything past her.

“I never wanted to say anything because you got your happily ever after. And you worked so hard for it that I didn’t want to burden you with my stuff,” I tell her as tears begin to fall down my cheeks.

“Ivy, you can talk to me anytime, day or night. You don’t need to go through this alone,” she tells me, wrapping me up in her arms and pulling me into a hug.

“The night of the award ceremony, Steve was there. He attacked me.”

Olivia stills, her jaw drops open in shock as tears well in her eyes. “What the fuck, Ivy? What in the actual fuck? How have you kept this from me for so long? What happened? Are you okay? Is he in jail? I don’t understand?” She peppers me with a million and one questions all at once, and I don’t have an opportunity to answer any of them. “Wait! Did Alex break up with you because of the attack? If he did, I’m going to attack him,” she declares with fire in her eyes.

“No, he was wonderful. It was me who broke it off with him,” I confess.

“Oh, Ivy,” Liv says.

“I know. Look … Cam doesn’t know. She too has a problem with her ex, and I don’t want to burden her with my problems right now.”

“This is not a fucking burden, Ivy. I’m your best friend, and she’s your sister. We love you and care for you. We want to know when shit goes down. Are you okay?” Olivia asks as she scans me. “Shit, is that a bruise?” she asks, touching my face.

“Yeah, he shoved me into a brick wall.” Olivia gasps. “I fled to Dubai to be with Pierre.”

“You were in Dubai?” Olivia raises her voice.

“You know Pierre makes me feel like I am home.”

Olivia nods in understanding. “Is this the reason you’re not at the opening?” she asks, and I nod.

“Alex told me he loved me.”

“He what?”

“That night I told him I was falling for him on the way to the awards ceremony, and after the attack, Alex told me he loved me and didn’t want to lose me.”

“But he did.”

“It was my choice, Liv, and I know you don’t understand my reasons.”

“Hey, I’m hardly the person to lecture about understanding why they do something,” she says with a smile. “Do you still love him?”

“I’ve blocked him, so I don’t know what he’s doing. He’s probably having the time of his life down there with all those women,” I say with a grumble.

“Hold on,” Liv says. She grabs her phone and starts calling. “Hey, babe, no, I’m not ready to come back to the hotel yet. That does sound tempting, but I need something from you first. No, I’m not sending you a photo.” She turns and gives me an eye roll which makes me laugh. “I need you to call Nate, or if you have Alex’s phone number, call him. Find out if Alex is having fun at the resort opening or not. I know you’re not one of the girls, but please, do this for me. Fine, I’ll let you do that,” she says, hanging up the phone. “Axel’s going to call Nate and see what’s going on.”

“Does it matter? He’s a single guy … he can do what he wants,” I tell her.

“You’re not serious, are you?” Olivia glares at me.

“I don’t know,” I tell her honestly.

Olivia’s phone beeps. “Look,” she says, turning the phone around.

Axel: Apparently Alex is miserable and annoying everyone.

Axel: You owe me butt stuff.

“I don’t think I was supposed to see that last message.” I chuckle.