* O L I V I A ' S P O V *
I had to admit.
Missing Oscar was something I had been thinking for days. To me, it had been ten years since our breakup. I had about a week before the Monaco Grand Prix started. Lando reminded me to wear fancy clothes and makeup.
I decided 'fancy clothes and makeup' was a really good option. I had Allie and Alice meet up and help me pack. Of course, we all got along immediately. "You should start going on dating trial again."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You're single now. Try to go out on dates. Find an actual type." Alice suggested. "It's not good to trap up your feelings on your own."
"I'll try." I said. I was still trying to find a hobby - something I could make a job out of. Something that could make me number one in any rank. I just wanted to feel successful for once. "But it won't be easy."
"So try." Allie shrugged. "I mean, I'm getting therapy for me and Lando - works well."
"Does it?" I raised my eyebrows. "You guys back on track?"
"We've had a small talk." Allie nodded. "It went well, not gonna lie."
"Lando posted a picture of you two on his story yesterday. You guys are so sweet." Alice said, earning a shocked look from Allie, who obviously had no idea.
"Take that back. I did NOT see that." Allie's jaw dropped. "What do you think of this striped beige top? Take it to the after party?"
"No. A bit too... aesthetic." I flushed as they started laughing. "Something that relates to the sport."
"Oscar's shirt." Allie and Alice both said, at the same time.
"Hate you two. So much." I added the last two words.
"Love you too." Alice blew a kiss to me, in which I swatted away dramatically.
"So... what fucking dress are you wearing to the after party?" Allie frowned, searching through my closet. After a rough bit of convincing, I moved into Allie's guest room, for free.
"That's why I called you two for help. Nothing's working." They both gritted their teeth in unison. I was about to suggest something like a black sleeveless top with a black miniskirt until the doorbell rang.
"You guys ordered anything?" Alice looked at us curiously. We both shook our heads.
"I'll go get it. You guys figure out my clothes." They both nodded, staring at the pile of clothes on the floor. I headed to the door, where a delivery person stood there. He grinned, handing me a slip. "Morning. Uh, I didn't order anything?"
"Well, someone ordered it and sent it to this address. Are you... Olivia?" He asked.
"Yes...? What's in the box?" I asked.
"I'm afraid I don't know, miss." He shrugged. Poor boy looked about 16 or 17. "I've just been told to deliver them and get you to sign the slip."
"Okay." I took the slip, signed it, and handed it back to him. He handed the tiny box to me, and I was suspicious. It could be a bomb. A small one. I opened the it carefully, scared that I might trigger something.
"LIV! You okay?" I heard Allie's voice from my guest room.
"Yeah! I'm fine! Give me a sec." I answered, so they were aware of my safety. I slowly took out the box, completely mesmerized by how fucking beautiful it looked. Whoever bought this for me must've cost them thousands.
I opened the box. My jaw dropped.
Fuck you, Oscar Piastri. Fuck. You.
I knew I told him I liked the ring. I didn't tell him to fucking buy it for me. The shuck-face. It wasn't fair, him spending at least two thousand quid on me. How did he know my ring size?
Most importantly, how did he know I lived at Allie's now?
~~
"It's beautiful."
"It is. Want me to buy it for you?" My expression completely betrayed me. I had just been walking by with Oscar, just shopping in Bicester Village, some shopping village type near Oxford, where we lived.
I couldn't describe it. We walked past, and it looked beautiful. But obviously, I didn't want anyone to spend their money on me.
"No. It's just going to be wasting your money. Oscar, let's go." I urged him, dragging him along. But he shook his head, running his fingers through his hair while looking at the ring. "Oscar."
"Wait, it's actually so pretty though." He whispered, his Australian accent completely coming out of its hiding spot as he said 'pretty'. "C'mon. You love it. I'll buy it."
"No."
"It's not too much."
"Oscar, quit faking. It's eighty quid. I kid you not." I pointed at the price tag. "Let's. Go."
"You like it. Besides, I didn't get you a gift yet for accepting my offer to accompany me to my home grand prix." He said. "Do I need to write a whole persuading paragraph to you so I can officially buy it for you."
"No. I don't want it."
"You do." Oscar said, gripping onto my hand so tightly it started to hurt. "I'll buy it for you."
"It's too expensive."
"Expensive? Princess, I make five million quid per year. To me it's just about a pound." He sighed, trying to pull me into the shop. "Love, just let me buy the ring."
"No. You can save up the money for a trip or something. I am NOT letting you buy that ring." He sighed.
"Look. I know you want that drop-dead gorgeous ring. I am getting you that ring. It's cheaper than normal ones." Oscar made for the shop, but I mustered all my strength and pulled him away.
"No." I shook my head.
"Fine. Just let me know your ring size." He pleaded.
"No."
"Princess, ring size." Oscar grabbed my chin and tilted my head so I looked up at him. "Now."
"Jeez! Fine. It's L. Happy now?" He released my chin. I had to admit I was tiny bit disappointed. I cocked my head as he nodded.
"Look, I'll only buy it as a promise ring of some sort. For our engagement ring, something more expensive. I'd rather spend it on something that's worth a lot." He admitted. "Please?"
"Fine. A promise ring." I grumbled.
"I'll even get a matching one. What colour do you want?" He asked.
"Hmm. Moonstone." He convinced me. Jesus, I mean, where on earth were you able to find a ring under a hundred quid. Probably a lot of places, but in Bicester Village? Rare much.
"What about me?" Oscar said.
"Blue Lace Agate."
"Quick much. I'll only get it in the future. Deal?" He asked.
"Deal." I grumbled. "It costs like a hundred and sixty if you-"
"Liv?"
"Yeah?" I looked up at him.
"Shut up about prices."
~~
I didn't know how I ever hated him so much.
I thought that he'd forgotten about it completely. I thought that the fact we were on a 'temporary break', as we liked to call it, he wouldn't buy anything. Absolutely anything. I blinked the tears out of my eyes.
Just as he'd promised. A gold vermeil and moonstone ring. I hated him so much right now. It was too expensive, considering we'd just broken up like a week or longer ago. There was also a note.
'I guess forever isn't forever. You're really all I want, Liv. It hurts so much.
Just take me back. I'm begging you. I'll explain everything. God, I love you. Just please.'
I never knew Oscar as some sort of emotional person. He was pretty chill, cute and just boyfriend material at all times. But this? This wasn't him. I probably ruined him, the poor guy. I even spotted his number at the bottom left corner.
I told the girls I'd be out for a while. Secretly, I went outside into Allie's garden with the box, and called Oscar. "Liv?" His voice. I hadn't heard it in ages.
"Oscar...?" I only said his name. Because I didn't know what else to say. It was near impossible for me to even choke out a single word because of this man.
"You got it, didn't you?" I could hear him smiling. "Liv?"
"I did. Oscar, I... I was the one who broke our relationship apart. You..." I couldn't finish my words.
"You did. And it was for a good reason." He sighed. "I know you know I wouldn't ever even lay my hands on another girl. Probably just my sisters and my Mum."
"I know. You're too... I'm not gonna say loyal because of the Alpine incident." I heard his laugh from the other side. "Too... perfect?"
"Why thank you." He muttered, formally. "Look, I bought it. It looks beautiful, doesn't it?"
"I just..."
"The one you asked for. Moonstone, gold vermeil. I bought it." Oscar said. "Put it on."
"How do you know I don't have it on yet?" I frowned.
"Knowing you, you wouldn't. You were too shocked and nostalgic for a second before dialling my number. I know you pretty well, you know." He said. "Put it on. I promise it's not a poisonous one."
Okay. Okay. I didn't know how to react. "Sure... see you at Monaco?"
"Yeah. See you at Monaco." He said. "Also... just saying. You don't have to listen to me."
I hummed, waiting for his response. "I love you." He hung up. I wished I had time to say it back before he hung up. It was like I'd caught feelings for him all over again. I put my phone down on the wooden bench, and taking the box, I opened it once again.
I slipped the ring on. It glittered in the sunlight. Wonderful. I bit my lip, blinking a few times so the tears would stop.
God, I loved it.