“If happy is her, I'm happy for you”

~Demi Lovato, Stone cold

Devastation.

At that point and time, I was thankful I wasn't eating or drinking anything because I'm certain I would have probably choked to death or something along those lines, which wouldn't be such a bad thing because it would actually take me out of my misery

I just sat there with the same expression I had when Tristan told me him and Mellisa were dating five years ago.....now that I think about it, that was nothing compared to the fact that they were getting married

They were getting married!

“Liv, did you hear what we said?”, Tristan's excitement on his face slowly died down when he probably noticed me staring blankly at him. I'm sure all the blood drained from my face as I blinked repeatedly.

“Liv, are you okay?”, Mel came into sight again and my eyes fixed on the huge diamond ring on her finger. Why did I answer this freaking video call in the first place?

“I'm sure it must be a connection problem. She hasn't moved in two minutes”, Mel said over her shoulder and Tristan shook his head.

“She's blinking”, he pointed out before he snapped his fingers in front of their laptop screen. “Liv?”

I snapped back to the sad reality yet again and pulled a confused expression. “Yeah?”

Tristan chuckled. “Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah”, I stuttered nervously, sitting uncomfortably in my seat as I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. “This is a huge surprise”

“I know right?”, Mellisa giggled as she flicked her hand to give me a clear view of her ring and I gulped heavily. “I was as equally surprised when I saw him going down on one knee”

He told me it wasn't a big deal when I asked him what he wanted to talk about. He was planning a whole engagement, and it wasn't a big deal?

Really Tristan?

I forced a smile. “Congratulations you two”

“Thank you”, they chorused together before he placed a tender kiss on her temple I dropped my eyes to my keyboard. Seeing them together was like an instant punch to the gut.

“We would like to invite you to dinner next week Saturday, to celebrate”, Mellisa said

“You can bring Greg as your plus one”, Tristan added

“Oh yeah, it's been a while since we've all hung out together.”, Mellisa replied

“Okay sure, I'll let Greg know”

“I'll text you the details”- Tristan

“I'll see the two of you Saturday night then”, I smiled and they both waved goodbye before closing my laptop shut and covered my face with my hands for a second, tears already threatening to escape my eyes. I know I was supposed to be happy for him but why is there a burning sensation in my heart? That tightening feeling in my chest?

Am I jealous?

Yes.

I thought I was over him, I really did. Greg managed to close that void I felt in my life for the longest time, but it seems it was ripped open yet again. I love to see Tristan happy but why does it also hurt so freaking much?

I sat there probably looking seconds away from my eyes popping out. Not only that, but I was still processing everything in my head before I felt a hand brushing against my shoulder, startling the light out of me to see Anna's emerald eyes staring at me.

“Oh my God Liv, are you okay?. You look like you've seen a ghost”, she exclaimed as she leaned to my height and placed her hand on my forehead. “Are you coming down with something?”

“Yes”, I breathed out. “Heartbreak and jealousy”

“It can only be Tristan”, she sighed as she took the seat opposite me. “He and Melisa got back together again?”

That was literally the least of my problems

“Yes but this time it's different”, I rested my cheek in my hand, and she rose her eyebrow, daring me to continue. “They're engaged”

“Oh wow”, her jaw dropped in surprise before composing herself. “But that's great news, right?”

“It's so exciting”, I faked enthusiasm before standing on my feet and walked past her

“Where are you going?”

“It's my coffee break”, I walked to the kitchen and within seconds, she was next to me

“Coffee is not going to make you feel better about yourself, Liv”

“Thanks for reminding me”

“Do you want to talk about it?”, her voice was soft as she came to stand near me

“I'm really happy for him, but I can't shake of this feeling that he might be making the biggest mistake of his life”

“If he's making a mistake, I think that's something he has to learn for himself, don't you think?”, she questioned and I shrugged

“Let's talk about something else”, I added sugar in my cup. “How are you and Rick doing?”

“You're changing the subject”, she deadpanned

“You were telling me about Rick”, I rose the mug to my lips for a sip, and she drew a breath before rolling her eyes

“I really don't want to talk about him right now”

“Oh trust me, we're definitely going to talk about him. What did he do this time?”

“He makes me want to stick my finger through my eye and pull a vein connecting to my brain so that I can land in a coma or something beyond those lines”, she heaved a sigh and I gave her a blank stare

“So in simple English; he's getting on your nerves?”

“Exactly. He's really diving me nuts”

“O-kay”, I took my coffee cup on one hand and entwined our arms together with the other, and we walked out of the kitchen

“Tell Liv all about it”

“Ever since we moved in together, all we ever do is argue, even about simple stuff about who was supposed to get the water bill, and I'm really getting exhausted with this whole thing. I know it was never going to be easy but-”, she shrugged as she heaved a sigh. “I don't know Liv”

“I don't get it Anna, if you're so unhappy in the relationship, why don't you just leave?”

That's a good question Liv, how about you follow your own advice?

“Leave?!”, she stopped in her tracks and I turned to see her with her mouth hanging open

“Yes. Leave”, I took a sip of my coffee, and she pouted her lip, looking at me like I just said the craziest thing she's ever heard.

“As much as I hate to admit it, I really love that idiot”, she shrugged helplessly before entwining our arms again, and we continued walking. “I can't just leave him just because things aren't going my way. I'm just tired of always fighting”

“Are you willing to compromise?”

“Yes, I really want to make us work”

“That's the spirit kiddo”, I gently squeezed her shoulder when we reached my office. “The both of you need to sit down and really talk, every relationship has challenges, but it's up to the both of you to steer it in the right direction. You'll both be okay, trust me”

She cooed before she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me in for a bear hug. “For someone who can't give out advice, you're actually not so bad”

“I try sometimes”

“You're a good friend, Liv. Thank you”

“I'll send you my invoice”, I joked, and she laughed out loud as we broke away from the hug

“Now go back to work young lady”, I ordered, mimicking Mr Spencer's voice before I walked into my office and heard her mimic me back childishly

“I heard that”, I called out to her and she laughed

“That was the intention”