The cool night air caressed my skin as Sack held me in his arms on the hotel balcony. The city lights sparkled in the distance, creating a perfect backdrop for this intimate moment. Despite everything we had been through that night — the awkward conversations, family expectations, and the pressure of the engagement — I felt an odd calm being with him. It was as if, for a brief moment, nothing else mattered.
Sack leaned toward me slowly, his dark eyes reflecting the dim light around us. His gaze was warm, full of silent promises. Before he could say anything, his lips brushed against mine in a soft but meaningful kiss. It was such a genuine moment that I felt all my worries begin to fade away.
But then, just as we thought we were alone in our little corner of the world, we heard hurried footsteps behind us. I turned quickly, surprised, and there was Olivia. Her gala dress was wrinkled, her fiery red hair stuck to her sweaty forehead, and her expression was a mix of exhaustion and determination.
"Olivia!" I exclaimed, incredulous. "What are you doing here? We thought you were filming America's Got Talent ."
Sack also seemed puzzled. "How did you even get here?"
Olivia looked at us with a trembling smile, though her eyes were glassy, as if she were about to cry. She stumbled closer and hugged both of us tightly, nearly knocking us over.
"I couldn't miss it," she said, her voice shaky but resolute. "I was filming, yes, but… I couldn't stop thinking about you two. About this important day. My best friend and my best friend getting engaged! How could I miss that?"
I pulled back slightly to look at her better. Her cheeks were flushed, and although she tried to maintain her usual confident attitude, it was clear she had gone through a lot to get here.
"But… what happened?" I asked, worried. "Did they just let you leave like that?"
Olivia snorted, pretending indignation, though a traitorous tear rolled down her cheek. "Well, let's just say it wasn't exactly 'official permission.' When I told them I had to leave because my best friends were getting engaged, they practically warned me I'd be kicked off the show if I left the set. But… you know what? I didn't care one bit."
Sack raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Did they kick you off the show for coming here?"
Olivia waved her hand dismissively, though her eyes still shone with excitement. "Maybe. Technically, I'm still waiting for official confirmation, but that's not the point. The point is, I couldn't let you two celebrate this without me. We're a team, remember? The three musketeers. Or something like that."
I felt a lump in my throat seeing how much this meant to Olivia. Despite her extravagance and tendency to be the center of attention, Olivia had always shown that her friends were her priority.
"Olivia…" I murmured, hugging her again. "You didn't have to do this."
"Of course I did," she replied, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Besides, you know how I am. I always have to make a dramatic entrance. What better way to do it than by abandoning a national TV show to be with my best friends?"
Sack smiled, visibly moved. "You're incredible, Olivia. Truly incredible."
She raised an eyebrow, feigning modesty. "I know. But thanks for noticing."
We all laughed together, though the weight of what she had just done began to settle in. Olivia had sacrificed a huge opportunity — one she had been pursuing with so much enthusiasm — just to be with us. That said a lot about who she really was.
"And how did you get here?" Sack asked, curious. "I don't think you took a commercial flight looking like that."
Olivia burst out laughing. "Ah, that's the epic part. I had to convince an Uber driver to bring me all the way from Los Angeles. I offered to pay him triple the normal fare, of course. And well, we had to stop several times because I fell asleep in the back seat. But here I am, ready to witness your eternal love or whatever."
Sack shook his head, though he couldn't hide his admiration. "Only you could organize such an absurd journey and come out victorious."
Olivia placed a hand on her chest, pretending to be offended. "Absurd, huh? I think the correct term would be 'heroic.' After all, I came running (well, driving) here to make sure you didn't make any monumental mistakes without my supervision."
We fell silent for a moment, simply enjoying each other's company. Despite everything that had happened that night, I felt a deep gratitude for having Olivia in our lives. She was unique, unpredictable, and sometimes exasperating, but she never failed to show how much she loved us.
"You know, Olivia," I finally said, taking her hand, "I don't know what we'd do without you."
She smiled, though her eyes were still wet. "Probably make terrible mistakes and lead boring lives. But don't worry, I'm here to prevent that from happening."
Sack hugged her too, bringing the three of us together in a moment of pure connection. "Thank you for coming, Olivia. It means a lot to us."
Olivia nodded, regaining her characteristic energy. "Good, now that we're all together, we need to do something just the three of us, like we always do. You know, no cameras, no reporters pressuring you to smile perfectly. Just us, being who we really are."
Sack raised an eyebrow, visibly intrigued. "What do you have in mind now, Olivia? Are you planning to kidnap us for a night of bad movies and pizza?"
Olivia grinned widely, gesturing to the luxurious surroundings of the hotel. "Exactly, but better. This place belongs to my family, so technically I can use it whenever I want. Though I arrived late, at least I made sure everything was perfect for you two. Look at this room, the lights, the flowers… even the balcony has a spectacular view. We could stay here a little longer, order some food, and just enjoy this moment without all the pomp from earlier."
I looked around, surprised by how beautiful everything still looked, even after most of the guests had left. "You're right, Olivia. This is incredible. But I can't believe you managed to organize all this while rushing here from Los Angeles."
Olivia waved her hand dismissively, though her eyes sparkled with pride. "Details, details. The important thing is that we're here together. Besides, no one has better taste than me for these things. Who else could have picked such an elegant and beautiful hotel for her best friend and almost brother-in-law?"
Sack burst out laughing, shaking his head. "Only you, Olivia. Only you."
I smiled, feeling the tension of the night beginning to fade. Olivia was right: despite everything, the most important thing was that we were together. And if there was anyone who could turn even an uncomfortable situation into something memorable, it was Olivia.
"Alright," I finally said. "Let's do it. Pizza, bad movies, and maybe some jokes about how our families forced us into this."
Olivia clapped excitedly. "That's the spirit! And don't worry, I'll pick the first movie. Something tells me it's going to be epic."
The three of us laughed, feeling that no matter what the future held, we would always have this moment to remember who we truly were: three unbreakable friends, facing the world together.