Now, she understood. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Trevor. I really do, but it’s not the same thing.”
Trevor shifted his weight so that he was facing her more directly. “See, that’s where you’re wrong, honey. You, Lisa...it’sexactlythe same. Jake and I are the same. So are Coop and Derek, and hell, even Grant. Guys like us, we’re cut from the same cloth. Willing to protect the people we care about usinganymeans necessary. I cared for Lisa, a lot, and I’ll never forget her, but you? You mean ahellof a lot more than that to Jake.”
Trevor waited, giving her the opportunity to speak, but Olivia didn’t really know what to say, so he kept on.
“Honey, he did what he did because he was in love with you. Even way back then. He couldn’t take the chance of something happening to you. Jake knew if you ever found out the truth about your brother it would probably ruin your friendship forever, but he still took that risk because he loves you, and the thought of something happening to you because he talked was unbearable.”
When Olivia shook her head in disagreement, Trevor raised his voice slightly. “Look, Olivia. Jake had two choices. He could risk your being hurt or, God forbid, killed, or risk you hating him for the rest of your life. He chose the latter, because at least you’d be alive to hate him. Do you honestly think it was easy for him? That lying to you about something he knew cut you so deeply was a choice Jake made lightly?”
Olivia suddenly found herself on the defensive. Lifting her chin, she said, “Honestly? I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do,” he said without pause. “And, so do I.”
Trevor released her hand and stood. He walked toward the living room window, again, before turning and facing her. His hands rested low on his hips, his handsome face was dead serious.
“It takes a lot to scare me, Olivia, and I’ve got to tell ya. The night Jake heard you’d been killed...he scared the shit out of me.” His words made Olivia wince, but Trevor didn’t stop. “I’ve been by his side through thick and thin, but I haveneverseen him hurting as badly as he was the night he thought he’d lost you.”
Trevor moved toward her again, stopping to crouch down in front of her. Taking her hands in his, he said, “When Jake heard you were dead, it was like someone flipped a switch. Any light he had inside of him was just...gone. And honestly, I didn’t think he’d ever get it back.”
Trevor’s image blurred behind her unshed tears.
“Then, we found you alive, and suddenly, that light was burning brighter than I’ve ever seen it.”
“Trevor—” Olivia tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t let her talk.
“Jake loves you more than anyone or anything on this earth, and there is nothing”—he squeezed her hands harder—“nothinghe wouldn’t do to protect you. That includes risking any chance he may have had with you by lying about your brother.”
Olivia broke away from his grasp to wipe her eyes. Mikey had already told her that Jake lied to protect her, but for some reason, the way Trevor explained it seemed to have made more of an impact.
She hated it. Still wasn’t ready to forgive Jake, yet, but the wall that had been erected the moment she’d seen her dead brother standing in Jake’s living room began to crack slightly.
Olivia understood what Trevor was saying, but she still couldn’t ignore the betrayal she felt.
She must have been silent for longer than she’d realized, because Trevor stood and began to walk to the door before she’d made any kind of response.
“I’ll get out of your way.” He turned and nodded to her scrubs. “I don’t want to keep you.”
Olivia had nearly forgotten about work. She stood and wiped her face with her palms as she followed him.
“Yeah, the hospital’s short staffed, so I offered to cover the mid-shift today.” She glanced down at her watch. “I don’t have to be there until two, but thought I’d go in a little early.” They stood in awkward silence before she said, “Thanks for stopping by, Trevor.” She gently squeezed his rock solid bicep. “And thank you for telling me about Lisa. I can tell that isn’t an easy topic for you to talk about.”
His dark, tormented eyes stared down at her. “Definitely, not a story I tend to share.”
Olivia didn’t know what to say.Honoreddidn’t seem like the right word for what she was feeling, but that’s how she felt.
“Thank you for caring enough to share it with me.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I didn’t just do this for you. I love Jake like a brother, and I want to see him happy. I know you’re still angry, but...you’re a fool if you let him go. There’s no better man out there. Definitely none who would love you more.”
Olivia bit her bottom lip, unsure of the proper response to such a strong statement.
Seeming to sense her uncertainty, Trevor gave it one last shot.
“Just promise me you’ll talk to Jake soon. At least give him a chance to explain his side of things.”
She hesitated for a second, but finally agreed. “Okay.”
He raised his eyebrows and dropped his chin, waiting for more. He reminded her so much of Jake, she actually chuckled and rolled her eyes.
