With another squeeze, Trevor stood and carried the chair back to its original place. “I’ll leave you to it, then. And don’t be a bullheaded ass yourself. You need something, just ask.”
“I will.”
“I mean it, Jake.” Trevor looked at him pointedly. “The whole gang’s already said. Anything you or Olivia need, you’ll get.”
Jake’s heart swelled, and his throat became thick. He was truly blessed to have friends like Trevor and the others.
“Got it.”
With a single nod, Trevor turned to leave the room.
“Hey, Trev?”
The other man turned back toward him. “Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
With another solemn nod, Trevor walked out the door.
Jake leaned up and kissed Olivia on the lips. She didn’t move.
“He’s right, you know. Youarethe best thing that’s ever happened to me.” He kissed her cheek, and whispered in her ear. “I love you, baby. I’ll be here when you’re ready to come back to me.”
He settled back down in his chair. The hard plastic bit into his back, but he’d sit there until Christmas if he had to.
When Olivia opened her eyes, Jake needed his face to be the first thing she saw. He needed her to know she was safe, and he was here for her.
With a prayer in his heart that she’d find a way to forgive him, Jake took hold of her hand and sat back, prepared to wait for as long as it took.
****
Everything hurt. AsOlivia lay in a state of semi-awareness, she tried to remember why. When no answer came, she began mentally cataloging the worst of it.
Her right wrist ached and felt much heavier than usual. The left side of her face felt sore and swollen, and she had a marching band stomping around in her head.
The bass drum was beating to the rhythm of her heart, and Olivia wanted to shove her foot through its center to make it stop.
Her back felt as though she were lying on a bed of broken glass, several places on her skin stinging and pulling.
As she began to regain consciousness, she realized she was in a hospital bed. She just couldn’t remember why. Unfortunately, the blessed ignorance didn’t last long.
It came back to her in waves. Initially, it was like the tiny ones that hit your toes as you first make contact with the water. Then, they began to grow in size and ferocity, each one stronger than the next.
She remembered getting ready for work. The attack at her house. Waking up in the back of an SUV. Fighting off Cetro’s goon and hanging from that hook, helpless while at the mercy of a madman.
Olivia remembered thinking she was going to die and damning Cetro to hell for what he’d threatened to do. How, even though they’d had their first big fight, Olivia knew with certainty that her death was going to destroy...
“Jake.”
The beeping from the heart monitor sped up with every beat of her heart. She felt trapped. She needed to wake up and get out of this bed.
She needed to go find Jake. Olivia had to let him know that she understood, now. That she forgave him and still loved him. Still wanted forever with him, if he’d have her.
Something glorious happened next. Over the beeping of machines, she heard Jake’s voice. His excited, worried,amazingvoice.
“Liv? Baby, did you say something?”
He’s here! Oh, thank God!
