Looking up at Olivia while she put a small bandage where her IV had just been removed, Lexi whispered, “It’s exhausting. He’s been hovering over me ever since I woke up. He won’t let me do anything for myself, and he hasn’t...”
“Hasn’t what?” Olivia asked as she took Lexi’s vitals one last time and entered the information into her tablet. “Kissed you?”
Lexi felt her eyes grow bigger. “H-how did you...”
Olivia chuckled. “I told you I’d share the story of what happened to me someday. Well, the short of it is, the man who took me the first time found me again a few months later. Thankfully, Jake and the others rescued me, but...here. I’ll just show you.”
The other woman turned around and lifted the back of her scrub top. Lexi could only see the bottom portion of Olivia’s back, but it was enough to understand what she was trying to show her.
Gasping at the crisscrossed scars, Lexi said, “Oh, Olivia. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She shrugged it off casually as she pulled her shirt back down and turned to face her. “I’m good now, but after it happened...when I was healed enough and ready to do...certain things ”—her neatly trimmed eyebrows waggled up and down—“ Jake wasn’t having any of it.
“Really?”
“That man was so afraid he’d hurt me it tookweeksfor me to convince him I was healed enough to have sex again. I thought I’d lose my mind trying to find new ways to seduce him.”
Lexi held her side as she chuckled. “That does make me feel a little better. I don’t know. I’m not sure Trevor feels the same about me as I do him.”
“And how do you feel about him?” Olivia asked bluntly.
Unable to lie, Lexi whispered, “I love him.”
Smiling wide, Olivia said, “Then, I’d say you two are right on track with each other.”
“But he hasn’t even really kissed me. Or said that he loves me. Not since before I was brought here.”
“He’s worried you blame him for what happened.”
Lexi frowned. “He told you that?”
“Didn’t have to. Like I said before, those guys are all the same.” Olivia carefully sat down on the bed next to Lexi’s legs. “Think about it. Anthony Young’s sole purpose for doing what he did was to get back at Trevor. How do you think Trev feels knowing—in his mind—he’s the reason you’re in here?”
“I never thought of it that way. I mean, he’s seemed...different since I’ve been in here. Still sweet and caring, but distant.” Lexi thought for a moment then looked back up at Olivia. “I don’t blame him for what happened. I know none of this is his fault.”
“Does he know that?”
“Well, I never said that to him...but he should know that I’d never blame him for what Young did.”
“Maybe he’s thinking you should know that he’s keeping his distance because he’s worried about how you’ll react if he doesn’t.”
Hope began to blossom as Olivia’s words sank in. “We need to talk.”
Olivia laughed. “In my experience, that tends to do wonders in situations like these.” Standing, she gave Lexi her papers. Then, she gave her a gentle hug. “I know the name of a wonderful therapist. When you’re ready, give me a call. I’ll introduce you.”
“Therapist? Thanks, but I don’t know that I’ll need one. I feel fine.”
“Right now, you do. But once the craziness settles, you may find yourself needing to talk to someone. When that time comes, let me know, and I’ll do everything I can to help.”
“Thanks, Olivia. For everything.”
Olivia gave her another hug before leaving. While Lexi waited for Trevor to come back, she thought about the conversation they needed to have and what she was going to say.
****
Trevor was almost toLexi’s room when Olivia stepped out into the hallway. When she saw him walking her way, she smiled and came toward him.
“Hey. You got a second?”
