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Chapter 12
By the time I finally get Olivia settled in the guest bedroom, it’s nearly 4:00 AM. I had to carry her to and from the elevator because she was so tired. She stirred while I was undressing her. I didn’t think she would have an issue with me doing it since I saw her almost naked in Chicago. I slipped one of my t-shirts onto her before I tucked her in bed.
I was exhausted having been awake for almost twenty-four hours, but I sleep peacefully knowing she is with me again, even if we weren’t together. I didn’t wake up until almost eight hours later. I’d left the drapes in my bedroom open, so the sun practically blinds me.
Yawning, I sit up and sling my legs over the mattress. Listening, I grow concerned when I don’t hear any movement in the loft. I thought Olivia would be awake by now. After pulling on my boxers, I go to look for her. She is sitting in the kitchen starring into a cup of coffee.
“Olivia, are you okay?”
Her head slowly turns in my direction. “I’m just going over the last twenty-four hours.”
“Are you upset about what I did? I couldn’t leave you with him another minute.”
“Upset? No. I needed to get away from Joshua. He changed once I started to get sick. Always complaining and telling me how weak I was.”
I grind my teeth. “Once he told me that he didn’t care if you were sick, I knew that you couldn’t stay there any longer. He said his mother had cancer and still took care of four kids and a house.”
“Are you kidding? His mother had skin cancer for like a second. It was on her nose, and they scraped it until they got all the cells. I told him it wasn’t the same thing. He told me I was a baby.”
“I should have hit him harder.”
“I wish you had,” she says in agreement. “You don’t know what I went through the past couple of months.”
She begins to cry, so I take her in my arms. “You don’t have to talk about it. Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Because I hurt you. How could I say that I wanted to come back? I made my bed, and I had to live with it.”
“No, you didn’t. If you asked, I would have told you to come home to me. Hell, I would have said just come home. You could have had your job at Eltech back anytime you wanted. Zane would rehire you, and if he couldn’t pay your salary, I would until they could.”
“Why are you doing this?” she asks, her voice warbling.
“Why am I doing what?”
“Why are you treating me so nicely?”
“Because you deserve it. You need someone who cares for you.”
“I mistreated you. I’m ashamed.”
“You don’t have to be. I didn’t treat you the best either. I only want you to get better. That’s all you need to worry about right now. We can work on the rest later.”
Olivia kisses my chest, which sends shivers up my spine. I would take anything she would give me right now. I wasn’t going to pressure her into a relationship; her friendship was enough—for now, if I was honest.
“Do you want me to make you something? Are you hungry?” she asks.
“I am, but you aren’t lifting a finger while you’re here. I take care of everything. Understand?”
“Lucian, I can’t allow you to do that. I have nothing to offer you.”
“Don’t you get it?”
“No.”
“I don’t want anything from you. I’m offering my care freely. There are no strings attached, so you shouldn’t feel obligated. Get well so you can have a happy future.”
“Don’t you mean we can have a happy future?”
“That’s up to you. I love you, Olivia. It took me some time to realize it, and when it happened, it was too late. I made the mistake of rushing into bed with you, and I won’t rush anything where you’re concerned again. The door to my heart is open, and you just have to be the one to walk through.”
