Jake’s thumb absentmindedly caressed the top of her hand, to the side of where the IV was placed. “Doesn’t mean she’ll be able to forgive me for lying about Mike. Or that she won’t blame me for this.”
“You underestimate her, Jake. Sure, she was upset, but I saw the way she looked at you before that chopper came. Olivia still loves you. She’s not going to blame you for what happened.”
Jake closed his eyes and found himself back in that helicopter.
Jake?
I’m right here, baby.
L-love...y-you.
“Although, I do predict a massive amount of groveling in your future.”
Jake did smile at that. “She’s worth it.”
He’d give her any damn thing she wanted, if it meant they could be together again.
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. You are the 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. As Olivia 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, amazing voice.
“Liv? Baby, did you say something?”
He’s here! Oh, thank God!
She had so much to say to him. So much to apologize for. Olivia felt his fingers tightened around hers.
“Open your eyes, sweetheart. Talk to me.”
She wanted to. More than anything she wanted to see him again, but her eyelids felt weighted.
Working to peel them open, her body fought against the strong painkillers the doctors must have given her. When Olivia heard a moan, it took her a second to realize it had come from her.
“You can do it, baby. That’s right. Come back to me.”
Quick flashes of light felt blinding as her eyes finally began to open. They felt scratchy and dry. At first, everything around her was blurry, including the shadowed figure hovering over her. She blinked a few times to clear her vision until finally, she saw him.
Jake was leaning over her, his one hand holding her uninjured one. With his other, he caressed the top of her head with such gentleness it brought tears to her eyes.
“H-hi.”
She was surprised by how sore her throat was, how ragged her voice sounded.
Jake choked out a sound that was something like a half laugh, half sob. He smiled, but he looked so tired and weary. There were shadows under his eyes, and from the growth covering his strong, handsome face, Olivia knew he hadn’t shaved in a while.
She was so busy noticing how exhausted he looked, it took her a second to realize there were tears sliding down both of his cheeks.
Her heart hurt. For him. For herself. For all of the pain they’d both been forced to endure.
She started to raise her casted hand, wanting to somehow ease his pain, but it was heavy, and she was too weak to try to remove the sling.
Jake brought the hand he was holding to his cheek, uncaring that his emotions were literally spilling over her.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
He drew in a stuttered breath then let
