Chapter 38
Olive
Placing my toothbrush back in the holder, I take a few minutes to stare at my face in the mirror. The bruise across my cheek is spreading. A butterfly band aid holds together the cut across my cheekbone. My eyes flutter closed as I take a few steadying breaths.
We didn’t get to see Benny, but hearing that he was doing okay was comforting. Tomorrow is going to be difficult. As awful as this situation was, all I can hope for is that this is exactly what Benny needs to make a change. And one that lasts this time.
Strong arms slip around my waist, pulling me back into a warm, bare chest. Nate’s chest hair tickles where my tank top exposes my back. As his chin tucks over my shoulder, his breath flutters across my neck, and goosebumps skitter down my arms.
He turns his head and kisses the side of my neck, causing warmth to flood my body, starting between my legs. “You ready for bed?” he whispers against my overheated skin.
All I can manage is a nod before he turns us and pushes me toward the bed.
I crawl across and climb under the covers on the far side, lying down to face Nate as I tuck my stacked hands under my cheek.
He unbuttons his jeans and slides off, his boxer briefs hugging his hips and thighs.
Flipping the comforter back, he settles in next to me, scooting across the bed until we’re inches apart.
I relish the contentment I feel when his arm wraps around my middle and pulls me into him.
My cheek rests on his skin, and I inhale his now-familiar scent.
A sigh slips from my lips as my body relaxes against him.
His lips brush the top of my head before his deep voice vibrates against my skin. “Olive, I, uh, know this isn’t the best time, but I don’t think I can wait to tell you this.”
My breath catches at the emotions blazing in his eyes. “I’m so sorry for how I acted the other day. I’m an idiot and should have been more understanding about what you were going through.”
Thinking back to our last interaction before I flew home, it hurt how he treated me, but I can understand why he felt the way he did. I’m sure it was frustrating for him when I shut him out. As he continues, I kiss his chest gently.
His arm tightens around me. “I’ve been in a lot of situations that most people would think is terrifying, but I had never felt fear like I did today.” His chest rises and falls, taking me with it. “Olive, what I’m trying to say is that I love you.”
My head pops up, heart stuttering. “You do?”
He buries his fingers in my hair, massaging my scalp. “Yes, I do. And I don’t care if you aren’t there yet, or that it might be too quick for some people, but I’m not wasting another second not telling you how I feel.”
I wrap my lips over my teeth as my face tingles from emotion. And I don’t hesitate to tell him exactly how I feel. “I love you, too. So much. I’m not sure I can ever express to you how thankful I am that you came for me,” I whisper.
The relief that softens his features has my heart racing. His fingers dig into my scalp, and he guides my head to his until our lips meet. Our tongues affirming what we’ve already spoken out loud.
If I thought a week ago that Nate would be unsure if I felt the same way as him, and that feeling would be that he loved me, I would’ve been concerned about my sanity. But the affection and care in his words and touch have me believing in something that, for so long, I worried I would never find.
I snuggle into his chest as a few stray tears slip past my lashes. I know Nate feels them on his bare skin when his fingers, still buried in my hair, drag across my scalp, and his lips press to my head.
The tension that’s lived inside of me for much longer than I want to admit starts to slip away and my eyes flutter closed. A peace I haven’t known settles into its place.
“You look good.” I squeeze Benny’s hand where it lays next to him on the hospital bed.
“Well, I’m glad I look it. Because I don’t fucking feel it.” Benny’s voice is gravelly with a hint of annoyance.
Considering everything he went through, that isn’t a lie.
Besides the usual physical discomfort that happens after taking the amount of drugs he was given yesterday, he seems to be recovering well.
I don’t know what the next few days and weeks will look like, but we’re alive and safe, and that’s all that matters right now.
I glance over at Nate. He’s leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watching us. He gives me an encouraging smile that has my stomach fluttering.
Benny and Nate’s meeting went relatively well. Both of them eyed the other cautiously but were friendly, even if it was just for my sake. I don’t intend for either of them to not be in my life, so they’ll have to learn to love each other eventually.
I focus back on Benny. “Have you talked to the detectives?”
His face scrunches as he nods. “Yeah, they want me to testify in exchange for not charging me with anything.” He smooths the blanket over his legs before explaining, “That undercover cop has video and audio of me taking the drugs from Tatum to sell.”
Nate told me that before Crew showed up at Marcus’s house with Tatum, Tiny, and Benny, he had gotten in contact with his superiors, telling them where they would be and that they needed to move in that night because he was worried about how it would escalate after they took Benny from rehab.
He didn’t anticipate I would be at the house, but I’ll forever be grateful for him realizing how much danger Benny was in and deciding to end his investigation.
At least it seems he’s collected more than enough evidence to take down the top players in this drug ring, even if it wasn’t everyone they hoped to be able to get.
“You’re going to do it, right?”
Benny nods and blows out a breath between pursed lips. “Yeah, it would be stupid not to.”
My grip tightens one more time on Benny’s hand. “I’m glad to hear that.” I’m hesitant to ask my next question, but we need to address it sooner rather than later. He won’t be in the hospital for much longer. “Have you, um, thought about what you want to do about going back to treatment?”
My heart cracks when Benny pulls his hand from mine and places it on his stomach. “Olive, don’t. I can’t have this conversation right now.”
Benny’s tone is full of such frustration and anger that my cheeks heat. Embarrassment that Nate is here to witness that, even if I didn’t do anything to deserve it, roils through my gut. I swallow hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. “Okay, no problem. You want some lunch or a Coke?”
Movement across the room has me turning to Nate. His hardened stare is trained on my brother when he says, “Why don’t you go get him a Coke, baby?”
I don’t move immediately, unsure of how to handle this situation.
Nate shifts his gaze to mine, and his face softens. “Go, we will be fine.”
With a quick look at Benny, who’s glaring back at Nate, I stand and quickly leave the room. I’m not sure what I’ll come back to, but I trust Nate to handle this the way that it needs to be.