Chapter 24 Olivia
OLIVIA
Ow.
I feel like I got hit by a bus.
My throat hurts. I can’t swallow; something is in the way. I’m lying on something soft, yet my head is throbbing.
“Hey, sweetheart. Livie, come back to me. Come on.”
I know that voice. I love that voice.
Elias.
My eyes flutter, the lights are bright and I flinch.
“The lights. Turn down the lights,” Elias orders.
I manage to open my eyes, my vision blurry and unfocused. I’m so confused. Why do I hurt everywhere?
I can’t breathe. I claw at the tube going down my throat.
“Olivia, it’s okay. Dr. Kennedy is going to remove the breathing tube now. You’ll feel better in just a few seconds,” Elias informs me.
I can’t see him yet. His voice is coming from my left. I listen. Elias knows what he’s talking about.
Dr. Kennedy pulls the tube free and I cough, inhaling a large breath. I groan in pain, needing a minute to get my thoughts together.
“Olivia, do you know where you are?” A bright light shines into my eyes and I flinch, swatting her hand away.
“Rude,” I croak, the word causing me to fall into a fit of coughs.
“Pupils are equal and reactive,” she says.
Elias’s chuckles have me turning my head to see him lying in another bed next to me. A machine beeps quicker and I reach for him, worried.
He takes my hand across the gap between our beds, his thumb brushing back and forth. “I’m okay. Dad needed my liver sooner than we thought. I was all done before you woke up. I’m okay. I promise. I’m okay.”
I nod, then wince, my hand flying to my head to feel it wrapped in gauze. “I’m in the hospital?” I don’t remember anything. I don’t know how I got here. My mom is here, and Amber and Victoria. Even Dr. Warrick is leaning against the wall. Everyone looks like they’ve been through hell.
“I’m so happy you’re awake.” Mom sniffles. “You scared me.”
Everyone mutters in agreement.
“I love you,” Elias says.
Before I can say it in return, Dr. Kennedy’s face is at my feet. “Do you feel this?” She scrapes the bottom of my foot and I nod. “Great. And this?” She tries the other foot.
“I do.” I clear my throat.
“Do you know your name?”
“Olivia McDowell,” I answer.
“What’s your birthday?”
“July twenty-sixth.”
“Do you know where you are?” she asks.
“Warrick General. Why?”
“It’s not uncommon to have memory issues. You were in an accident. You needed surgery on your brain to relieve the pressure. You broke your leg and your arm. Dr. Carrington performed your surgery, and I have no doubt that’s part of why you survived.”
“An accident?” I do my best to remember. “I remember the grocery store. Everything after that is blank. Can I get some water?” My voice breaks, the coughing hurting my throat even more, as if razor blades are inside of it.
“Of course. Drink slow,” Dr. Kennedy warns.
My mom brings me a small pink plastic cup with a straw, placing it between my lips. I do as I’m told even though I want to gulp it down. I’m so thirsty. I lean my head against the pillow and sigh, whimpering when the ache and pain become too much.
“Are you in pain?” Elias asks. “We can get you more medicine.”
“My head hurts really bad. What did you do in there?” I grumble, which causes everyone to laugh.
“Sorry, sweetheart. I had to fix it so I wouldn’t lose you. You’ll be in pain for a while, but I’ll be right here with you. Okay?”
Mom cups my jaw, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
“Me, Amber, Victoria, Winston, and so many of your friends here are going to help take care of you both. You two will need to be in the hospital for a while, but after that, we already have a system and a schedule for when you can go home. Everything’s going to be okay.
You’ll be okay. You’re okay.” She sounds like she’s trying to make herself believe it if she says it enough.
“I’m okay, Mom. I’m fine.” I place my hand over hers, giving it a weak pat, and then I lose all energy, dropping my arm down onto the bed again.
“Is everyone else okay from the accident? Was there anyone else? Was it my fault?” My eyes widen in horror. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive myself if I caused the accident and ended up hurting someone…or worse.
“The police are wanting to talk to you actually,” Elias informs me. “But no, it wasn’t your fault. Someone rear-ended you, pushing you out into the intersection. You were at a red light, so when you were pushed, the person who had the green light smashed into you.”
“Are they okay?”
“They are.” Those two words from Elias allow me to relax.
“That’s good,” I say, blowing out a breath.
“The person who rear-ended you was drinking and driving, though, so they will be held accountable,” he adds. “Can someone push me closer to her bed?”
Winston and Dr. Kennedy do as Elias asks, pressing our beds together so it’s easier for us to touch.
“No funny business.” Winston shakes his finger at me.
I snort. “I’m sure my casts are such a turn-on.”
“They are. I can’t wait to sign them.” Elias smirks, kissing every fingertip. “I’m just happy you’re here. You scared me, sweetheart. I thought…” He swallows, his eyes becoming glassy.
I’ve never had a partner care so much before. The only thing I can do is squeeze his hand, letting him know that I’m here.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“No. Don’t. It isn’t your fault. Don’t apologize. I’m just so glad you’re okay. If anything happened to you…I don’t know…I don’t know what I would have done, Olivia. I haven’t been that scared in years. The only thing I could think about was the plans we made.”
Pinching my brows together hurts, so I do my best to relax. “The movie night?”
Everyone in the room laughs, Elias too, and he tightens his hold on my hand.
“No, but I am glad you remember that. That’s a relief. I mean, I was excited about those plans too, don’t get me wrong.”
Another round of laughter echoes from everyone. I would laugh too if I had the energy. Instead, I smile at him.
“Future plans,” he says. “The life we want. Children. How we told each other our dreams and I want that with you, always, forever, Olivia. I want us to chase the future we want together, and I want our dreams to become reality. I want you. Only you.” He pats his leg and curses.
“Shit. Winston, can you bring me my pants? They’re on the chair. ”
“You bet.” Winston hands him his jeans and Elias digs through his pockets, pulling out a box. It’s small, red velvet, and the corners are worn.
I might be half out of it, but I know an engagement ring box when I see it. “Elias?”
“I love you. I want to make all of your dreams come true—”
“I got the pregnancy test back!” Nurse Jackie bursts into the room with a big smile on her face. “Sorry. We got backed up so the test took longer than anticipated. It is positive. I’m sorry. I have to go see another patient. Congratulations!” And just as quick as she came in, she’s gone.
I gasp, placing my hand over my stomach. “That’s impossible. It’s…it’s so early. How…how?”
“Will you marry me?” Elias continues, his voice choked with emotion.
“I don’t want to wait to make you my wife.
I’m not missing out on another second of being by your side and being a good father.
I want to be there every step of the way.
For this pregnancy, for you, for us. I promise to love you more every day.
Olivia, will you please do me the honor of being my wife?
” He opens the box and the most gorgeous ring I’ve ever seen sits on a plush silk pillow.
The diamond shines even in the low light, the emeralds pristine and polished.
“Elias?” His name shakes with my nerves. “Am I still asleep? Am I dreaming? Is this heaven?” I take a few more sips of water when I begin to lose my voice.
“No. No, and no, but I will do my best to make sure that your life feels like heaven every single day.” He takes the ring out of the box and pauses, looking at me expectantly.
“Yes.” It’s the easiest word I’ve ever spoken. “Yes. I’ll marry you. Every single day if I have to. Yes.”
All of our friends and family cheer and clap. Elias slips the ring on my finger, and it fits as if it was made for me.
“I love you,” I say to him, my pain drifting away for a few seconds.
“I love you too, Livie. Always.”
My eyes become heavy, exhaustion trying to pull me under, but even through the aches and pains, my heart is full.
The rest of my life, all my dreams, they start now.
With Elias.