Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Elijah grew frustrated with Lilly’s parents.
They were yelling at him and Jack in the hospital corridor.
Attracting unwanted attention from the nurses on duty.
It was the early hours of the morning and Lilly had been drifting in and out of consciousness for hours.
The doctors had pumped her stomach and had managed to stop her reaction to the drugs she had consumed.
The doctors had finally let Jack and Elijah into her room.
The first hour had been stressful for Elijah and Jack, waiting to hear how much damage there was.
The doctors had been concerned for her heart as it was behaving erratically.
Olivia had joined them later on and took the second hour’s shift holding Lilly’s hand while she slept.
Jack spent his time trying to calm Elijah, who blamed himself for letting this happen at Blue’s.
When her parents didn’t arrive until five in the morning, Elijah was irate.
He couldn’t understand why her parents wouldn’t leave the party to come to their daughter’s bedside.
When they arrived and started yelling at Jack, blaming him for the drug use, he knew instantly why she didn’t want to tell them about quitting her job.
At that moment, he knew he wanted to protect Lilly from her parents and their narrow-minded views.
Elijah also discovered his strong feelings for her and not just as a protector.
He was now sure he loved Lilly. He saw in his brother’s expression that Jack already knew this too.
Elijah was always the last person to figure out his feelings, most of the time it was too late and he missed his opportunity.
He wouldn’t miss out this time around. He wanted Lilly in his life and he would do all it took to give it his best shot.
After Jack had issued a few choice words to Dylan and Gale, Elijah and Jack watched as they disappeared from the hospital corridor. They had declared that they were tired and were going home now that they knew she was alive. Elijah told them he would make sure that she got home safely.
“Fucking hell, her parents are something else,” Jack said to Elijah.
“I know, she said that she didn’t want to tell them about quitting her job.
It has taken me six months to persuade her to leave her job and find out what she wants to do.
I am so proud that she has done it and has told them.
If I had known how bad they were, I would have gone with her to tell them the news,” Elijah explained.
“I can’t wait to tell Olivia you love her,” Jack said.
“Yeah, I think I do. I just hope I don’t fuck it up by hiring her. I want her and I want her to work at the bar, I want her near me all the time. I don’t want Lilly to have a reputation as a barmaid fucking the boss,” Elijah announced.
“That’s easily solved. You’re such a dense fucker sometimes. Date her first and then hire her. I’m sure she isn’t working for you for the money so she must be able to cope financially. Bring her to the wedding, that would be an awesome first date,” Jack said and laughed hard.
“Who the fuck brings a first date to a wedding? That’s practically a marriage proposal,” Elijah said incredulously.
Elijah searched for coffee for the three of them and Jack carried on laughing and headed into the hospital room where Lilly and Olivia were.
Inching open the door he watched as he saw Olivia stroking her thumb back and forth over the top of Lilly’s hand.
He reflected on how lucky he was to find Olivia.
She was so generous with her affection to all of his friends and now Lilly had entered their lives, Olivia would no doubt add her to the list.
Walking over to his future wife, Jack wrapped his arms around her shoulders and kissed her neck.
He never tired of feeling the shiver run through her at the touch of his lips.
He continued the slow kisses up and down her neck until the shivers were constant and her nipples hardened.
Dropping one hand down inside her blouse, Jack cupped her breast inside the material of her bra and squeezed hard until he heard her moan quietly.
Olivia turned her head so that she could kiss his lips.
Tilting her head back Jack kissed her passionately pushing his tongue through her open mouth and flicking the tip of her tongue.
“I can leave if you two want the bed, your moans are giving me a headache and I’m teetering on the edge of orgasm,” Lilly muttered.
“I think I love you, too,” Jack said to Lilly after he snapped his head away from Olivia’s mouth.
“Hey,” Elijah and Olivia said at the same time.
“Not that kind of love. I love a sassy mouth,” Jack said and kissed Olivia deeply.
“Seriously, you two kissing is too much for me to handle at the moment,” Elijah quipped “You can go now, I can take it from here.”
“Ok, don’t forget to ask Lilly to the wedding,” Jack said as he lifted Olivia out of the chair and over his shoulder, “don’t forget,” He said and pointed at Elijah and then at Lilly. “Get well soon Lilly.” Olivia called out.
“Come on wife. Let me take you home so I can ravish your glorious body,” Jack spoke quietly but loud enough for all to hear.
Olivia giggled and smacked his arse as they strode away. “I’m not your wife yet sunshine,” she said and grinned. “See you at the wedding Lilly,” Olivia called out as she left the room.
Elijah mumbled some words under his breath to Jack that made him roar with laughter and walk out of the room.
“Wedding?” Lilly asked when they were alone.
Elijah came over to the bed and sat on the edge, taking her hand in his.
“I’m sorry but there is no other way to do this,” Elijah said with a serious tone that worried her.
He leaned down and kissed her, softly pecking at her lips, asking for entry. She let him in for a few seconds and then pulled her mouth away.
“I must taste awful,” Lilly said.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m so glad you’re ok, I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to you,” Elijah said quietly.
Elijah kissed her again, softly, taking care not to hurt her, but with a passion he couldn’t control. After a few minutes, Lilly pulled away again, wincing and placing her hand over her eyes.
“I’m sorry Lilly, did I hurt you?” Elijah asked.
“No, the blood pumping around my head from that kiss compounds my headache, sorry,” Lilly said.
“Don’t apologise sweetheart, I shouldn’t have been so insensitive, you’ve been through a lot tonight. It should be me who apologises to you. Get some sleep and we can talk more when you feel better. I mean kiss you obviously, but we can talk too,” Elijah said and grinned.
Elijah stood up and pulled a chair over that Olivia was sitting in and settled himself in. He was going to stay until they released her. Making himself comfortable, he watched as Lilly drifted off to sleep.
It was a complete mess of an evening he thought, as he sat there gazing at Lilly.
He wondered if he could make their relationship work.
His eyes were opened wide to her family set up.
There was nothing more he detested than parents who considered society circles more important than family.
William’s actions would need to be dealt with but only when he had proof.
Elijah had a friend who could help him with that.
Lilly didn’t seem to have many people in her life that championed her corner.
As far as he could tell, she had Harry, her boss and Angie her best friend.
“How’s she doing?” A voice whispered behind him. He hadn’t heard anyone come and turned to see Angie standing next to him. He had forgotten that she had arrived with Lilly and then felt guilty for not finding out where she had disappeared off to.
“She woke for a short time and now is sound asleep, where have you been?” Elijah whispered back.
“I was talking to one of the nurses, she is a friend of mine and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I wanted to understand what she had taken and how it will affect her body. Lilly has never taken drugs to my knowledge, so I was overly worried. I feel better now that he explained it all. I also wanted to avoid her parents, they hate me with a passion I have rarely seen. I think it’s because I’m American.
I find it amusing that they haven’t got to know me at all or who my parents are.
They’re set on appearances and knowing the right people.
If they’d asked just a few questions, they would realise that I am from a family they would kill to know. It does make me laugh,” Angie said.
“How does Lilly keep so level-headed with parents like them?”
“I’ve no idea, she is stronger than she looks. To quit like that took guts and to tell them took bravery I didn’t know she possessed. Did you have anything to do with her added strength McHottie?” Angie asked.
“McHottie?”
“Yeah, that’s my nickname for you, she talks about you nonstop, and she swoons like a 1950s teenage girl when she talks about you. She does like you Elijah, don’t fuck her around,” Angie said.
Elijah looked up to where Angie was standing. Her cursing surprised him, liking her directness and her loyalty to Lilly. He was grateful that Angie was looking out for Lilly, so when he inevitably did fuck it up with Lilly she would at least have her best friend to talk to.
“Why does everyone assume I’m deaf?” Lilly croaked from her bed keeping her eyes closed.
Angie chuckled and went over the bed and pressed the edge of the beaker of water to Lilly’s lips so she could take a sip of water.
“It’s good to hear you have that spark back already, just giving McHottie the standard best friend speech. He breaks your heart I bruise that beautiful face of his. I’m glad you heard, it saves me repeating myself tomorrow,” Angie said.
Angie winked over at Elijah, who wisely didn’t say a word and placed the water back on the side table.
“Honey, I’m going to leave you with Elijah and head on home, sleep as much as you can. They frown on having sex in hospital beds so try not to turn over and show him your bare arse in this awful hospital gown. You never know it might turn him on and then you’ll both get kicked out,” Angie joked.
“Hilarious Angie, now let me sleep and you can tell me off tomorrow when I can open my eyes,” Lilly said.
“Ok, I’m off, see you tomorrow,” Angie said and kissed her cheek.
“How are you getting home Angie?” Elijah asked.
“Gareth is outside, he’s going to give me a lift home. He’s been here for a while, since Blue’s closed for the evening. He was concerned that you’d go after Simon and Steve. He’s a nice guy,” Angie said.
“He is a good guy,” Elijah said and smirked up at Angie and then scowled as she pinched his cheeks.
“Hey, why does everyone want to pinch my cheeks, it hurts,” he said.
“Oh, poor baby, you have the cutest dimples and I can’t help myself. Stop whining and look after Lilly while I’m gone,” Angie ordered.
“Yes boss,” Elijah answered and gave her a perfect salute.