30. Olivia
CHAPTER 30
Olivia
F eeling Bax move, taking me with him, I swim to the edge of consciousness, but just the edge because sleep has me in its grasp, and I’m so comfortable I don’t want to let it go. It was an exhausting night. Kourtney and I spent a long time talking to the police, and then when Bax finally brought us home, my parents, Liam, and what seemed like every member of his family were here to make sure we were okay.
Though they didn’t stay long, Bax, much to my mother’s and his mom’s disapproval, called it a night when he saw that I could barely keep my eyes open any longer. After everyone left, and Kourtney, who decided to stay the night, was tucked away in the guest room, he held me through the shower I so desperately needed, then he stood at my back as I brushed my teeth a million times. After that, I don’t even remember getting into bed because I was falling asleep standing up.
“I’m going to need you to give us a couple more hours before you come over,” Bax says, and I realize he’s on the phone. “Yeah, she’s still sleeping.” He sighs. “Promise I’ll call as soon as she’s awake.”
“Was that my mom?” I ask him, not bothering to open my eyes, and his hand wrapped around my hip tightens.
“Your dad, but your mom was in the background.”
“What time is it?”
“After ten,” he says quietly as he rolls toward me, and I snuggle deeper into his chest.
“It’s late.”
“You don’t have anywhere you need to be. You can stay in bed as long as you want.”
“I need to call the spa. I’m sure Eva and Holly are worried.”
“I left them a voicemail last night and told them you’d call later today.”
“Thank you,” I whisper and feel his lips at the top of my head.
“How are you feeling?”
“Fine.” I rub my lips together, then ask quietly. “Did you get an update about?—?”
“No, last I heard, he’s still in the hospital.” He cuts me off, knowing I was going to ask about the man who kidnapped Kourtney and me—Ferris or, as he knew him Fizz. The delivery truck passenger, a guy we found out last night, hadn’t checked in with his parole officer for weeks because he didn’t go back home after being arrested here. After a couple of phone calls, Cobi and Hammer found out that his girlfriend broke up with him and told him to stay away when he called her from jail, so not having a place to go home to, he had been living in that barn and drifting around town and likely messing with me because he considered what happened to him my fault.
“I just want to know if he’s okay,” I say softly and feel his chest expand on a deep breath.
“Whatever happens with him, Oli, you are not responsible. You did more than most people would in your situation.” His arms tighten around me. “You should have left him there.”
“Please don’t,” I whisper.
“He could have taken you from me.” Pulling my face away from his chest, I tip my head back, and he dips his chin down to meet my gaze.
“What kind of person would I be if I just left him to die, if I didn’t at least try to save him?”
“Baby.”
“I’m sorry, but I will never be the kind of person to turn my back on someone in need, even if it’s someone who might not deserve my help.” I shake my head. “And I don’t want to be that kind of person.”
“Your heart’s too soft.”
“Maybe, but now I have you to protect it.”
“Jesus.” His arms around me get tight, and he buries his face in my neck. “What am I going to do with you?”
“I don’t know, but I guess we have time to figure that out.”
“Yeah, we fucking do.” He kisses the side of my throat, then leans back. “Are you ready to move in yet?”
Laughing, I press my hands against his chest. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Just asking.” He leans in and brushes his lips across mine. As he’s pulling back, my stomach rumbles. “Hungry?”
“Yeah.” I didn’t eat at the bar last night, and when we got back here, food was the last thing on my mind.
“Do you want breakfast?”
“Please.”
“You got it, baby.” He kisses me, then pulls back. “Whenever you’re ready, come join me in the kitchen.”
“’Kay.” I roll to my belly as he gets out of bed. With my chin on my arm, I watch him put on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt before disappearing into the bathroom. Pulling his pillow down, I wrap my arms around it, just listening to the sound of the water turning on and him moving around. When he comes out a few minutes later, he stops at the door and sends me a soft look before leaving me in bed.
I lay there for a while longer before I finally drag myself out of bed and pull on my robe over his T-shirt that he put me in last night, then brush my teeth. As I’m walking down the hall to the kitchen, I hear Kourtney and him talking and smile. That’s progress, especially for her. The last time she was here, she mostly stayed in the bedroom unless it was just me in the house. And she, for sure, never sat and talked to Bax alone.
“Morning,” I say as I walk around the corner and find Kourtney at the island with a cup of coffee and Bax at the stove.
“Did you sleep okay?” she asks as I walk over to give her a one-arm hug.
“Yeah, did you?” I let her go and walk to Bax, when he holds out a mug of coffee to me.
“Yes.” She looks at him. “You need to tell me where you got your bedding. I swear it’s better than some of the hotels I’ve stayed in.”
“I’ll send you the link.” He smiles at her, then looks at the doorway of the kitchen when Gemma starts to bark. “Watch this for me, baby.” He hands me the spatula he was holding.
“Sure.” He leaves the kitchen, and after a couple of seconds, I hear my brother and Talon before they come around the corner.
“Morning,” Liam says, holding two bouquets. He hands one to Kourtney, who turns bright red, and then he comes around the island to give me one while he presses a kiss to the side of my head.
“You’re not working today?” I ask him while I give Talon a one-arm hug.
“We’re on lunch. You guys are just having breakfast?”
“We slept in,” I tell my brother, and he nods before looking at Bax when he fits himself against my back.
I expect him to say something about Bax touching me. Instead, he tells him, “You lucked out today. With the storm coming in, we gotta put a tarp up on the unfinished roof at the house.”
“Bummed I’m missing that,” Bax mutters, and I look at him, wondering what I’m missing.
“He’s afraid of heights,” Talon fills me in, and I frown.
“No, he’s not.”
“He is.” He nods, and I shake my head.
“He’s not. He went bungee jumping with me.”
“He did what?” Talon asks in disbelief.
“He went bungee jumping with me when we were in Gatlinburg.”
“Bax went bungee jumping?” Liam asks, his tone filled with doubt.
“Yes.”
“He’s terrified of heights; we can’t even get him up on a roof.”
Turning toward my guy, I let my eyes scan over his face. “Are you afraid of heights?”
“A little.” He wraps his hand around my hip.
“A little,” I repeat, and he smiles. “Why would you agree to go bungee jumping with me if you’re afraid of heights?”
“If you go, I go, baby,” he says quietly, and I drop my forehead against his chest as my nose starts to sting.
“You’re crazy.”
“No, just crazy in love with you.”
“I love you.”
“I know you do,” he says softly, and I drag in a breath to pull myself together. I don’t know what in the world I did to deserve this kind of love, the kind of love that wraps you up in safety, reassures you that everything is okay as long as you have each other, and reminds you of what is important. I doubt I’ll ever know. But I won’t take it for granted. Until my last breath, I’ll do my best to make sure I always appreciate what I was given because I know how rare it is.
* * *
Sitting in the waiting area of the local jail, I look up when Bax’s and my names are called.
“You don’t have to come with me,” I tell Bax quietly, and his hand that is wrapped around mine gets even tighter.
“You’re not going in there alone.” I don’t take the bite in his tone personally. He’s more anxious than I am about seeing Ferris for the first time since everything happened.
When Cobi called to tell me that he wanted to see Kourtney and me, I wasn’t sure what I would do. It took me a couple of days to decide to take him up on his offer, then a few more days to convince Bax and everyone else that I needed to do this. It was a hard sell, especially to Bax. Then again, he was the one left not knowing what happened to me for hours before he got a call from Cobi that I had been located and that the police were already on their way to me. Kourtney wanted no part in seeing him again after that night, and I wasn’t going to try to change her mind.
As we walk to the officer holding open a heavy metal door and step into a skinny hall with about six windows on one side of the room, my stomach twists, making me nauseous. The air feels stale, and with zero sunlight and only the dim bulbs overhead casting a sad glow around the concrete space, it’s difficult not to feel depressed. I can’t imagine having to spend time here.
“Go to window number four,” the officer says, and I slowly walk that way. Once I’m in front of the window, I take a seat on the short metal stool and wait with my eyes glued on the door on the opposite side of the glass. When it opens, Fizz, who looks better than he did the last time I saw him, steps into the room. The beard that covered his face is gone, and he no longer looks strung out. He does, however, look very thin, but I’m sure that will change with time. Turning to the guard who escorted him in, he waits as the guard removes his cuffs. Then the guard motions in our direction.
As he gets closer, my muscles bunch, and Bax behind me gets even closer, while his hands on my shoulders tighten. I don’t try to force a smile as he sits. I don’t owe him anything, not even my time, but I do want closure for myself, and that’s why I’m here.
Motioning for me to pick up the phone when he does, I lift it off the hook and press it to my ear.
“I’m sorry.” The words are quiet as his eyes lock on mine. I didn’t think I needed to hear him say he was sorry, but as my muscles loosen, I realize I did. “You were right, I needed help.” I nod, letting him know I heard him, and he swallows hard. Lifting his eyes to Bax briefly, he brings his gaze back to me. “I know it might not mean much, but thank you for saving me.”
Before I can reply to those whispered words, he drags his gaze off mine and hangs up the phone. After Fizz gets the guard’s attention and he nods, allowing Fizz to get up, he walks to the door where he is put in cuffs once more.
Hanging up the phone, I stand and turn to Bax, who curls me into his chest, then maneuvers us to the door that the officer holds open for us.
“You okay?” Bax asks when we exit the building, and I tip my head back toward the sun and drag in a breath of cold air.
“Yeah.” I meet his gaze as he drops his arm from my waist and wraps his hand around mine. “Honestly, I feel lighter than I did this morning.”
“Good.” He opens the door to his truck for me. Once I’m in my seat, I look down at him as he pulls my seat belt around me.
“Do you think he’s going to be okay?”
“Only time will tell, baby.” His eyes lock on mine as he wraps his hand around the side of my neck. “For whatever reason, he got a second chance, but it’s up to him what he does with it.”
“You’re right,” I whisper, and his face softens.
“You ready to go home?”
“Yes.” Leaning in, he touches his mouth to mine, then lets me go and slams the door.
A minute later, when he’s behind the steering wheel and driving us away from the jail, I look over at the brick building. I know I might be naive, but I do believe that everyone is mostly good and that we are all capable of change, so I hope Ferris is able to overcome whatever led him to that night weeks ago and finds the right path.
As for me, I won’t spend any more time thinking about him. Going forward, I’m going to focus on Bax and our families and all the good things I have in my life.
The most important things I have in my life.