Page 20 of Awakening

He pulls me into his hard chest, resting his chin against my hair. “I care, Olivia,” he says, rubbing my back. “I don’t know what happened the last few years of your life, but I don’t believe it’s a coincidence you were brought back to me.” He kisses me on top of the head and continues rubbing my back.

“You’ve been so sweet to take me in and listen to me go on and on about this.”

“Listen to me. I’ll always be here for you. I’ll always listen to you. You can stay with me as long as you need.”

We pull apart and I’m held captive in the depth of his green eyes. He brushes the hair away from my face and caresses my cheek. “The people in your life would be stupid not to be looking for you right now. I know this, because I’ve thought of you so many times over the years. I’ve missed you, Liv.”

“I’m glad you found me.”

“Me too.” He removes his hand from my cheek and clears his throat. “Just tell me what I can do to help.”

“You’re already doing it by being such a good friend. I think I’d like to try to find Chloe tomorrow. We were so close. I have to think she knows something about my life. Would you help me?”

“Of course. I’ll do anything you want.”

Six

Anthony

She always was beautiful when she slept, and nothing has changed. I quietly close the door after pausing to look in on Olivia on my way down the hall to my office. I thought it might be smart to get up early this morning to start doing some research. I’m worried about what kind of situation I could be sending her back to if we find the missing pieces of her life.

The feelings we once shared came flooding back to me the moment I saw her in the hospital. There’s never been a shortage of women on my arm or in my bed over the last several years, but I never had the closeness with any of them that I had with Olivia. None of them have ever filled my heart the way she did. We were happy once. I know I can make her happy again, but right now she needs answers, and I’ll do my best to help her find them. This might make me an asshole, but part of me hopes whatever we find will lead her straight back into my arms. I’d never be so foolish to turn her away again.

She wants to find Chloe, and I happen to think of a mutual friend of ours who might have Chloe’s current phone number. I contact her and I’m in luck. I actually wish it hadn’t been that fucking easy. Sighing as I dial Chloe’s number, my stomach twists at the thought of being a step closer to possibly having to let her go. Chloe picks up on the third ring.

“Hello?”

“Hello, is this Chloe?”

“This is. Who’s calling, please?”

“Chloe, this is Anthony Moretti, Olivia Newman’s boyfriend from college.”

“Oh, my God. Anthony Moretti? You are about the last person I expected to hear from today, but I really hope you’re calling for the reason I think you may be calling,” she says as her voice quivers.

“Are you looking for Olivia by chance?”

“Yes! Oh, my God. Please, tell me you know where she is.”

“She’s with me. She’s safe.”

“She’s with you? Oh, thank God,” she says, sobbing. “Is she okay?”

“Uh…it’s a lot to get into. She showed up at the hospital where I’m doing my residency here in Denver. There was an accident, and she was brought in by ambulance. She didn’t have any identification on her. I just happened to be there, and I obviously recognized her.”

“An accident? Is she the unidentified woman who was hit by a car?”

“How—how did you know?”

“So it was her?”

“Yeah, but?—”

“It was on the news. The description they gave sounded too close to be a coincidence.”

“The police must have contacted the media.” My confirmation of her identity likely wasn’t enough to satisfy them prior to her regaining consciousness.

“Is she hurt?”

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