Page 28 of Awakening

“Hey, Nick.” I pull out of Ethan’s arms to give Nick a hug. When I look back at Ethan, I see the hurt on his face. “I’m sorry. I just…I remember Chloe and Nick.”

“I know,” Ethan says. “It’s okay. We’ll get to know each other again. Your memory will come back.”

Anthony steps forward, crossing his arms. “It could take a long time.”

Ethan glares at Anthony. “Or, it might just be a few days. Either way, I’m a patient man.” Somehow, I already doubt that.

Anthony glares right back. “I’m Dr. Anthony Moretti, by the way. Olivia and I go way back.”

“Right. You’re her past. I’m her present and her future,” Ethan says, then turns his attention back to me, pulling me into his embrace again. “God, I’m so relieved to have you back.”

I look over at Chloe as Ethan holds me. “Did you tell him everything?”

She nods. “I did.”

Ethan pulls back, cupping my face in his hands. “I know all of it, Olivia, and it’s okay,” he says, kissing me on the forehead.

“You must think I’m a horrible person.”

“No. Never. None of this is your fault.” He pulls me back to him in a hug again, kissing my cheek and the top of my head.

“I haven’t seen the baby yet,” I say as he keeps me locked in his embrace.

“I know. I’ve already made some calls, and the hospital will arrange to send her home to Boulder. We’ll just need to sign some documents. When the time feels right, we can see her together. Would you do that with me?”

I don’t see how I can say no. Helping him through his grief seems like the least I can do. “Um…yeah. We can do that, when the time is right.”

“Olivia, don’t feel pressured to do anything you aren’t ready to do,” Anthony says.

Ethan’s chin raises from where it’s been resting on the top of my head. “No one is pressuring her to do anything. I asked if she’d like to see our daughter together, and she said yes.”

Gesturing toward me, Anthony argues, “It’s obvious she feels obligated.”

Ethan’s body stiffens. “How could you possibly know how she feels?”

“I know a lot about the way Olivia feels. I know she’s probably uncomfortable as hell that you just walked in here, grabbing her like she should want to be in your arms. She doesn’t have a fucking clue who you are, but I know she’s too nice to make you feel bad.”

I pull out of Ethan’s hold, which has turned into an angry grip. “Stop it. Both of you.” I turn back to Ethan. “Do I have an employer who’s going to be looking for me?” I ask, attempting to change the subject.

“No,” Ethan says. “You work with me at our family company on occasion, but there’s no official employer.” Ethan turns his focus back to Anthony. “We’re all really grateful to you for looking after Olivia for us,” Ethan says, “but it’s time for me to take my fiancée home now.”

My eyes widen, and Anthony pushes me behind him as he steps toward Ethan. “Fiancée, huh? You know what’s interesting about that, is that I still don’t see a ring on her finger.”

Ethan glares at Anthony. “Not that it’s any of your fucking business, but her ring is at home,” he says, and then looks around Anthony to me. “I would have brought it with me, but we were in such a rush to get out the door. I honestly forgot about it.”

“I’m making it my fucking business. I don’t believe you,” Anthony says. “You aren’t going to walk into my home and throw out a bullshit lie so you can walk out with a woman who doesn’t even know you.”

Ethan goes toe to toe with Anthony, and Anthony doesn’t back down. “I’m not fucking lying. Olivia is my fiancée. She knows me, and she’ll remember me again. Make no mistake, I will be walking out of here with her.”

I step in and push them apart, turning to face Anthony. “Anthony, stop. It’s okay. Remember, Chloe said we’re engaged too. I believe him.”

Ethan steps closer, turns me, and places his hands on my shoulders. “Thank you.”

“We were there to witness the proposal,” Nick says.

“You’re my fiancée, Olivia,” Ethan says. “We live together, we were having a baby together. Our lives are together. I found your ring lying on the ground after you were taken, but we can put it back on your finger the minute we get home.”

My throat feels like it’s about to close when he mentions taking me home again. And now he wants to put an engagement ring on my finger? I feel like I just met this man.

---