Page 31 of Awakening

“It’ll be fine,” I say. “Anthony will be going back to working long hours again, but I’ll have Chloe, and it’ll be nice to have a doctor living so close if I need one.”

“I’ll make the arrangements,” Anthony says.

“Are you sure they won’t mind?” I ask.

“Of course not. They’ll be happy to do it,” he says as he walks away to make the call to his parents.

“So, that’s it? I have no fucking say in this?” Ethan asks, throwing his arms out to his sides. “Olivia…please. You belong with me.”

“It’s my say, Ethan. You got your way. I won’t be staying here with Anthony.”

“And, I’ll be here,” Chloe says. “She’s like my sister, Ethan. She’ll be okay with me staying here.” She nods. “I’ll watch over her. I promise.”

Ethan looks back and forth between Chloe and me. It’s written all over his face that he hates this, but he concedes with a nod. “I’m trusting you with my heart here, Chloe.”

She gives him a small smile and nods. “I know. I won’t let you down.”

Ethan sighs as he nods in return. “I’ll be staying at our apartment while you’re here. I want to spend time with you so I can help you remember our life together, Olivia.”

“Okay,” I say with a nod. “I’d be happy to spend time with you, Ethan.”

“You’ll need security. My cousin is still out there. I won’t leave you unprotected,” Ethan says. “I’ll have my men stationed outside your apartment.”

“What? No, that’s ridiculous. This is a very secure building,” I say.

“Your men that allowed her to be taken in the first place?” Anthony says as he disconnects the call. “No. I have access to my own security. Yours won’t be necessary.”

“That’s not your fucking call to make,” Ethan growls.

Ignoring Ethan, Anthony says, “Everything is all set with the apartment. You’ll be right down the hall in a furnished corporate unit. We can have you in there by Sunday,” Anthony says.

Ethan frowns. “Sunday? That’s two nights from now.” He looks at Chloe and me. “Why don’t we just get a couple of hotel rooms? The two of you can stay in one, and Nick and I will stay in a room next door. I’ll have guards stationed outside your room. We can do that for a couple of nights, and then we probably won’t even need his fucking apartment,” Ethan says, scowling at Anthony.

My heart pounds in my chest. This is all going too fast. “No.”

Ethan looks at me like he’s genuinely not used to hearing the word. “Why not? What’s wrong with that idea?”

I look at Anthony and he steps forward. “She wants to stay here with me.”

I hate that I’m hurting Ethan, but I know Anthony. He’s made me feel safe and protected from the moment I woke up in that hospital bed.

“You need to stay the fuck out of this,” Ethan says.

I shake my head as the tears start to fall again. “He’s my friend, Ethan. Chloe is my friend. I know them. Please, just try to understand that I need that familiarity right now. I want to stay here with Anthony and Chloe, at least until the apartment is ready.”

Chloe steps in and says gently, “Ethan, I’ll be here the entire time. I know it’s not ideal, but Olivia will have some peace of mind. You can trust me to take care of her.” Ethan doesn’t say anything. He just looks at me with torment in his eyes, and for a split second, I’m tempted to change my mind and go home with him.

“It’s late, and I really am tired.”

Chloe looks back and forth between Ethan and Nick. “Maybe we should let Olivia rest. We can get together tomorrow. Remember,” she says, looking at Ethan, “I’m not going anywhere. She’ll be okay.” I know this is hurting Ethan. It’s clear he has a dominant personality, and he must be used to getting his own way. I think he’s actually taking this quite well.

“How do you expect me to walk out of here?” Ethan says, taking my hand and looking into my eyes. “I just got you back.”

“Because, she’ll be with me,” Chloe says again. “She’s safe, Ethan.”

“She needs to rest,” Nick says with a nod.

Ethan’s grip on my hand tightens. “I need to see you before Sunday.”

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