Page 46 of Awakening

I pull out of his grasp and glare at him. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

Ethan throws his arms out to his sides and shakes his head. “Olivia, don’t let him ruin our night.”

“I don’t want to leave you here with him,” Anthony says.

“All right, listen, both of you. I’m a big girl capable of making my own decisions. Now, Anthony, go home so I can wrap things up with Ethan. He was just about to leave.”

“The fuck I was,” Ethan says, crossing his arms.

“Ethan, please, just stop talking. Anthony, go. I’ll speak with you tomorrow.”

“You know where to find me,” he says, glaring at Ethan and shaking his head before walking away.

“The four of you mind your own business from now on,” I say to the guards, slamming the door in their faces.

“Fucking asshole,” Ethan says, shaking his head. “He knew exactly what he was doing, Olivia. He interrupted us on purpose.”

“I know. I’m sorry, but maybe it’s not such a bad thing that we got interrupted. We were moving kind of fast.”

“Baby, you and I share a life together. It’s not too fast.”

“For where we are now, though, I just think maybe I shouldn’t lose my head quite so quickly.”

He comes closer, tracing his thumb down my cheek. “You were enjoying it, though, right?”

“Yes. Very much,” I say, looking up into his steel blue eyes.

“Good,” he says, leaning in to kiss me.

“Just so you know, I don’t feel like you took advantage of me.”

“Good. I’d never want that. I love you.”

A warmth spreads through my chest at his words. “I do think maybe we should call it a night for now. I’m going to text Chloe, but I do look forward to seeing you again, Ethan.”

“I want nothing more than to take you back to our home with me, Olivia. I worry that we’re wasting time keeping you away from surroundings that could trigger your memory to come back. You want that, don’t you?”

“Of course, I do. Please just try to see things from my perspective,” I say as I text Chloe.

“I don’t mean to push you, Liv. I just miss you so fucking much.”

My heart aches at his genuine emotion, and I try to think of a way to meet him halfway. “How about this…I’m not ready to move back in with you, but could you take me to see our home?”

A smile spreads across his face, and he says, “Yes, absolutely. I’d love to. Speaking of going home, I want to run something by you,” he says.

“Okay?”

“My family wants to see you. They’ve invited us to dinner at their home anytime you’re ready. I could pick you up in the early afternoon tomorrow, I’ll take you to see our home, and then maybe we could have dinner with my family.”

“Oh. Um…sure, but could you tell me about your family?”

“Right. Shit. You don’t remember them.”

I shake my head. “Sorry.”

“You don’t need to be sorry, Liv. It’s okay. My dad’s name is Edwin. He’s basically an older version of me, and he adores you. My mom’s name is Caroline, and the two of you grew close during the…during the pregnancy.”

Right. The pregnancy. “Ethan, it’s okay to bring it up. How are you doing, by the way?” I ask, touching his arm.

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