Page 103 of Forbidden Hearts
I fill him in on our session and her attitude during it.
He glances up toward her room and sighs deeply. “I wanted to destroy every kid in that classroom who hurt her. Sara and I have tried everything, but Olivia just . . . she can’t control the ability to hear, but she can control the ability to speak.”
“Asher, how did Olivia lose her hearing?”
I have always wondered this because it’s kind of key in knowing what can be done. Not that I don’t think her current team is brilliant and able to fix it if they could, but the curiosity in me can’t be helped.
“She was born that way. Sara had horrible preeclampsia. She did everything she was told, spent the last three months of her pregnancy bedridden or in the hospital, but even still, it was difficult to manage. Olivia was born in duress at thirty-three weeks.”
“Oh God,” I say, imagining what Asher must’ve been feeling.
“It was horrible. Sara was so sick, and Olivia had a lot of issues breathing. She spent almost two months in the NICU, and it was then we realized she was deaf.”
“I didn’t know . . .”
“Phoebe, you would’ve been, what? Fifteen? Of course, you didn’t know.”
When he says it like that, I realize just how much of an age difference we have. “Still, I feel bad. Dad never mentioned anything. Just that you had a baby.”
“It was hard, but Sara and I were determined to give Olivia every opportunity she could have. We may joke a lot about not liking each other, but we’ve been a team that fights for our daughter whenever needed.”
That is why I am so freaking smitten with him. How many parents put their own shit aside for the better of their children? Not as many as there should be. Three of my friends in high school had divorced parents, and all of them were terrible to each other. These two were never even a real couple, and they put Liv first.
“I’m going to think of a way to encourage her to speak.”
He pulls me closer before kissing my forehead. “I know you will.”
I gasp, looking up because that was the most natural and innocent gesture that never should have happened. Not here. Not with Olivia home.
“You can’t. I can’t.”
Because I’ll want it. I need for us to keep our already blurred lines at least somewhat intact when we’re here.
“I know. I . . . the weekend we had, and I shouldn’t have.”
Olivia comes barreling down the stairs, and the two of us step apart.
My chest is aching with the desire to have this be our lives, the two of us hugging, kissing, and being affectionate like we were in Austin, but we aren’t in Texas anymore. We’re home where the agreement is sex until I leave.
With the strength of Midas, I keep myself calm and easygoing.“Are you excited?”I ask Liv.
“Yes. Don’t tell my mom.”
I laugh.“I won’t.”
Although, I am pretty sure she knows and just allows Asher and Liv their secrets.
Then she rushes toward me and wraps her arms around me in a tight hug before she steps back.“You’re the best.”
“Don’t tell your dad.”
She shakes her head, looking over at him.“I won’t.”
When she leaves the room, Asher comes up behind me, his lips at my ear. “Her dad already knows and plans to show you tonight.”
My muscles lock, and I don’t move for a solid five minutes, not until after I hear the ATVs ride away, taking my heart with them.
* * *
