Friends with Benefits

Chapter Three

Laying on my bed, Livia was curled up into my side, it has been three weeks since the incident with Kevin and Kaitlin. We have kept our little arrangement going, but it's not the same, not after I asked Livia to start dating me. Her hearts just not into this. "Livia, you ok?"
"Yeah," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Livia, what's wrong?"
"I don't think we should be doing this anymore."
"Livia, no, we should, I don't want to lose you."
"I can't do this with you. I just can't."
"Why not? Livia, I love you."
Her eyes darted up, searching mine for any hint of a lie.
"You do?"
"Yeah, for awhile now, when you started dating Kevin again, I nearly lost it, because I swear each time we were together, I couldn't bear not to be with you."
"I don't understand, why not tell me?"
"Because you wouldn't have believed me. And don't deny it, you question everything that happens to you."
"I don't know, I still don't think I can continue with this," she said, as she scrambled out of the bed, gathering her clothes.
As she went to go out the door, I grabbed her hand, pulling her into me and kissing her. I knew she was fighting this, and when she pushed at my chest, backing away, I could see the pain in her eyes.

Three weeks later, I arrived at my parents house, walking in the front door. "Roman," my mom yelled, "where've you been? Diane and I have been waiting to talk to you about Livia."
"Not now mom."
"You're going to listen to us, so sit down."
"Why? I don't want to talk about her right now."
"Well you need to know what happened last night."
"What do you mean?" I said, stopping in my tracks.
"Kevin broke into her house last night, nearly killed her."
"And you're just telling me this now?" I said.
"We just got a call about ten minutes ago that she was brought into the ER," mom said.
"Her brother went to pick her up to come over for the picnic tonight, and found her unconscious."
"Dammit, I need to get to her."
"We'll go with you."
When we arrived at the hospital, her brother sat there, his head in his hands, their mom walked up to him, wrapping her arms around him, saying, "Any word on Livia yet?"
"No."
"Mark, where's Kevin at?"
"With Kaitlin down at the motel on 6th."
"I'll be back soon."
"No she's going to need you."
"I'm not going to let that asshole hurt her again."
"Roman, our moms are right, she's going to need you."
Pacing the room, I thought about Livias reluctance to stay with me. Dammit, I pushed her away. She's too scared to get close to anyone afraid they'll hurt her.
"Are you the family of Livia Frost?" The doctor asked.
"Yes," we all replied in unison.
"Ok, well, she's out of surgery, the injuries she sustained are severe, multiple broken bones, bruises. The most troubling injury was the blow to her head, when he threw her into the wall. She should recover, but it will take time."
"Doc, the blow to her head, did it cause any memory loss or anything?"
"None that we have noticed yet, but you all would know more about her than us. If anyone would like to see her, I recommend only one at a time for the time being."
We all nodded, her mom rushed behind the doctor to Livia. Mark and I sat down beside each other, "I know you love my sister, all I ask is that you heal her heart. She's been through too much."
"I intend on doing that, if only she'd let me in."

When she came out, she said, "Roman, she wants to see you."
"Ok, thanks." I walked through the hallway to her room, knocking lightly on the door. "Hey baby, how're you feeling?"
She looked up, tears brimming in her eyes, as I walked towards her, wrapping her in my arms. "Roman, please don't leave me," she cried into my chest.
"I'm not going anywhere, I'll stay with you as long as you need."
"I was going to come see you last night, but when I went to go out the door, he hit me full force."
"Why were you coming to see me?"
She looked up at me, pulling my face down, "For this," she said, pressing her mouth to mine. After what seemed like an eternity, but ending too soon, she said, "I love you."