Forbidden

Chapter Twenty

As Olivia made her way back out, leaving her father behind, she walked towards Nick. She didn’t care who saw them together anymore. He was her backbone, her strength and she needed him now more than ever. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and he kissed the top of her head, returning the embrace. She looked up at him with sad eyes and he wiped away the tears and kissed her forehead.

“I’m so glad you came.”

“I told you I wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Nick whispered. “Stupid question, but how are you holdin’ up?”

                Olivia pondered the question for a moment before smiling.

“He’s better now. He’s happy, and that makes me happy. I’ll get through the rest somehow, like graduation and marriage and babies . . .”

“You’re right about everything except one little thing.”

“What?”

“You said you’ll get through the rest somehow. But that’s wrong. Because we’ll get through it somehow. I’m never leavin’ your side, through anything.”

                Olivia smiled as Nick placed his open hand on her cheek and kissed her softly.

“Olivia,” Kenley whispered with a shocked look on her face.

                Olivia didn’t pull away from Nick instantly like she probably should have. It didn’t matter anymore. The secret was out; the way it should be. A love like Nick and Olivia’s shouldn’t have to be hidden behind closed doors.

“Yeah?” Olivia answered back.

“Uh, your Momma’s ready to go . . .”

“Okay, give me just a second. I’ll be right there.”

                When Olivia looked back at Nick, she could see the surprise in his eyes and she smiled.

“Don’t worry, darlin’. Everything’s gonna be okay. I’ll call you as soon as I can. I love you, Nick.”

“I love you, too,” he said as he kissed her forehead one last time.

                Olivia started walking towards her mother’s car and Kenley jumped out of seemingly nowhere.

“Damn, Kenley! You scared me half to death!” Olivia surprised herself at her reaction, and quickly felt remorse for choosing those exact words.

“I know this isn’t like. . . the right time or anything but—“

“No. It’s fine. I’m fine. What were you gonna say?”

“Well,” Kenley started, “for one thing, why is Mr. Cereno here? And for another, why were ya’ll kissin’?”

“We’ve been together for about six months now,” Olivia smiled.

“And you couldn’t tell me?” Kenley prodded.

“It was entirely too risky, ya know? But . . . suddenly now, I don’t care who knows. I mean, of course I don’t want him to lose his job over it so try not to tell the whole school, but, I’ll tell Momma. I’ll handle it.”

                Kenley nodded, thinking about the absurdity of the situation. Kenley had known something was going on between Mr. Cereno and Olivia but she chalked it up to harmless flirtation. She’d never in a million years imagined her best friend was dating their high school teacher.

“Six months? Is it . . . serious?”

“Yeah, I’d say so. We love each other. It’s real.”

“Did your Daddy ever know?”

“He knows now,” Olivia said peacefully.

                At that moment, the wind picked up considerably and Olivia somehow knew it was her father. She could feel it. Kenley laced her arm through Olivia’s and they got into the car to head back home. She had the sudden urgency to let everyone know who she had been secretively sneaking around with and seeing for the past six months. Olivia had almost opened her mouth to tell her mother about she and Nick but she knew it was entirely too soon. There would be people waiting at the house to talk over coffee and casseroles but soon. She’d tell Liz soon.