We are Forever (Book 6 in Nemi Forever Series)

Chapter 5

Nick

I hated seeing Demi leave Olivia's hospital room, knowing she was probably not okay with all this. I knew her better than that. I know she told me I had to do this for Olivia & said she was okay with it, but I knew better. I also felt horrible for Wilmer, who just wanted to see his wife, be with her, comfort her, hold her hand, kiss her & talk about their future, now that they had one. I can't even imagine how I would feel if this were Demi in this bed, instead of Olivia & Wilmer & I swapped places. It would kill me to have him being the one to sit on Demi's bed, holding her hand & her thinking she was still in love with him.

"I can't believe my sisters trying to play a joke on me like that when I woke up." Olivia was shaking her head as she spoke, watching me & smiling. I smiled, faintly back at her. "Why would they do that?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Just wanted you to know they missed you, I guess." I didn't have a clue what to say, so that sentence surprised me a little.

Olivia chuckled, squeezing my fingers in her hand. "I've been thinking since I woke up. I don't want to waste another precious moment of my life. I want us to get married this year."

I swallowed, nervously. "Oh yea?" I asked, my heart racing, trying to think of what to say. Her sisters didn't want me to tell her the truth this soon. Olivia nodded. "We'll talk about it, later." I gave her a smile as I squeezed her fingers.

"Okay. I can't wait." Olivia sat up a little straighter in her bed, letting go of my hand & running her hand up my thigh, now. I pressed my lips together, watching her, watch me. "Now that we're alone, maybe I can get a better kiss." Olivia was biting her lip, trying to be seductive. I remembered that look, the one that used to get me going & now it made me uncomfortable.

"I don't want either of us to get too worked up." I replied, still smiling, trying to not sound like I was making up an excuse.

Olivia sighed, leaning back on her bed. "You're killing me, Nick."

I had to laugh. "Sorry. You're supposed to stay calm. You just came out of a coma."

"Fine."

"In fact, I should let you rest. I have work to do, anyway." I stood up.

"Work?" Olivia's eyebrows were drawn together.

"Yea, in the studio with Paul."

"You scheduled studio time while I was in a coma?" She asked in an irritated voice.

Crap. "It was booked before the accident. I signed contracts, Liv. Gotta honor them."

Her lips were pursed. "I guess. Will you be back later?"

"I'll come by tomorrow." I said, rubbing her leg, gently.

"Promise?" Olivia smiled up at me & I nodded in response. She reached for my hand & I let her take it in hers. Olivia held my hand tightly. "I'm not letting you go until I get a real kiss."

I sighed, instinctively & shook my head at her as I smiled. I bent down to kiss her & her hand came up to my neck, to hold my mouth against hers. Demi's face flashed in my head, so I imagined it was her I was kissing. I felt Olivia's tongue touch mine & I almost jumped, realizing it wasn't Demi's tongue. I pulled away & wiped my mouth. "Get some rest, Liv."

"I will try." She sighed, laying her head back on the pillow. "I love you."

I took a deep breath. "I love you, too." That was painful to say to her face. That face. I didn't love her the way she thought I did when I said that. I loved her. Yes, as my friend. I hoped she couldn't tell that the difference in that "I love you," from the "I love you's" I said to her while we were dating. She smiled at me as I started to turn to walk away, so I figured she was convinced. I gave her a slight wave & a smile before I left the room.