Bloom [Completed]

Chapter Twentyone

(Mature content)

As I enter the hospital room from last night I'm hit with a wave of nerves.

What if she doesn't like me?
I worry and bite my lip nervously.

As I round the corner I see Oliver sitting holding hands with his mother, who is now sitting up right and smiling.

She's a short lady with cropped brown hair. Her eyes seem happy dispite her tired looking frame.

Oliver stands to great me. "Billie, I'd like you to properly meet my Mum, Tanya." He places a hand lightly on my lower back and turns back to face her. "Mum, this is Billie."

"Billie darling," She fusses over her hair. "Sorry I'm in such a state. Ollie didn't mention he had a girl!" She eyes him suspiciously.

"Mum," he protests. But she interrupts.

"Oh I'm teasing!" She laughs. I can see a resemblance in her smile and Oliver's.

"It's nice to finally see you awake." I say stepping forward and resting my hand on her bed.

She reaches out for my hand and clasps it in both of hers.

"Don't you worry about little old me!" She says

"Of course we worry about you, Ma" Oliver replies looking over at me anxiously.

"You definitely scared Oliver," I say to her smiling. "So I take it things are improving well?"

"Yes on the mend! Only a full leg cast and one broken rib. Nothing I can't handle." She says positively.

I smile at Oliver and he squeezes my free hand.

A little while later Oliver and I both enter the lift to leave the hospital. On the way down I give him a side-eyed glance. I smirk up at him and blush looking back down again. I can't help but think about the first time the two of us were in a lift together and I had that God awful pink sock stuck to my butt.

I think I see him smile as well, so I playfully bump his hip with mine gently, to brighten the mood.

He lets out a low chuckle and places a hand affectionately on the small of my back as we exit to the underground car park.

I let a huge grin spread across my face, I just made Oliver Daily laugh!

"Come on," He smiles down at me, "Let's go back to mine for the night."

A tiny blush creeps up the back of my neck. How presumptuous of him to think that I will stay at his tonight! I mean, of course, I will but, its the principle behind it.

After a quiet ride through the darkened streets, we enter his dimly lit apartment. It's just as I remember and I'm secretly grateful I get to see it again after that terribly interrupted first date.

"Wine?" He asks me as he makes his way to the kitchen.

"No thanks," I reply while taking off my heels from my poor sore feet.

I wander over to his couch and plop down in the middle with a loud sigh.

"That bad?" He raises his eyebrows at me from the kitchen.

"That meeting was stuffy. And so jargon filled... please don't make me do that again."

"Okay," there was a hint of humour in his tone of voice.

I let my head fall back and shut my eyes, focusing on my breathing. Where was tonight going to go? When was the last time I shaved downstairs?

My thoughts were soon interrupted by a weight sitting on the couch next to me. I fluttered my eyes open to meet Oliver's mesmerising grey ones watching me. I held his gaze as long as I could. His eyes were kind and warm. No hint of judging in them but I blushed and looked away feeling too closely examined for my liking.