Bloom [Completed]

Chapter Twentysix

Oliver's lost expression pained me to see and I so badly wanted to make him feel better. This was more emotion than I'd ever seen him express. I closed the distance between us, reaching out to his floundering fingers and locking them with mine.

"I know," I said calmly. "I know you're not like that, Ollie." Because of course how could he be? When he was so loving and kind to his mother, to me? No ounce in me believed he would behave that way. 

I could see him visibly relax, see his shoulders slump and his breath escape his lips. I pulled his head towards my shoulder wrapping my arms around him in a protective hug. We sat like that for a few minutes and then as fast as we had taken off we stopped outside my apartment. 

Oliver pulled back and studied my expression. "Thank you," He said seriously. He straightened up and adjusted his blazer, back into CEO mode. 

"I care about you," I said sincerely. "A lot."

"Good, cause I do too." He gave me a short smile.

I paused with my hand on the door handle. "When will I see you again?"

"When would you like to?" He replied happily. 

Now, I thought greedily. "This Saturday?"

"See you then," 

I stepped out onto the sidewalk but as I did so a flock of photographers flew to all sides blocking my path. For a second time that day I felt overwhelmed and frozen. My back was pressed up against the car door as questions and flashes were bombarding me. 

"Are you one of the girls linked to Henry?" "Who are you?" "Are you sleeping with him?" "We wanna know who the mystery girl is!"

From the front of the car, Cole pushed through creating a pocket for me to escape. I could feel his arm hover protectively over my back as he forced the car door open, hitting a photographer in the process. The questions got louder as they caught sight of Oliver, before shutting off completely. Cole was around the front and in the driver's seat within seconds and we pulled away from the kerb. 

"Are you okay?" Oliver said stunned. 

I nodded not able to find my voice or my seatbelt yet.

"Miss Dalton?" Cole called from the front seat. 

I just nodded again. That was such a shock to the system the first time. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind, but they'd followed us. What if they were following us again now? I turned and looked out the back window. 

"I'm so sorry Billie. I didn't think." Oliver rubbed his head again. "You can stay with me tonight,"

"Won't they follow us there?" I asked and my voice shook with a fear I didn't recognise. 

"Shhh," Oliver soothed, running a hand lightly up and down my thigh. "We'll lose them, don't worry."

"But-"

"We've done this before, Billie. This isn't my first rodeo." He let out a small laugh despite himself. It did make me laugh a little on the inside, remembering my earlier 'Howdy, partner' joke. 

. . .

Later that evening Oliver and I were heading to bed. He'd given me one of his casual t-shirts to wear since I had no clothes here. I came out of his closet and saw a shirtless Oliver folding back the sheets of the plush white bed. He saw me approaching and sat down on the edge of the bed with his arms outstretched, waiting for a hug.

I walked into them and he wrapped his warm arms around me completely.

"Thanks for letting me stay," I said into his bare shoulder.