Forever Mine

Chapter five

Ollie

“I swear to god if you embarrass me today in front of my family…” he said through his teeth. I wanted to roll my eyes. I wanted to scoff at him but I knew better not to, “I know you’re hiding secrets from me and I don’t appreciate it. We are going to have a conversation when we are alone and back home. I’ve let this go on long enough, Olivia.”

“Are you still going on about New Years?” I asked without looking at him, “I already told you what happened. I didn’t feel good. You dropped me off and went back to the bar or wherever you went and I called the girls. You don’t see me asking where you went after you dropped me off.”

“What I do in my spare time is none of your business and it’s not just new year’s. It’s all the other times after that and even before.” He snapped and then reached over and grabbed my wrist. I tried not to yelp at the sudden urge of pain that radiated all stemming from the night of Aiden’s going away party and all the nights after that. “And you need to stop wearing that damn ring. I don’t care who gave it to you, it’s not appropriate.” He squeezed, making me wince a bit.

I pulled my wrist away from his grip and rubbed it, thankful that I wore long sleeves today even though it’s almost eighty outside, “It was a gift from an old friend from high school. I’m going to wear it.” I mumbled.

“You are so damn lucky we’re almost to the restaurant.” He eyed me from the side, “Now, remember what I said, you better behave in front of them or I swear Ollie, I freaken swear.” He took in a deep breath and let it out, calming himself down, “I just…I don’t know why you always push my buttons. I don’t know why you always test limits. You know I care about you and I hate hurting you, but it’s like…you never learn. When are you going to learn?”

“I’m sorry.” I mumbled as I dropped my head down, playing with my fingers and the ring on my right ring finger. A ring that I would always cherish, but now, I was thinking about getting rid of it for the fear of what might happen to me if I didn’t. I let out a soft sigh as my phone vibrated in my pocket. I wanted to open the message but I was absolutely terrified. The last time I opened a message in front of him, it was from Aiden, the night everyone got together asking if I was going to be there. Ryan saw and freaked out, smashing my phone and punching a hole in the wall of my house before slapping me for talking to another man.

When I told him it was because he was leaving for deployment, he said he didn’t care and then he stormed out of my place saying he needed to get away from me before he does something he regrets.

There are still holes in the wall because I haven’t had a chance to patch them up. It also didn’t help that I didn’t know how to do it and then I had to fork over eight hundred dollars that same day to get a new phone, because that’s how people from work page me in case of an emergency.

We pulled into this beautiful restaurant right off a lake, about an hour south from home. It was a beautiful day to sit outside and enjoy the soft breeze, but just thinking about sitting with his family gave me the chills. I don’t know how his mom is going to be around me. I don’t know how his dad is going to react, if they are the same person and his older brother and younger sister. God, I don’t know how this is all going to play out.

He got out of the car and went right up to his mom and brought her into the biggest hug. She embraced him like he was the best thing in her life and, to her, he probably was. I gathered everything in me and shook out my hands and opened the door.

“Oh! I’m so sorry babe.” He smiled at me and ran to the door and helped me out of the car, “I know you’re in a bit of pain from working thirty-six hours the other day. Let me help you.” he smiled, but his eyes told me to keep my mouth shut.

“Thank you.” I smiled up at him. We walked over to his parents and he introduced me.

“Mom, dad, this is Olivia, or Ollie, the one I’ve been telling you about. Ollie, this is my mom, Laura, and my dad, Carlos. And this guy here is my older brother Blake and my baby sister Nora.”

Blake came right over to me and pulled me into the biggest hug, squeezing me to the point it hurt, but it didn’t hurt because of him. I hugged him back and laughed, trying to fight through the pain, “What did my baby brother do to deserve a looker like you?” he winked.

“Back off Blake.” Ryan rolled his eyes, “She’s mine.”

“Let me have a turn.” Nora smiled and came over and gave me a soft, gentle hug. It was like she knew I was in pain, “Sorry about Blake, he’s a hugger and Ryan is the jealous one. I’m so happy to finally meet you!”

“Me too.” I smiled at her as she grabbed my hands. She looked at me and eyed me up and down and furrowed her brow just a bit, looking from my long sleeve top to my shorts, but she shook it off and smiled again, “Come on. You can sit next to me.”

“Not a chance. She’s sitting next to me.” Ryan mumbled and pulled me towards him.

“You know there’s two sides to her, right?” Nora rolled her eyes and I just smiled up at Ryan.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’ll sit next to the both of you.” I reached down and grabbed his hand, linking our fingers together, but he squeezed just a bit too tight, but I kept the smile on my face, “Now, let’s get inside and settled. I’m sure your family is hungry.”

We went inside and got a table right outside on their deck across from the water. The breeze felt amazing and was helping me cool myself down. The hostess handed us out menus and I opened it right up to the wine list. I was on call tonight but that didn’t mean I couldn’t have one glass because I’m going to need it.

“Babe, how about some water, you know, that is already here?” he eyed me, “You know the wine isn’t good right now.” I looked over at him and furrowed my brows.

“One glass isn’t going to hurt me, Ryan.”

“Ollie…I said it’s not a good idea.”

“Why isn’t it a good idea?” his mother asked, looking between both of us. I shrugged my shoulders and was about to answer until Ryan opened his big mouth, just as I was taking a drink of the water on the table.

“Well, mom, I wanted to keep it a surprise until we actually had news but Ollie and I decided we wanted to start a family.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me to him as I started to choke on the water, having it fly everywhere in front of me.

“Oh my gosh Ollie, are you okay?” Nora said, patting my back and rubbing, trying to help ease the choking. I grabbed a napkin and started to wipe down all the places I spewed water, trying to comprehend what he just said.

A family?

What the hell is he talking about? We never talked about this! And even if we did, over my dead fuckin’ body am I bringing a child into this world with him.

“That is so exciting! I know when you said she was the one I was a bit skeptical but seeing you two together, I can see it.” His mother smiled as Ryan looked down at me and had anger hidden behind his smile, “You two will have such a beautiful family. I can’t wait to be a grandma!”

I stood up and took my phone out of my pocket and wiped the water off my legs, trying not to listen to the words floating around me. My insides were shaking. I wanted to run and hide from him and this situation. I just…I can’t do this.

I need to get out.

“I’m sorry.” I mumbled, “I just…that was unexpected.”

“What do you mean? We’ve talked about it. I know we said we were going to keep it to ourselves but I couldn’t hold it in any longer.” He said as my phone went off again and this time, he was able to see who was messaging me, “What is he doing texting you?” his voice suddenly changed, deeper, more menacing, but no one noticed the change but me.

“Sorry I just…I thought we weren’t going to say anything until it was time.” I said, playing along because god forbid I didn’t. The idea of what he could do to me scared the s**t out of me and now that he said that, I was even more terrified, “And it’s Art. He’s probably working and probably needs help with something. Is it alright if I take this?”

“Do you have to? Don’t you think it’s a bit rude to be taking work calls right now?” he glared.

“What is it you do dear?” His mother asked as I sat down and grabbed my phone, only for it to vibrate again. I knew if he was blowing up my phone something had happened and he needed my help.

“I’m a doctor at the local hospital in Crossdale. I work in orthopedics but I have taken on a new specialty, just trying to gain more knowledge. I’m currently working with OB.”

“Oh, so you help deliver babies! That’s so exciting. Isn’t it exciting, Carlos?” she looked over at her husband and he just smiled and nodded, “So, if they are messaging you, then it must be something important.”

“Yes, so it is alright if I take this? I promise to keep you updated.” I asked, looking up at Ryan. He squeezed my leg under the table and smiled. I could feel the pain go deep into the muscle, knowing a bruise was going to form…again.

I don’t know how much longer I can take.

“Go ahead but hurry back.” Another fake smile. I need to figure out what the hell I did to deserve this kind of treatment. Why am I subjecting myself to this? Why am I so scared of him? I'm better than this! I always have been!

Yeah…I remember why…

I slid myself from the table and walked to the other end of the restaurant by the bathrooms to look at my phone and Art literally blew up my phone. But it wasn’t about work. The messages were actually quite concerning. I called him back quickly, needing to make sure everything was okay.

“You are a terrible person. You need to learn to pick up your phone when we need you. This is actually serious.” He panicked on the phone. You can hear his voice trembling, “I’m sorry, I’m just freaking out. We are on our way back from San Antonio and she started to feel some pressure and cramping, almost like she’s in labor.”

“Art, first I need you to breathe. Ava is seven months and the likelihood that she’s in labor is not very high. They are most likely Braxton hick contractions.”

“Where are you? Are you home or at the hospital?” he panicked as I heard Ava groan next to him, “I’m sorry babe, keep breathing.”

“Ava, tell me what’s going on?” I asked.

“It hurts Ollie. This doesn’t feel like Braxton hicks.”

“Did you notice any bleeding?” I asked.

“No, but Ollie, I’m not kidding…this is something different. I know Braxton hicks. I’ve seen them. We’re all doctors and if two of us are worried, then something has to be wrong. Where are you? Can I see you please?”

“Even though you two are doctors, you two are also the parents, so your fear is on a whole new level.”

“Ollie…please.” She cried into the phone.

“I’m at Sea by the Lake.” And Art cut me off.

“That’s five minutes from us. Are you with Monroe?”

“And his family.”

“Can I get you…please? This is serious. I’m sure he’ll understand. If not, then I’ll take care of it.”

“Yes. Message me when you’re here. Let me go talk to them and give them an update and I’ll wait for you outside if I’m done before you get there. Ava, babe, breathe in and out and try to remain calm. I promise you I will do everything I can to make sure you and the baby are both okay.”

I hung the phone up and leaned against the wall, not ready to go there and tell Ryan what was going on. I know for sure he’s going to be upset and I’m going to end up paying for it later, but if Ava needs me, then so be it. This takes priority.

I gathered everything I had in me and went back to the table to face not only him, but his family. Nora could tell by the look on my face something was wrong and she instantly was worried. It sucks that I have to cut this short. I could see Nora and I becoming close. You can tell she has a soft, kind heart, the complete opposite of her brother. Blake was eating his clams and didn’t pay attention, which was fine, but when I looked at Ryan, you could tell he was pissed off.

The look on his face told me I better not leave.

The gleam in his eye told me I was going to pay for my decision.

But I didn’t care. Ava is family and family comes first.

I just hope I don't regret this decision.