You Distract Me - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Shayne
I hated hospitals for so many reasons, but the smell was the worst.
Still, I couldn't leave. And I didn't want to.
When Olivia had started shaking uncontrollably in my car, I'd almost lost my shit. It'd taken everything in me not to let go of the steering wheel to hold her.
She's severely starved and dehydrated, the doctor had said.
And as I impatiently sat in the waiting area, it dawned on me that Olivia hadn't looked herself, and I noticed that from the time I saw her at the funeral.
Her father's arrest must have hit her in all the wrong places.
But I also wanted to blame Gideon Pierce so hard. He was the one who'd spent all that time with her while I was away. The man was a douche, and I'd also learned he was a hard ass at work, no wonder Olivia hardly had any time to think about herself.
A series of giggles pulled me out of my thoughts. Right across from me sat a trio of teenage girls in clothes that seemed way beyond their age. Were skirts supposed to be that small?
The prettiest of them smiled at me and waved. Might I add extremely flirtatiously.
Offering her a tight lipped smile, I stood and picked up my jacket. I didn't feel like getting arrested tonight.
I walked into the quiet hallway and made a few calls to keep myself busy. As I finished my last one, I heard that familiar annoying tone.
Olivia's mom had arrived.
"Lorraine, just make sure that meeting happens. I need it to happen, pronto."
"Yes, Shay—" I hang up before my PA could finish. She'd improved greatly in last few weeks, but I couldn't let her know that.
Mentally preparing myself, I walked back into the waiting area, and found the source of disturbance.
"Ma'am, you have to understand that you can't see her just yet. The doctor will be back soon, and then you can talk to him," the nurse at the front desk pleaded with the beautiful woman.
"If you don't let me see my child right now, I will burn you to the ground." Her loud and authoritative tone had already attracted several people in the waiting area.
"You can talk to the person who brought her in. The doctor already talked to her."
The nurse pointed towards me, and when the scornful woman turned to me, a horrified gasp left her mouth.
"You!"
I saw the intent in her eyes as she stomped towards me, dress swishing against the floor, and when her hand lifted to hit me across the face, I caught her slender wrist.
"Unhand me this very moment!"
"As soon as you stop making a scene, Mrs. Ryans. This isn't about me or you, it's about your daughter. I can only tolerate so much from you, but don't tempt me, please."
A dozen emotions crossed her face, and when I was sure she wasn't going to go ape shit on me, I let her go.
"What happened and why are you here?" she asked spitefully, intent to kill in her light green eyes.
Though Olivia was young and absolutely stunning, her mother was clearly the source of some of her features.
"I was invited to the ball as well. Olivia didn't look so good, so I brought her here."
A lot of shit got skipped, but it didn't concern her.
"What did the doctor say?"
"She's severely starved and dehydrated. At the moment, they're running a few more tests."
A look of disbelief and worry crossed her face, but she wiped it off with anger. "What did you do to her? She was fine before you showed up."
"I did nothing. I understand you're not fond of me, but I'd never do anything to harm your daughter."
She stayed quiet, staring me down for several seconds. To my relief, she finally looked away and found a seat for herself.
I ran a hand over my face, and rolled my shoulders. The time on my watch said it was a little past ten. Shit! I'd forgotten about Gloria.
I'd just have to deal with her later. I could only survive so much drama for one night.
Gloria was the daughter of one of my possible investors, and tonight was only supposed to be a business arrangement. I'd hardly gotten off the flight from Turkey when she'd called to have dinner with me.
To kill two birds with one stone, I suggested we go to the ball together. She'd only been too pleased with the idea.
But I'd realized my mistake the moment I picked her up in a skimpy little dress with the intent to jump me all over her face.
Fortunately, a beautiful girl with lush curves of sin had my undivided attention from the moment I'd arrived. She hadn't seen me, but I'd seen every handsy man who'd danced with her. If she hadn't walked out on the last one, I swear I would have killed someone.
As I leaned against the white sterile wall of the waiting area, I realized I wouldn't have attended the stupid party if I hadn't had hopes of seeing Olivia.
She was becoming more important to me by the minute. And it was fucking scary.
"Shayne West?"
I pushed myself off the wall when I heard the doctor's voice. I looked at his face and didn't see any sign of regret or sadness there.
I breathed a sigh of relief and walked to him while Olivia's mom did the same. She gave me a hateful look, but didn't say anything.
"I'm her mother. Is she going to be okay?"
"It was quick thinking to bring her in this early. The situation would have been a different one if she hadn't been. We'll have to hospitalize her for the next twenty-four hours, but she'll be just fine."
"Thank you," she said to the doctor.
"Don't thank me, thank her." He gestured towards me.
She didn't even bother looking at me. I mentally shrugged; I didn't expect a thank you anyway.
"Can I see her?" she said.
"Yes, you may."
I took a step forward, but her hands pressed against my stomach to stop me.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To see her, what do you think?" Her hands didn't leave my abs.
"Over my dead body. Your work is done here." Her eyes slide down and as if she'd just realized where her hands were placed, she pulled away as though she'd been burned.
"Actually, Mrs. Ryans, your daughter didn't ask for you, she asked for someone else."
He looked at me with a knowing smirk. If it wasn't for the kindness of my heart, I would have laughed, but I wasn't in the mood to destroy anyone's dignity at the moment.
"I don't care, I'm her mother. I'll see her as well."
"Of course," the doctor said.
He moved out of the way and let us pass with directions to Olivia's recovery room.
My long strides put me first, and I couldn't help my chuckle as the spiteful woman trotted beside me to get ahead.
She didn't knock when we reached the desired room, she just pushed the door open, got in and slammed it in my face.
I grinned. Ryans women sure knew how to make an impression.
Anyway, I supposed they needed their moment together. After all, I wasn't anyone special to Olivia.
But the good Lord knew the desires of my heart.
Less than ten minutes passed when the door opened, revealing a teary eyed Mrs. Ryans.
"She wants to talk to you." She clasped a hand over her mouth, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, excuse me."
I slightly bowed my head and took a deep breath before stepping into the wooden themed sterile room.
I closed the door and faced her.
IV fluids were pumping into her body, while a couple of machines beeped beside her bed.
She looked painfully vulnerable. No wonder her mother had left like that.
"Hi," I said, avoiding her stare which I knew was watching my every move.
"I'm dehydrated, not ebola infected," her voice croaked out.
I rubbed the back of my neck out of nervousness. I didn't like this scenario, it was too familiar. I wanted to be anywhere but here.
But when I had the courage to look at her face, I hated myself for being a coward. Nothing bad was going to happen, she was going to be fine.
Her makeup was gone, and the paleness of her beautiful face was more pronounced. The elegant peach-colored dress she'd worn for the night had been replaced by a white polka dotted hospital gown.
I craved to touch her.
And I did just that as I discarded my jacket on a nearby chair, walked to the side of the bed and reached for her hand.
"How are you feeling?" Her pale hand was in sharp contrast to my hands, and that mere thought broke my heart. Without thinking, I leaned down and kissed her fingers.
She smiled weakly. "I could be better, but other than that, I really don't feel much discomfort . . . Shayne, I wanted to thank you, for everything."
"Anyone could have been in my place. I'm only a good civilian." I gave her a lopsided smirk.
She grinned sheepishly, color flowing into her cheeks. It was clear her beauty stayed undefeated.
"Still, you stayed. You know what? I don't know if it's these fluids sipping into me, but I'm in the forgiving mood. Sit." She tapped the space next to her waist.
I chuckled but complied making sure I didn't hurt her as I made myself comfortable, her pretty hand still clasped between both of mine.
"Hey, beautiful," I said, watching her eyes take in the rolled up sleeves of my shirt.
More color flooded her cheeks. "May I ask you a random question?"
"Of course."
"How many tattoos do you have?"
Her question made me smile for some reason. "I honestly don't know. I lost count a couple of years ago."
"That many?"
"That many. Do you have one?"
"A tattoo?" She giggled. "Over my mom's dead body."
I laughed and told her about the drama her mother performed not too long ago.
"That's my mother alright."
My grin lessened. "She looked a little shaken before. Is she alright?"
She sighed and bit her lip. I realized she was trying not to cry. "She thinks it's her fault that I'm here. That she hasn't been paying attention to my needs for the last few months."
"It's only natural for her to feel that way."
"I know. It's just hard, you know?"
"I know," I said, understanding lacing my voice.
I avoided her eyes when I realized I'd let my emotions slip.
"Shayne, will you just tell me what's going on? Right now I'm not asking as anything other than someone who's simply concerned."
I briefly closed my eyes, debating on whether I was ready to talk about it. Maybe I'd just tell her the half of it.
"The most important person in my life right now . . . is dying."
And just like that, I let out everything, including my parents' death and how Christina's own parents had helped me through the years.
"I hate myself every second that goes by." I was sobbing quietly at the moment and I failed to feel any shame. "She's facing this nightmare all on her own because I'm such a coward. She probably hates me."
Olivia pulled her hand out of my hold and reached up to cup my cheek. I leaned into it as tears rolled down my face.
"You don't know that. From what I've heard, she loves you very much and always will. Your reaction is perfectly normal, you just have to decide what time's best for you to deal with it."
The door to the recovery room opened and I faced away from it, Olivia's hand dropping from my cheek.
"I'm sorry, but Ms. Ryans needs her rest."
"Could you just give us a couple more minutes?" Olivia said to the disembodied voice.
"No need," I said, hoping off the bed and scrubbing my face dry. "I'll see you tomorrow."
I walked away from her, my heart racing against my chest. I ignored her calls and stepped out.
I breathed for a few moments until I was certain I was good. How could I have lost it like that?
Olivia Ryans was quickly becoming my weakness.