Chapter 31 Carry Me First
Steam billowed around us as Ethan carried me from the marble bathroom, my body still damp and warm against his bare chest. I felt weightless in his arms, my head resting against his shoulder as he walked with steady, purposeful strides toward the bed.
"You really don't have to carry me everywhere," I murmured, though I made no effort to escape his grip. "I'm perfectly capable of walking."
Ethan's lips curved into a half-smile. "I enjoy having you in my arms, Olivia. You weigh nothing."
He laid me gently on the bed, the mattress dipping beneath our combined weight as he settled beside me.
"That tea from dinner really worked, didn't it?" I asked playfully.
His dark eyes locked onto mine, serious and unwavering. "I want you, Olivia. That has nothing to do with any tea."
Heat rushed to my cheeks. "You're shameless, Mr. Bennett."
He chuckled, the sound deep and genuine as he leaned down to press a gentle kiss to the corner of my mouth. "You need to rest, my dear."
I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. 3:15 PM.
"I don't want to sleep," I said, pushing myself up to sitting position. "I want to go to the hospital earlier to see my grandfather."
Ethan nodded, understanding in his eyes. He stood, reaching for his phone on the nightstand. "I'll arrange for the car."
I caught his hand before he could move away, pulling him back toward the bed. "Can you stay with me a little longer?"
He didn't speak, just slipped beneath the covers beside me and wrapped an arm around my waist.
"Why do you like me, Ethan?" I asked suddenly.
He paused, his hand stilling on my waist. Then he shifted, sitting up against the headboard. "Honestly? From the first time I saw you, I felt a compulsion to have you."
I tried not to let the disappointment show on my face. So it was just physical attraction. I smiled anyway, keeping my voice light. "I must have been quite beautiful in your eyes to inspire love at first sight."
Ethan pulled me closer, his voice low. "Yes."
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We arrived at Pacifica Memorial Hospital shortly before 4:00 PM. Ethan chose to wait in the main lobby, giving me space for the family visit.
Room 505 was halfway down a sterile hallway that smelled of antiseptic and artificial lemon. I paused outside the door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open. The scene inside made my heart clench—my grandfather Paul hooked up to an IV, looking thinner than I remembered, my grandmother Martha fussing with his pillows, and my stepmother Jessica sitting by the window, scrolling through her phone with a bored expression.
"Grandpa!" I couldn't help the moisture gathering in my eyes as I rushed to his bedside, taking his frail hand in mine.
"There she is," he said with a weak smile, his voice raspy but warm. "My dear Olivia."
Martha frowned, her lips pursed in disapproval. "Olivia, you shouldn't have come all this way. Such a waste of money on airfare."
"That's right," Jessica chimed in, looking up from her phone with a fake smile. "All this way just for a quick visit? Hardly seems worth it."
"Enough," Grandpa Paul said firmly. "I'm happy to see my granddaughter."
I ignored the women, focusing only on my grandfather. "How are you feeling? Is the treatment working?"
"The doctors say the tumor is responding," he said with cautious optimism. "Though they won't commit to a prognosis yet."
I nodded, reaching into my purse to pull out an envelope. I placed it on the bedside table. "This is five hundred dollars, Grandpa. For nutritional supplements, or whatever you need."
I lowered my voice, though not enough that Martha and Jessica couldn't hear. "Don't let Dad know about this money. It's only for your treatment."
Jessica's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you suggesting David would take it?"
"I'm not suggesting anything," I replied calmly, meeting her gaze. "I'm just making sure Grandpa gets the best care possible."
Jessica stood, her chair scraping loudly against the floor as she approached me. Her hand rose, poised to slap my face, but I caught her wrist mid-air, my grip firm.
"What do you think you're doing?" I asked, my voice ice cold. "You have no right to hit me. I'm not your daughter."
Jessica's face contorted with rage, but she said nothing as I released her wrist. Without another word, I gave my grandfather's hand a final squeeze and turned to leave.
The hallway seemed longer on the way out, my steps echoing against the linoleum. I felt drained, emotionally wrung out from the brief but intense confrontation. When I reached the lobby, Ethan wasn't where I'd left him. I scanned the waiting area, looking for his tall figure among the scattered visitors.
Not seeing him, I ducked into the women's restroom to collect myself. Standing before the mirror, I stared at my reflection—eyes slightly red from unshed tears. I took several deep breaths, splashed cold water on my face, and patted it dry with a paper towel.
When I emerged, Ethan was waiting by the entrance to the lobby, two paper cups of coffee in his hands. Relief flooded through me at the sight of him, solid and unwavering.
"I don't want to stay at the hospital anymore," I said quietly as I took the coffee he offered. My voice sounded tired, even to my own ears. "Could we go to the mall or something?"
Ethan studied my face, noting my reddened eyes without comment. "I have a better idea," he said. "How about we watch the sunset at Mori Point?"
I shook my head. "I don't have the energy to hike those cliff trails. I'm too tired today."
"I could carry you up there," he said with such seriousness that I looked up in surprise. "I can carry you anywhere you want to go."
A small smile tugged at my lips despite my mood. "What about Mt. Whitney? Or Half Dome?"
Ethan looked directly into my eyes. "If you could love me, Olivia, I'd carry you up every famous peak in America."
"Why don't you carry me up those mountains first, and then I'll fall in love with you?" I countered, a mischievous smile playing on my lips.