Sorry to leave you on a cliff hanger but I had to. Hope you enjoyed the shopping trip.
Olive's P.O.V. Lisa was curled into a ball on the floor in front of Lucas' door. She held her knees to her chest with her head down between them."Lisa?" Lucas called to her, making her look up, showing her busted lip and bruised face.Something bad had happened, and the sight of her made me feel like I was 8 again helping mom clean up her wounds. I froze as I stared at her, Lucas did the same. He moved faster than I did, grabbing Lisa quickly, opening his door, and helping her inside. She limped, showing me she must have hurt her ankle or perhaps her leg.It took me a whole minute to convince my legs to move again. I took a slow, heavy step towards his apartment, feeling the trauma rise in me. I swallowed the thick emotion that felt like it was chocking me. I pushed forward, finally making it inside and closing the door behind me. Lucas had a first aid kit out, tending to Lisa's wounds already. His face was serious with his teeth clenched in anger. His nostrils flared, and his jaw t
Lucas' P.O.V. I had to tell him that we would wait to celebrate Rose's good news until the weekend. With everything that's going on now, we could use a little down time. I know Rose hadn't texted Hailey about yet either, so this is fine. I'll celebrate with Rose, just us two tonight. I watched Lisa leave with Rachel and Leo down the hall. I know Rachel can bring Lisa out her darkness better than I can. Lisa and I understand each other's pain too well to help cheer each other up. We're always there for one another, supporting and encouraging each other, but we suck at getting the other one to be happy. It's like we just end up wallowing in our sadness together instead. "Is she going to be okay?" Rose asked me, appearing beside me at the door. She peeked her head out, waving back at Lisa, who waved at her from the elevator. "I hope so." I need to be more mindful of her. She's always had terrible taste in men, but none of them had ever hit her before. Leo and I decided we'd pay him
Olive's P.O.V. Lucas drove me to school and even walked me to my class, giving me one last kiss before I entered. I missed him already, which only made me feel like a love sick teen again. I remember feeling this giddy when Julius and I first started dating, but it's different with Lucas. Like everything else, it's more intense with him. The feelings he brings out of me are almost overwhelming. I've never had anyone do this to me before, except maybe Ian. Even then it was different. Ian was the first person to be kind to me. He showed me what real friendship could look like. I haven't spoken to him in so long. Not since he moved away. We lost touch even though we swore we wouldn't. He never replied to me like he promised he would when I wrote. I never bothered to look him up. There's no reason to, he clearly didn't want to be my friend anymore. Class went by fast thankfully, nothing too strenuous. I hurriedly made my way to the Campus Commons to meet up with Hailey. I spotted her be
Lucas' P.O.V. "Is this the place?" Carter asked as we pulled up to a run down motel about 10 minutes away from Rose's flat. I had never seen this place before. It was as if we had crossed some kind of magical border that sent us to a different world, one of mischief and danger. Most of the buildings here were run down, with people loitering about. I couldn't help but feel more and more uneasy the further we had ventured in, but I had my sights set on confronting her father and I was gonna damn well do it. "Yeah, that's the place." I nodded staring up at the rusted railing on the second floor. Second floor room 13. That's where we'll find that sorry son of a bitch. "Let's go then," Davis commanded as he got down from the escalade he had demanded we take here. Carter and I hopped down, following closely behind. "This is your last chance, kid. What we're about to do isn't for the faint of heart. You could get yourself in a lot of trouble if we're caught," Davis reminded me, offering
Olive's P.O.V."He should have been here by now." Leo sighed, playing anxiously with his lip piercings.We had both tried calling him but hadn't received a response. There was no text or call back. Anytime we tried to call it went straight to voicemail. From there we started to worry."His phone is probably dead," I said, knowing that wasn't the case.I don't know what it is, but I have this sinking feeling in my stomach that something is wrong. I couldn't tell you what it is though, however, having Lucas not answering the phone was only making the feeling worse. My mind kept coming up with worse case scenarios to torture me further."Yeah probably," he sighed not convinced."What should we do? Want to try to see if anyone else has heard from him?" I asked, hoping he would say yes, because I don't have Lisa or Rachel's number."Shit." I heard Leo curse under his breath before he answered his phone. "Hello?" His voice sounded so scared, like he was bracing himself for the worst news. H
Olive's P.O.V. "I'm sorry, Rose. I wasn't being careful. My mind was a million miles away, and I just wanted to get home to you." His good hand began to rub my arm as he spoke. "You don't have anything to be sorry about. You didn't do anything wrong." I shook my head at him. "But I did." His words made me pause, stopping my movements, and my heart. "What do you mean?" "I went and saw your dad with Davis and Carter." He admitted. I sat up as best I could looking down at his wounded state. I couldn't be mad even if I wanted to be now. "I wanted him to leave so I offered to buy his silence, and make him leave without seeing you." He continued, making me upset at the fact that he tried to offer my dad money. "Keep going," I said, knowing there was probably more. "He came to town to tell you that he's having a baby with his girlfriend." He sighed. Dad is having another kid? I shook my head hysterically. This can't be happening! He can't have another kid. He can't! "Rose, that ba
Lucas' P.O.V. **Please, if you're willing, listen to Photograph by Cody Fry as you read.*" My Rose stayed here with me last night. She had slept beside me until they made her move. Stupid nurse. I couldn't believe she would willingly choose to sleep in a small cot like that rather than in a large bed. I want to tell her how I feel….how I really feel. I need her to know that she is everything to me. I need her to know, but I'm also scared I'll frighten her away. She can be so skittish at times. "What's wrong?" She asked, seeming shy. I didn't mean to worry her, but I need her to know I am being serious. "Come here," I said, patting the bed again. She slowly made her way towards me. "I'm here," she announced as she sat on the edge of the bed. I used my good hand to grab hers, holding it tight in case she tried to run away. "I need to tell you something, but you can't run away after," I said, smirking at her sweetly, but my heart was beating quickly. She gave me a small nod in und
Olive's P.O.V.It's been a week since Lucas' accident. A week since we both admitted how much we loved one another. I have been taking care of Lucas as he heals. He broke his dominant arm. Although it's adorable to watch him try to do things with his left hand, it's also sad. I end up helping him with a lot of things, which he both appreciates and doesn't like.He's a proud man like most and all he wants is to be better already so he doesn't have to depend on me so much. I have been staying at his apartment all week, but it was time for me to go back to my flat. I missed it, and I needed more clothes. Of course, Lucas tagged along. I didn't mind at all.You would think that we would have grown tired of one another after a whole week beside each other, but it was very much the opposite. We wanted more of one another, and the thought of being away from each other, killed us. I was happy to know that I wasn't the only one of us that felt this way."I'm almost done with your freshman year
Olive’s P.O.V. “We have to wait until he leaves, and then we can go in through the back. There’s a window that never locked and I’m pretty sure he never fixed it,” I instructed Daisy and Lucas. Little David sat in Abi’s car seat in the back, peacefully sleeping while we adults felt like we’d received adrenaline shots. Joe had called me yesterday to tell me that Daisy had showed up at his door. She’d lost my number but remembered where he worked. She had David in one arm with the other cradled to her chest, broken. According to Joe, and now I see for myself, she had a black eye and a cut on her eyebrow. I know dad is going insane searching for her and David right now. I was glad that she didn’t leave David behind the way mom left me. Of course, David is only a small baby, and maybe that’s why she couldn’t leave him. I know it will complicate things, but since Joe took her to the police station to press charges, it will make things easier on the David custody front. Lucas is hiring on
Olive’s P.O.V. **Song Suggestion: To Build A Home by Holly Henry** “Can I open my eyes yet?” I asked Lucas, feeling so impatient. I wanted to know what this surprise was. When we arrived home from our honeymoon, he said we had one stop before we were going to get Abi. I was ready to see my daughter, but he said this couldn’t wait. He tied a tie over my eyes. I’m pretty sure it was the tie he wore at the end of the aisle as he waited for me. I will forever remember that moment, when our eyes met and the rest of the world faded away. My husband. “Almost,” he said with his hands on my hips as he guided me. I could see cobble stone steps through the small slit left between my cheeks and the tie. Where are we? He finally stopped pushing me forward. I could feel him step around me and stand before me as he slid the tie off my face. My eyes squinted as they got reacquainted with the light. “I had this made for us when I found out you were pregnant. I used what I knew from your jou
Lucas' P.O.V. **Song Suggestion: Only You by Julia Westlin** I felt so antsy as I waited for my Rose at the end of the aisle. Everything looked spectacular, the flowers in the garden were vibrant and beautiful. Their floral scent was carried in the cool September breeze. Mom was holding Abi in her arms sitting in the front row before me. Abi's strawberry blonde hair was almost hidden behind the large white bow she sported. The white dress almost swallowed her whole, but she looked so adorable. My Rose bud has stolen my heart completely. She and I have late night talks as I work and rock her back to sleep. Her mother and she are everything to me. They are the sun that I revolve around, the lights of my life. I am the luckiest man on the planet. I know this, and right now I'm the luckiest man, waiting for his beautiful bride to emerge. The music began to play and everyone stood as Rose came into view. My heart stilled and raced all at the same time. My eyes misted as this moment too
Olive's P.O.V. "You need to sit, Rose. The doctor said to sit and elevate your feet. You're starting to swell around your ankles again," Lucas reminded me as I waddled around the flat trying to get last minute things together. The bassinet was put together and sat beside the bed. The bottles were sanitized and put away already. All the clothes were washed, folded and organized. My hospital bag was ready to go, along with Abi's. I packed her the cutest take home outfit. I love all the frills, laces, and colors on little girl clothes. Of course, I bought a shit ton of bows that are way too large for her head, too. I have those neatly organized as well. I still feel like I'm forgetting something, or missing something, but I'm not sure what. Daisy had my baby brother a few months ago, and according to Joe everything is still going well. It made me wonder if Dad really had changed, but then I remembered that he's dad and it's only a matter of time until his ugliness resurfaces. I hope
Lucas' P.O.V. I finally finished her journals from junior year of college. This was it. I was finally getting to her journals about me. At the beginning of all this, I wanted to only read the journals about me, but I'm glad that Rose made me work for it. I have such a better understanding of her now that I've read her innermost thoughts about her past. She was a cherry tomato red as she handed me these journals this morning. She asked that I not read them while she's awake. Her embarrassment was adorable, but completely unnecessary. She was currently asleep beside me, lightly snoring with her peacefully beautiful face. Rose is tired from interviewing around town, trying to find an engineering job for experience until the place she really wants is hiring again. I wanted to use my connections to help her, but she told me if I did, she’d be really mad at me. She wants to get her job from her own hard work. I find it very noble, but I wish she’d let me help. I placed my hand over our Ab
Olive's P.O.V.Olive: You're coming to my graduation, right?#1 Best Friend: I wouldn't miss it for the world.Ian's reply made me feel better. He and I hadn't spoken much since Christmas. I know he meant it when he said we were still friends, but he needed time to get over me. We text every now and then but it wasn't daily like it had been before Christmas. It made me a bit sad, but I know it's for the best.Hailey on the other hand, texts and calls multiple times a day and drops by every other day with something new. Yesterday it was a little red bracelet that looked like it was made of yarn. I'm meant to put this on our child when she's born. Hailey made me swear, so I did."I've been thinking a lot about what we should name our little Rose bud," Lucas said, as he rubbed his hands over my growing baby bump. He'd been reading my junior year journal of college. He's just a couple of journals away from the one he's been desperately wanting to read…his journal."Okay, what have you come
Olive's P.O.V. The morning sickness has been easing as time passes. I wake every morning and stare at the now outdated ultrasound pictures. Today we are going to a ultrasound place that does gender reveals. We'll get to see our little bean again. I wonder what it'll be? Boy or girl. "I can't wait to see my little bud again." Lucas smiled at me. I nodded, leaning against him, feeling the same excitement. "What do you think, boy or girl?" I asked him. "Girl. She'll be my little Rose bud." He nodded looking only at the ultrasound picture held onto the fridge by an old floral magnet. "I say Boy. He'd be my little knight," I countered with a smile. We walked hand in hand towards the shop that does the gender reveal. The place felt like an overly decorated doctor's office with pink and gold frills. They seemed to want to freeze their clients stiff as I froze my ass off waiting to be called. Lucas held me close, providing me with some warmth. About 15 minutes later we were called to f
Lucas' P.O.V. Christmas was more than I could have asked for. She had said yes, and despite Dad's threats, I've been on cloud nine ever since. I need to get back to work before Dad discovers I'm trying to marry Rose. I get the feeling he'd try to stop it by any and all means necessary. He doesn't need to know until it's done and over with. I won't put Rose, or my bud, through any unnecessary stress. "Good morning, my future wife." I kissed her forehead as I woke her. She says she's not a sleepyhead, but she most definitely is. "Today's the day." Sleep evaded me last night, even with Rose in my arms. I was too excited for today. It's our first doctor's appointment for our bud. We'll get to see our growing baby on an ultrasound today, and be sure of Rose's due date. I've been giddy all night. "Today's the day." She smiled as her eyes opened. That had been the fastest she'd ever woken up, aside from the time she had to bolt to the bathroom to throw up. She is excited too. I can only
Olive’s P.O.V.“Are you okay, my Rose?” Lucas asked as we finished cleaning up the place. Everyone was long gone now, but the evening was spectacular.“Yeah, I’m fine, just thinking,” I answered, grabbing a cup off the coffee table that had only been half drunk. The marshmallows had disappeared in the heat of the coco, leaving this sort of froth at the top.“What about?” He asked, taking the cup from my hands and washing it.“I think I need to read Ian’s letters,” I admitted, biting at my cheek. “I need to know what he said.”Lucas went silent, which only made me nervous. He turned the sink off, facing me. He dried his hands as he held my gaze. When he approached me, his eyes softened, feeling sympathy for me. He pulled me into a tight hug, kissing my forehead.“I’ll go see my mom for a little while. I am sure she’s still awake. Text me when you’re done,” he said, letting me go.“You don’t have to leave.”He shook his head no at me before speaking.“You should read them alone, Rose. I