The next few days were becoming increasingly difficult. I had been in contact with James on the current condition of Nick’s father and also how the boys were getting on. Nick had messaged me a few times asking me to come and see them all but every time I made an excuse on how I couldn’t. Nick hadn’t realised how much he hurt me so I didn’t think he deserved my support when he knew that I was willing to stay by his side through it all.
But I wasn’t going to be mistreated like that.
Jake had left the office a mere half an hour ago after he briefed me on our latest launch. He made sure to invite those men I met on the plane to do a special launch video. I had made sure that I was concentrating on my work but inevitably my mind kept going back to Nick and what he was going through.
I had made my fourth trip to the coffee machine when I stumbled as I walked into the office to find none other than Olly sitting on one of the chairs with a plate of mini cinnamon swirls. I complementary snack for most visitors.
” Hey stranger” he said as soon as he heard me stumble in. I carefully walked through the office and into my desk chair where I saw yet another bouquet of flowers sitting there. I flicked my eyes up to Olly only for him to look back at me with cheesy grin.
” Why is he sending me flowers asking for forgiveness when he doesn’t even know why I am mad” I said as pushed the flowers to the side. I didn’t bother reading the note.
I heard Olly get up and walk closer. He picked up the note and scanned it and added it to the pile of notes I had from the other flowers that he sent me.
” He’s awake you know” Olly mumbled as he traced the white lines on my desk with his finger. At his words my breathing paused and I glanced up at Olly. He seemed relieved as he stared at me.
He took a step back and rocked on the balls of his feet. ” the machines started going crazy this morning and then he opened his eyes. The doctors managed to get him talking and he seems to be good. He hasn’t forgotten who we are which was good” he chuckles calmly.
I was instantly relieved. My fingers moved straight to my phone on the book shelf to the right of my only for me to pause as I pressed on Nick’s name in my contacts.
” seriously, you’re not going to go through with it. You two are so fucking stubborn I swear” Olly says annoyed as he watches me. My thumb hesitates over the screen.
Before I could reply I heard the door to my office opening. My assistant poked his head through the door. His eyes told me that there something important that he needed to tell me and I guess olly noticed that too as he sighed deeply.
” I won’t force you to do anything but just know that Nick feels really bad about it” at his words I look at him. Wondering if Nick actually did feel bad and was he making his brother come and talk to me.
” don’t lie to my face Olly, if he felt bad he would be here not you” I said firmly. Olly seems to roll his eyes as he turned to the side. Reaching for his backpack that was resting on the table.
He picked it up and hauled it over his shoulder. ” whatever, I’m just trying to help. I’m out of here” he says as he already started to walk towards the door. Thomas pushed it open for him.
As he left the office I vaguely heard his mumble.” adulting is hard” his words had managed to make me smile just that little bit. Once Olly was gone Thomas walked over to my desk and placed a tablet in front of me.
” if you need to go I can hold the fort down. We have the ability to push back meetings to Thursday if you want” he says as I scroll through the designs that were done by the creative team.
I glanced up. ” there’s no need to move meetings, I’ll be fine” I said reaching for my phone after sliding his tablet back over to him. This time my finger didn’t hesitate over his name. but instead of calling him I messaged him instead.
As Thomas left the office I waited for his reply. Surprisingly it didn’t take him long to answer me.
A whole 1 hour later I waited outside as I waited for Nick to come and pick me up. I had thought about bailing and heading inside but instead I decided to stick to my guns and wait for him. Seconds later I watched Nick’s car come around the corner and pull up in front of me.
I rushed over to the passenger side before he even had the chance to get out. When I was inside Nick started up the car and left the compound.
” How did you find out?” Nick asked me as he pulled into the main road, sneaking up behind a big range rover. I settled into the seat, knowing that it was a good 20 minutes until we would arrive at the hospital.
” your brother came around earlier. I had thought you sent him over on your behalf” I said honestly. I waited for his response so that I could detect if I was right by suspecting that.
He scoffed. ” I wouldn’t do that, do you think I would get my little brother to come speak to my girlfriend, honestly Selene” he said immediately. From his quick response I gathered that maybe just maybe I was indeed wrong.
” it was just an assumption” I mumbled as I turned to stare out of the window. Instantly I could feel his piercing gaze on me. I wondered how it was so easy for us to get like this. To get to the point where we are constantly frustrated with each other.
My mind struggles to reel back to what we were like before I left the country on that trip with Hans.
“anyways” he trails on, his bashful attempt on lifting the mood as we neared the hospital.
” I’m really glad you’re coming to see him. He hasn’t stopped asking for you” he tells me, diverting my attention away from my attitude towards him.
Just like many other women I couldn’t help but read into his words. ” he wants to see me so desperately. Does that not apply to you as well” I contemplated. I knew that I was really reaching but you can’t blame me for thinking that way.
I struggled to believe that Nick suddenly stopped caring for me in the way he did before I left for Columbia. To think of how excited I was to see Nick again , to be in his arms as he held me.
” of course it fucking does, but right now my fathers feelings are a lot more important that mine or yours baby, you know that” he bit back. I swerved into the door as he turned into the hospital quite aggressively.
Normally his sweet endearment would have my heart racing, my thigh clenching and my eyes moving to his lips but this time I hated hearing it with the way he was treating me.
“You seem to not give a shit what I feel. Am I setting myself up to be yelled at again” I said, referring to the main reason for my coldness towards the man I believed to love.
Nick’s aggressive driving only continued as he harshly pulled into an open space, not caring for parking guidelines at all as we simply parked on top of the lines.
” is this really what your being so bitchy about. I’m sorry that I yelled at you but this is hard for me Selene. I just needed you to stand by my side as I deal with the possibility of losing my father. I didn’t think I was asking for much” he said with an annoyed tone, his eyes glaring over at mine. His hands clenching at his sides.
” you didn’t ask for anything, but screaming at healthcare professionals and then embarrassing me in front of everyone was clearly taking it too far nick and now you can’t simply apologise without making a snarky comment” I groaned in frustration. Nick was really testing my patience today and right now I was just waiting for him to mumble something about my period coming soon.
That would probably be the logical reason wouldn’t it.
” this is about that isn’t it. Just about your fucking pride” now he was yelling. Something within him seemed to spark and now he was unleashing his full wrath onto me.
” it’s about me being treated right Nick. I completely understand that you’re in pain but you know that I am here for you no matter what. So I’ll come in to see your father but after that I’m gone. Until you start treating me right don’t ask me to come back because I promise you I won’t” I said with finality. My hand reached for the door handle. From the corner of my eye I noticed his fingers twitch, he wanted to reach out to me and I wish he did. But he pulled himself back.
” you know this is a stupid reason to break up right?” he whispered as my fingers pulled at the handle. I paused for a few seconds, I hadn’t meant for it to sound like an ultimatum but I think it was inevitably.
” what I’m asking for isn’t hard Nick I am just looking for some respect and for you openly acknowledge that what you did was wrong. I may be picky with what I want but when it comes to the people I care about I don’t ask for much” I said as I finally stepped out of the car.
I didn’t even wait for Nick as I walked towards the entrance of the hospital. I had expected nurses to lecture me on not being family but as I walked up to the front desk in his ward I was met with t a deep voice calling my name.
” Selene, finally we meet” the familiar set of deep brown eyes said as he was pushed into the hallway by Olly who looked beyond relieved that I was here. But I could see his eyes were searching for the man he expected to walk in with me.
” Please come join us. Olly was about to bring me out to the garden to enjoy some food and would love it if you could join us” he said calmly even though I could clearly see him judging me. Calculating every step I took.
” if that’s okay with you. sure I’ll join you” I said as I brought the flowers that I had asked Thomas to run out to get for me.
I had never been the flower type but I knew that was the common thing to do whenever visiting someone in the hospital.
Olly wheeled his father round to a bench and practically forced me into the bench nearest to his father. ” you wait here, I’m going to find Nick and maybe grab some more snacks” Olly says already standing up. He didn’t wait for any kind of response as he rushed off back inside.
I breathed out as I realised I was alone with him.
” I’m really glad that you are okay, you really scared your sons you know that right” I said breaking the ice. I heard his deeply sigh as he stared forward before flicking his eyes over to me.
” I know I did. I also know of how difficult my eldest son has been and especially to you. I couldn’t quite believe it when I saw you walking in here today” he said.
I felt instantly uncomfortable knowing that he knew of me and Nick’s little fight. Im not really setting a very good first impression of myself to him am i.
” I still love your son and I know he is struggling. Nick was good to my mother when she was here so I can’t help but feel like I should do the same” I said honestly. Instantly I felt guilty for my actions towards Nick.
Maybe hospitals just bring out the worst in us. I vaguely remember detesting Nick when I first spoke to him properly in this exact hospital when my mother was here.
” you don’t owe us anything Selene” I heard a distant yet strong voice say.
I ignored the quiet chuckle to my left and looked up to find both olly and Nick standing there. Nick looked slightly unkept as he stood before me.
I inhaled as Nick bent down, bending to his knees to be the perfect height with me.
” I’m sorry for treating you any less than you deserve baby. I don’t want to fight with you, it’s literally tearing me apart every time I raise my voice at you” he spoke softly as his hands cupped my knees. Every part of me welcomed his touch. Knowing that I had missed Nick with every bone in my body.
” please forgive me” he whispered as he leant in, somewhat creating privacy from the others around us.
This was one thing that Nick was good at. Making me feel like the only girl in the room when he gave me this kind of attention.
I struggled to understand how we went from screaming at each other in his car to seeing him on his knees begging me to forgive him.
He was finally letting me in.