Page 50 of Cocky M.D.
“Are you serious?” she asked.
I nodded, and my son patted me on the back. “I’ve never been more serious.”
She hiccupped then massaged her forehead and stared at me. “I’m not sure I believe this.”
The moon was out, and people were still coming and going in her parking lot.
I took her other hand and held them both to my heart. “Come home with us. In the morning, we’ll talk.”
She bounced on her feet and sucked in her lips. For a moment, I wasn’t sure what she would say, but then she smiled brightly. “I… I’d like that.”
For that night, I would leave her alone, but we had a lot to talk about.
Bradley shouted, “Yeah! She’s coming home!”
I held her waist as we descended the steps to the cold concrete. She was fine, but the need to protect her rushed through my veins as fiercely as it had with my son. Bradley stayed right on my heels.
We made it to the car, and as he got into the back seat, I told him, “Bradley, you shouldn’t walk through the streets by yourself. It’s dangerous.”
“I… used the app on my phone,” he said before I closed the door on him.
I then helped get Olivia into the front seat.
I returned to the car and pressed the button to start it.
As Olivia put on her seat belt, Bradley said to her, “Your neighborhood is scary.”
She turned toward him. “A driver from the app took you?”
“I told him I was lost and needed to get home… to my mom.”
Wow.I’d devastated my son. I swallowed and drove out of the parking lot. Soon they would be safe at home, and maybe my skin would stop prickling from irrational fears. I said, “Never use your phone to order a car without permission ever again.”
He said, “Then don’t lose Olivia on me, Dad.”
Sometimes he sounded just like me, which wasn’t always good.
Olivia patted my arm. “I agree with your father. I was scared when I saw your text.”
No one said anything else, but my heart was full for a few minutes. For once, I had everything I’d ever wanted.
As I pulled in to the house, the staff was hugging in the driveway. Bradley was awake, but Olivia was half-dazed. She was cute buzzed. Hopefully she was okay and would remember our conversation when she woke up.
I stood and took her hand to ensure that she could walk straight. “We’re here. Let’s get you both to bed.”
Bradley hugged her when we made it to the second floor, and I pointed at her bedroom door. He opened it and helped me with the sheets as I sat Olivia down. She kicked off her sneakers, which had seen better days, and said, “I’m… okay. but in the morning, we talk.”
“Yes,” I said and walked out with my son.
I hoped she would still be so sweet and open with me in the morning. I headed to put my son to bed, who that time went without argument.
I returned to my bedroom, and for the first time since she’d left, once I closed my eyes, I actually went to sleep.
However,the second I heard a bird singing, I sprang up, changed, and rushed to check on Olivia. She was still sleeping. I called downstairs to start my breakfast order then checked on her again.
That time, she came out of her bathroom and waved at me. I puffed my chest out, feeling blessed she was there, as I said, “Good morning.”
She curled her lips higher and replied, “Good morning.” She then waved at the door and said, “Come in. Let’s sit.”
