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Dad places his hands on my shoulders. "Olivia, I know I was stern last week. That was the dean talking, not Dad. Listen to me, sweetheart. You are the most selfless person I know, always putting others before you, always prioritizing other's opinions and wants before your own. You don't ask for anything. When I told your mother about it, she had the same inkling that I did, and we agreed that we owe it to you to let you be happy. We’ve always wanted you to be happy. I like Tomas. He's gone to grave lengths to protect you. I don't like that he's your professor, but that's a Dean Hamilton problem. As your father, if you want to be with him, I am not going to get in your way. I've known Tomas for a while. He's a good man, Olivia. He has a good head on his shoulders, even if he likes his women young. But as Dean Hamilton, the three of us will have to come up with a solution once he's better."
"Are you going to fire him?"
"No."
"Are you going to pull him from consideration for tenure?"
"No, I'm not." He hesitates like he wants to say more.
"Thanks, Dad."
"But the board might," he says slowly.
I sob so hard I can't even speak.
"I understand," I finally say. I knew it. After we gave in, I knew I would ruin everything for him.He grinds his teeth. “Nathan’s dad is on the board.”
My chest constricts. “So I really did kill his chances of making tenure.”
“Not necessarily. It’s a vote, and Tomas is well-known and well-liked by many here. Have you read his Oncology research? It’s really impressive and could make a big difference in keeping our ranking.”
“I hope it’s enough.” I wipe my eyes on the back of my shirt.
"Do you love him?"
I compose myself and nod. "It might be too soon for that, Dad. Me and Tomas are still pretty new, but then…"“Do you think he loves you?”“I want to say no, but then he got stabbed over me, even after I ended things. So, I can’t really say no, can I? I guess he’s like me and wants to see where this thing goes.”
“No, Olivia. I don’t think either of us could say Tomas doesn’t love you.”
“I don’t know what to do, Dad. What do you think?” He looks at me with a small smile.
“I think you need to figure this one out on your own. Maybe talk to Alexandria. Does she know?” Pulling out my cell, I send a quick text to Alexandria. My phone rings immediately.
“I’m going to go. Do whatever you need to, Olivia. We trust and love you.” Dad squeezes my shoulder as he leaves. Yet again, I’m left with too many tears and too many thoughts. Will things be the same when he wakes up? Can he forgive me? Will he forgive me after I nearly got him killed? I can’t say I blame him if he doesn’t.
“Did you get your man back?” Alexandria says, excited. The question hangs in the air as I sob into her ear. “I take that as a no. What happened?”
I take a deep breath and recount everything that Lex has missed. Recounting the stabbing and my conversation with Dad is cathartic. “I don’t know what to do, Lex.”
“Be there for him. Tell him and show him how you feel when he wakes up. You have nothing to lose.” The concern in her voice guts me. I loathe making people worry about me or feeling like they have to pity me.
“That’s the plan–if he wakes up,” I choke out. Lex sniffles on the other end of the phone.
“He will wake up, Liv. After seeing the way he lights up when you’re near, I don’t think even the Grim Reaper could keep him from you. I’m low-key surprised Daddy Hamilton was so chill about it.”
“You and me both, Lex. You and me both.”
Sometime around six pm, Tomas starts to stir. Minutes later, his eyes fly open in a panic as he grasps at his neck. He sits up, rips the tape off, and turns off the ventilator. Bile rises as I realize what he's about to do.
"Tomas, let me get the fucking doctor. Don't you dare!" I yell furiously.
He gives a violent cough and extubates himself on the goddamn bed.
"I am a fucking doctor," he rasps, rubbing his trachea.
"You reckless bastard. You could've been killed!"
If he hadn't been unnervingly close to death, I would've fucking killed him myself.
