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“Charlie, it’s only been four days since the accident and surgery. It’s okay to still need pain medication.”
“I don’t need it.”
“Is this because you think your hero status will suffer if you take pain medication?” she teased.
“I’m not a hero! You weren’t even there.”
“Maybe not, but Derek told me what happened, and he was there.”
“Well, I was closer. And I say it was just an accident.”
“What’s the argument about?” asked Brad as he entered the makeshift hospital room occupying the bedroom on Steven’s private jet. “Are you upsetting our patient?”
“She won’t take pain medication, and she thinks she didn’t sacrifice herself for Jace,” Olivia answered, smiling at Charlie as if she were indulging a small child. “So I’ll leave you to handle our stubborn friend.”
Brad got out a syringe and loaded it, preparing to inject into Charlie’s IV.
“Wait! What is that? I told Olivia I don’t need any more pain medication.”
Brad ignored her, continuing to inject the syringe. “Your blood pressure and heart rate are elevated, a certain sign you’re in pain, even if you’re too stubborn to tell us. Now I know you must feel better—I saw your muscles relax.”
“Yes, but I don’t want to get addicted to pain meds.” Her tongue became a piece of rubber.
“Stop worrying. We won’t let that happen. And about the other thing you said... There were seven of us watching the whole episode, not counting you and Jace. We all saw what happened. And you don’t even remember.”
“That’s just it. I would know if that was really what happened. I would remember making the decision. That’s why I know it was only an accident.”
Brad shook his head. “Charlie, what difference does it make to you anyway? Why do you insist on arguing about it?”
“Because I don’t deserve this stupid praise I’m getting. And more importantly, because... If I talk to you, will you promise to keep it to yourself? Like doctor/patient confidentiality?”
“Yes, I promise.” He grinned. “Unless you’re planning to kill someone.”
She couldn’t meet his eyes. “It’s important because Josh feels obligated to me. He’s acting different. Completely different from before the accident.”
Brad placed a gentle hand on hers. “He loves you, Charlie. It took him almost losing you to realize it. That’s why he acts differently now.”
“That’s not it.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I’ve seen how he looks at me. How guilty he looks.”
“He should feel guilty,” said Brad. “He was planning to marry someone else when he was in love with you.”
“Or he’s trying to act the way he thinks he’s supposed to act with someone who saved his nephew’s life.”
“Charlie...”
“And he gives me this pitying look when he can tell I’m in pain. That’s why I don’t want him to know.”
“Charlie, you’re being unreasonable. Maybe he loves you and doesn’t want to see you hurting.”
“Brad, remember your promise, not to repeat this to anyone...” she warned, glancing toward the door to be certain no one was listening. “I know he’s not really in love with me. We talked about it when I woke up from surgery.”
Brad was shaking his head. “Charlie, you must have been out of it from the drugs. You misunderstood.”
“No. He told me he wasn’t going to marry Olivia, and I offered to marry him so he could still adopt Chloe. And he agreed to pretend we were in love.”
Brad scrunched up his face, trying to make sense of her words. “Are you saying he said he didn’t love you? That he would just pretend to love you?”
“Yes, but we both agreed to work on the marriage so we would eventually grow to love each other. We were serious about the commitment.”
