What is Love?

Chapter 7

I stood up, and looked out of my sheer curtains. Outside stood Nik with a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.

"Are you coming out?" Nik asked.

"Well, I guess I have to now," I said with a smile. I hung up my phone and couldn't help but to think how Ethan had never done this for me before. I've never had such a beautiful gesture, even though it may be small in others' eyes.

I walked out of the front door and met Nik next to his car. "These are for you, Lydia. I know this is all so sudden, and new. But, I have had feelings for you for a long time. Now that I have the opportunity to pursue them, I can't let it slip away. Will you be mine, Lydia? Will you give us a chance? Even if you don't have any feelings for me yet, will you give us a chance?" Nik asked me with true sincerity in those green eyes.

"Nik, I'd be honored to give you a chance. To give us a chance," I replied. He smiled ear to ear, and swooped me up for a hug. I hugged him back, and when he put me down we stared into each other's eyes. I started to feel a swirl of emotions in my heart. "I'm going to head out now, get some rest," Nik told me. "Goodnight," I turned around and walked inside. He waited for me to go inside safely and I watched him leave the driveway.

I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, feeling a swirl of emotions again. I keep asking myself if this is really happening, it's almost too good to be true. It feels as if nothing good is happening to me, especially here lately. The possibility of a passionate love story is brewing within me, making me feel warm inside.

With those thoughts, and what happened tonight put with Jessica behind me, I fell asleep. The next morning, when I woke up, I felt a bit feverish and felt necessary to visit the hospital for a check-up.

When I arrived at the hospital, I checked in and was taken to the VIP ward. That is my family's hospital after all. The smell of antiseptics stung my nose, and was comforting at the same time. The doctor checked me out and advised me to stay at the hospital for observation for the next 24 hours.

While waiting for test results, I decided to attempt to take a nap. Outside the door, I heard a lot of commotion.

"Do you know who I am? I'm Ethan Montgomery." Of course, it's Ethan.

"Sir, while I respect who you are, Ms. Wicks only has a sprained ankle. There's no need to keep her here." I'm assuming that was the nurse.

"She will stay here, and you will all care for her as she heals. I will not accept discharge paperwork, my soon-to-be wife is a prioritized patient and should be treated as such," Ethan stated firmly.

"I understand sir, sorry for the misunderstanding. We will ensure Ms. Wicks is nursed back to full health. I have just finished rounds checking on her and applying ice to her sprained ankle. If you excuse me, I have another patient I need to attend to whom has a fever of unknown origin," said the nurse.

"Who could be more important than Jessica? I'll check on them myself," Ethan said. I heard footsteps coming closer to my room, and my heart was racing. "Sir, you cannot go in there," the nurse said. "Watch me," as he burst into my room. "Lydia? Why are you here?" "Obviously I'm unwell, Ethan."

"Hm, well, take care of yourself," he turned to the nurse, saying, "Please let Jessica know that I'm headed out as I have an important meeting to attend at the office."

"Yes, sir. Have a good day," the nurse responded. The nurse looked at me, "Ma'am, I am so terribly sorry. Is there anything I can get for you?"

"No, thank you. I intend to get some rest now," I replied. The nurse nodded her head and shut the door. I fell asleep for a while, and woke up to a familiar figure in my room. As my eyes adjusted, I noticed it was Jessica. I sucked in a deep breath. "What do you want?"

"It's cute you're putting on a show to be sick to gain Ethan's sympathy. I can see right through you, Lydia Crawford," she said with her voice as cold as ice.

"I'm not putting on a show, there's no point in arguing with you. Please leave," as I gestured to the door. Jessica stood up and went nose to nose with me.

"Your tactics won't win. Ethan believes you pushed me and sprained my ankle. Just a jealous ex-girlfriend is all you are," her voice was laced with venom. "You were just a stand in for four years. Tell me how it feels being a stand-in?" All of a sudden, Jessica pushed herself onto the couch and screamed. Casey came running in, "Jessica, I was looking for you! Oh my, what happened?"

"I was just trying to visit Lydia, to give her my get well wishes, and she pushed me again!" Jessica said in between disgustingly loud sobs. "Does it really look like I'm in any position to push you with my state? Both of you get out, or I'm calling security!" I said hoarsely.

"You just wait until Ethan hears about this, you despicable woman! Nurse! Nurse!" Casey yelled. Two nurses came running in, "I need help getting Jessica back to her room, she was pushed by this vile woman." The nurses helped Jessica up and took her back to her room. I stared at the ceiling, over this entire ordeal. She had Ethan. What more did she want from me?

"That was quite the show. With me around, I promise no one will hurt you again," Nik said. He closed the door and sat on the couch next to me, "get some rest, I'll make sure no one messes with you." I gave him a grateful nod, and drifted off to sleep just to wake up and hear Nik and Ethan arguing.