Beach Side Romance

Chapter 19: Dreams and Nightmares

Julian POV

“I already asked her, and she said yes,” I said, talking to dad on the phone. “That’s great, son. You deserve a lovely girl like Olivia, and I’m certain you’ll treat her well.” He congratulated me. After our walk back from Grand Palais we sat on the grass overlooking the Eiffel Tower for a bit just trying to figure out how our families would take the news. As soon as we arrived back at the hotel, I texted Luca and Lizzie about it, Luca was well-aware of the plans I had, so he’s probably getting a smack from Lizzie for not telling her as we speak. Johnny and Amber were on FaceTime with Olivia using my laptop, “Julian I know you’re around, you treat her right or you know what’s coming.” Johnny threatened. As scary as it sounded, he had the right to be stern about the safety of his daughter’s feelings and wellbeing, I rounded up behind Olivia showing myself on camera. “You got it boss, she’s safe with me,” I said, earning a smile from him.

“I’ll get myself ready for bed,” Olivia said after being interrogated by Mae on how it happened, where it happened and what I gave her when I asked her. “Okay, petite amie,” I said, winking. She emerged from the bathroom looking all fresh and dressed down while I was working on a quick fix for an ad hoc consultation from a colleague who was apologetic because of bothering me while I was out on vacation. “What’s that?” She asked, walking towards me. “Oh, I’m trying to fix this little mishap of my colleague but I couldn’t figure it out,” I said pulling her hand to sit on my one leg. “Hmm, how about…” she said, touching the screen as she moved around the structure. “There, better?” She asked. “Amazing,” I agreed.

I was talking to Pierre over FaceTime while Olivia was already fast asleep, “it feels like a dream to me, P. She’s everything and more.” I gushed as he was browsing through something on f*******: before refocusing on me. “Yeah, a jewel you have there, J. But hey, the reason why I called you was because Karen, to my surprise stopped by a party the frat alumni were throwing last night. She caught me by the door and asked me if I knew where you were, I obviously told her no but she kept bugging. In the end I told her you were overseas but didn’t tell her where exactly.” I feared Karen would start this insanity soon, but I looked over a sleeping Olivia, and would do anything to keep her out of harm’s way. Pierre showed me a picture through the screen with Karen and some of the boys in a group picture. “What are you going to do with her, J?” Pierre asked, setting me back to the present. Before I could answer, Olivia was mumbling, “no, please stop, just don’t… Drew, get away from me”. I panicked, “call you later P, Olivia’s having a nightmare,” I said, quickly ending the call.

“Olivia?” I called her, tapping her lightly on the shoulder. “No please, just stop, get away from him please,” she said. I was panicking. I shook Olivia a little harder this time causing her eyes to open wide. “Oh my god, oh my god,” she said, shooting up from bed and looking around. “hey, it’s okay, I’m here,” I comforted her, “I’m here.” 

Olivia POV

Everything was vivid. It took me back to the night that Drew was standing outside my home but it was like a ‘what could have been’ version. Drew was on my porch trying to invade my personal space, gripping me tighter going in to close the space in between us. He was trying to.. “no, please, just don’t… Drew get away from me.” Julian ran to me, “Olivia!” He said making Drew’s head turn around, “you, you’re the bastard who took the opportunity away from me!” Drew shouted, pushing Julian back to the driveway, “back off man, she’s mine,” throwing punches left and right to Julian. “No please, just stop, get away from him please,” I begged, running to Julian who wasn’t fighting back. I was shaking, crying, “oh my god, oh my god” I said, tears streaming down my face. I looked around in the dimly lit room. I was awake, “hey, it’s okay, I’m here” I heard a voice, Julian’s voice. I looked at him still shocked. “I’m here,” he repeated, still keeping his grip on me. 

That moment, I saw the fear in me when I looked into his eyes. I hugged him tight, letting the fear melt away. “Oh my god, you’re here, you’re okay.”He was here, he was okay. “Yes, I’m here. What happened? Do you need anything?” He asked as he reached out for the remote to turn on the main light. I didn’t answer him, but he held me for a good while before I was ready to let go. It was past midnight when it happened, and I was now sitting on the couch holding a cup of tea that Julian quickly made for me trying to shake off the feeling. “What were you doing when I.. uh, talked?” I asked Julian who was pouring a cup for himself. “I was talking to Pierre. He saw Karen, likely the same day she went to Lizzie. She’s really looking for me,” he said as he sat down beside me, his arm on the backrest of the couch. He pulled me a bit closer to him, and I automatically wrapped myself in his embrace with my legs over his thighs. “Then I panicked when you said Drew’s name,” he said. I looked at him but said nothing.

He didn’t push me to tell him what happened, and he didn’t ask so much about it either. He knew I wasn’t ready.

Julian POV

I woke up with the feeling of a warm body beside me. I saw Olivia was holding on to my shirt clinging like a little koala, with my one arm wrapped around her. I remembered her falling asleep on the couch and I carried her to the bed. Now, this beautiful woman whom I can call my girlfriend, was sleeping peacefully in my arms. I checked the time and it was just 6AM, we had some time to sleep in a little more. 

Olivia stirred in her sleep again causing me to open my eyes. She was looking at me intently, not moving. She still had one hand on my shirt like earlier, “what time is it?” I asked. “Quarter to 7, I’m sorry you stayed up late because of me. I felt you carry me from the couch, but I didn’t have the energy to tell you I was half awake,” she said, looking down. “You don’t have to be sorry for it. You’re here with me, safe. That’s all that matters,” I said, before stretching and getting up. Breakfast was served inside our room, the balcony was still our place to be. The coffee cup was bigger today, and I’m surprised jetlag isn’t bad for us both. Omelettes and fresh fruit were what she wanted today, and I ordered some sourdough with a selection of cheese and granola with yogurt.

“Thanks for getting me out of my nightmare,” she said as she tore through the bread that came with the omelette. “You’re welcome, mon rayon de soleil,” I said, earning a glare. “You need to tell me what it means in english please. I know you were fascinated by how I told you something in French yesterday, but that was thanks to Google,” she admitted. “It means, my sunshine. But how did you answer me last night when I asked you something in French?” I asked. “Context clues, you said ‘ma petite amie’, and that was what I understood, you framed it as a question and said ‘for real this time’, so I took it from there. I smiled at the thought, reliving last night and for the feeling that she trusted me enough to know it wasn’t a joke at all.

Finishing breakfast wasn’t a problem, and I knew that we had a long day ahead again. We still have 2 full days and a half before heading home, and I wanna enjoy every moment of it.