Chapter 158

Olivia

The sun was already warming the streets as I headed out for my prenatal yoga class.

Dressed in my comfortable yoga clothes, I enjoyed the peacefulness of the morning, my mind wandering to last night's dinner and the unexpected turn of events.

It was strange how a single evening had stirred up so many emotions. I felt relieved that Nathan had returned, but I also felt angry that he had been gone for so long to begin with. We were so close to each other in proximity all along, but he never spoke to me unless he had to.

It was almost insulting that he only came back once he was hit with another jealous streak.

At the same time, though, a little part of me was glad that he was jealous. Maybe I wanted him to be that way, if only because that was what drew him back.

Maybe we would still never go beyond being friends, and lately, I had come to terms with that. However, I was glad that we at least had the chance to get our old friendship back.

I was lonely. Neither Angela nor Levi could completely fill the void left behind by my childhood best friend, and Alvin was still nowhere to be found and likely would never return.

But the confusing feelings for Nathan and his sudden return could wait. Right now, I needed to focus on myself and the baby.

Prenatal yoga, which I had begun attending at my doctor’s orders a month prior, helped me find a sense of peace and balance, and as I began my weekly walk to the yoga studio, I could already feel my tensions beginning to slip away beneath the warmth of the morning sun.

Just as I was about to turn the corner, a familiar face came jogging towards me. My heart did a little jump as I recognized Nathan, his athletic form glistening with sweat as he ran.

I felt my heart skip a beat. He was in his element, the very picture of athleticism and grace. His muscles rippled beneath his sweat-soaked t-shirt, outlining his abs and his well-defined chest. His legs, strong and lean with bulging muscles of their own, moved with a fluidity that spoke of countless hours spent running.

As he ran up to me, I couldn’t help but wonder when he had picked up this habit. I never remembered him going on morning runs when he lived with me.

“Olivia!” he called out as though he didn’t expect to see me outside of my own house, slowing down to a stop as he approached me. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Nathan,” I said, eyeing him suspiciously. “What are you doing here? You don’t ‘fancy meet’ someone outside their villa. Since when do you run, by the way?”

He grinned, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. “Coincidence? Maybe I just like the scenery around here. And I picked up running a couple of months ago; it’s meditative.”

As I looked up at him, noticing how his blonde hair was slightly damp from exertion, some strands clinging to his forehead, I felt a heat creep into my face and work its way into the tips of my ears. The ‘meditative’ running was certainly paying off.

I quickly looked away, chewing my lip.

“Uh-huh,” I said, not buying his excuse for a second. I began walking again, as if that would help to ease my nerves. “So you’re stalking me now?”

“I wouldn’t call it stalking,” he said, his eyes twinkling as he jogged circles around me. It took all of my energy not to gaze longingly at his bulging biceps. He must have begun weightlifting, too. “I’m just making sure you’re alright.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why? I’m fine.”

“I can see that now,” he said, looking me up and down. “Off to some sort of exercise?”

“Prenatal yoga,” I said, feeling a bit annoyed at his curiosity. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

His eyes widened. “Prenatal yoga? Alone? Where’s Levi?”

I frowned. “Yes, alone. Levi and I aren’t that close, you know. He doesn’t come to things like this with me.”

“Even doctor’s appointments?”

“Yes,” I replied, feeling a little exasperated now. “Even doctor’s appointments.”

Nathan’s expression turned serious. “Maybe he should. A man should stay alongside you for stuff like this.”

I stopped in my tracks and spun around to face him, my patience wearing thin. “Why do you care so much, Nathan? It’s not Levi’s baby, and he and I are just friends anyway.”

He looked at me, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place. “Yeah, and it’s not my baby either, but who was by your side during those hospital visits before? And you and I are just friends, too, remember?”

His words stung, and I felt my anger rising. “So what? You were there as a friend. It doesn’t mean you have a right to question me now, especially not after disappearing from my life for months.”

He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “I know, Olivia. I just… I worry about you. You shouldn’t be alone for things like this.”

“Worry about me?” I sneered, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Or worry about Levi being around?”

“That’s not it,” he said, his voice softening. “I just think you should have someone with you. Someone who cares.”

“Oh, and you care?” I said, my voice rising. “Is that why you’re here, Nathan? To show how much you care? You were gone for months, hardly spoke to me except in passing, and now all of a sudden you care.”

He looked at me, his eyes filled with sincerity. “Yes, Olivia. I care about you. More than I probably should. And I’m sorry that I disappeared for months. Sue me, I want to make things right.”

His words took me by surprise, and for a moment, I just stared at him, unable to speak. Suddenly, my feelings felt even more muddled than before. Here he was, standing in front of me after months apart, trying to… make things right.

I swallowed. “I’m sorry,” I said, straightening my posture. “These pregnancy hormones are making me a little… crazy.”

Nathan shrugged and shook his head at the same time. “You have every right to feel like that,” he said. “Don’t brush it off and blame it on hormones.”

There was a silence, filled by the sound of children playing in a nearby yard. It reminded me far too much of Nathan, Alvin and I as kids: two boys and a girl. The girl was a little tomboy with her close-cropped hair and overalls and missing front teeth. All three of the kids were covered in mud.

Maybe seeing those children, being reminded of my childhood with Nathan, softened me a little. Maybe that was why my next words tumbled out of my mouth before I had the chance to stop them.

“Then maybe you should just go with me,” I finally said, my voice trembling somewhat with a mixture of annoyance and nervousness. “If my safety and my pregnancy are both so important to you, if you care so much, then come to my yoga class with me. Show me you mean what you say.”