Chapter 159

Olivia

I could see the surprise in Nathan’s eyes as I invited him to join me for prenatal yoga. He stared at me for a moment, his eyebrows raised, clearly taken aback by the unexpected proposal.

“You want me to go with you to prenatal yoga?” he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

“Yes,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “If you care so much, then come with me. Show me you mean what you say.”

Nathan ran his fingers through his slightly damp hair, his eyes searching mine. I could see the conflict in his face, the uncertainty of stepping into unfamiliar territory. Just a few moments earlier, he had been so boastful about his previous involvement in my pregnancy. Now, he looked like a little kid caught in a lie.

“Olivia, I don’t know anything about yoga, let alone prenatal yoga,” he finally admitted, a hint of reluctance in his voice. “I don’t want to embarrass myself or make you uncomfortable.”

“Oh, so a moment ago you’re all talk, saying how a man should be coming with me?” I teased, smirking. Then, my tone softened. “You won’t embarrass yourself,” I assured him, though a part of me was curious to see how he would handle the class. “And you won’t make me uncomfortable. It’ll be nice to have you there.”

He continued to look at me, his expression thoughtful, clearly weighing the decision. I could tell that the idea of participating in a yoga class filled with pregnant women was not something he was entirely comfortable with.

But I could also see the genuine concern in his eyes, the desire to be there for me.

“Are you sure?” he finally asked, his voice soft. “I mean, I want to be there for you, but I don’t want to intrude or be in the way.”

“You won’t be intruding,” I said, reaching out to touch his arm reassuringly. “I want you there, Nathan. It would mean a lot to me.”

He sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly as he looked down at the ground. I could see that he was still unsure, still hesitant, but I could also sense that he was willing to put aside his discomfort for my sake.

“Alright,” he finally said, looking up at me with a small smile. “I’ll go. For you.”

I felt a warmth spread through me at his words, a deep appreciation for his willingness to step out of his comfort zone for me.

“Thank you, Nathan,” I said, smiling back at him. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”

…

The yoga studio was a warm and welcoming space, filled with the gentle scent of lavender and the soft sounds of calming music.

Women of all ages, some with their partners, were gathered, chatting amiably as they prepared for the class. Nathan and I walked in together, and I could immediately feel a few curious glances in our direction.

“Wow, Olivia,” one of the women, a friendly-faced mother-to-be named Lisa, approached us with a wide smile. She already had three kids, and was pregnant with her fourth. She was basically a veteran at this point. “Who’s this handsome fellow you’ve brought along?”

Nathan grinned and extended his hand. “I’m Nathan, a friend of Olivia’s.”

Lisa took his hand, her eyes sparkling. “Oh, I recognize you now. Ladies, it’s Alpha Nathan!” she exclaimed, resulting in a soft gasp from the surrounding women. “Friend or not, you’re quite a catch. Olivia, you’re so lucky!”

I felt my cheeks turning a shade of pink. “Nathan’s just here as a friend. He wanted to accompany me today,” I interjected.

“But you two would make the cutest couple!” another woman chimed in. “Just imagine how adorable your baby will be!”

“It’s not Nathan’s baby,” I said quickly, feeling a bit flustered by the attention. “It’s from a previous relationship, and the biological father is no longer in the picture.”

The women exchanged glances, but their smiles didn’t wane. Most of them likely already knew all about the entire story; it did make the newspaper, after all.

“Even so,” Lisa said, patting Nathan’s arm, “what a sweetheart you are, Nathan. Being so supportive and loving even when it’s not your biological kid. You’re something special.”

I could see Nathan’s cheeks redden slightly, but he simply shrugged and smiled. “I care about Olivia. That’s all that matters.”

Now, my cheeks were the ones that turned red.

The class began, and we found our spots on the yoga mats. I glanced over at Nathan beside me, his tall, athletic frame looking slightly out of place among the expecting mothers.

I couldn’t help but feel a swell of affection for him, mixed with a nagging annoyance that he had taken so long to show this kind of interest.

However, as we went through the poses, my trepidation turned into amusement. It quickly became evident that yoga and flexibility were not Nathan’s strong suits.

His attempts at the various stretches were met with stifled giggles from the other women, and even I couldn’t help but laugh as he struggled to maintain his balance. His legs shook as he tried to stretch out his tight hamstrings, and his breath came out in uncomfortable grunts during downward dog.

“You’re not very flexible, are you?” I teased, lifting my foot bending gracefully into a tree pose toward the end of class.

He grunted, his face twisted in concentration as beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. As he reluctantly lifted his foot and brought it up to his knee, he wobbled where he stood.

“I never claimed to be a yoga master,” he whispered. “I’m here for you, not for the yoga.”

“Is that so?” I replied, my heart fluttering at his words. “Well, I appreciate the effort.”

The class continued, and as we moved through the final sequence of poses, I could feel my body relaxing, my mind clearing. The presence of Nathan beside me, his unwavering support and easy humor, made everything feel lighter, more enjoyable.

By the time the class ended, I was feeling rejuvenated, both physically and emotionally. I looked over at Nathan as we walked out onto the street.

“Man,” he said, wiping his forehead with a sheepish grin on his face. “I take back everything I’ve ever said about yoga being easy. That was quite the workout!”

I couldn’t help but smirk. “Thanks for coming, Nathan. It really means a lot to me.”

He shrugged, his eyes warm. “I’ll be here next time if you want me to.”

Something about the way he said it, the simple honesty in his voice, made me feel a surge of happiness.

“I… I’d like that,” I said, my voice soft.

We said our goodbyes to the other women, their lingering smiles and knowing glances following us out the door. As we stepped out into the fresh air, I felt a sense of contentment settle over me.

I watched Nathan walk away, his strong back and confident stride a reassuring sight. The annoyance at his previous distance, the confusion over his sudden interest, and the annoyance over his unfounded jealousy…

All of it seemed to fade into the background now as I watched his form face into the distance.

And I couldn’t help but laugh to myself as I began my own walk home. Men really could be so fickle, couldn’t they?