Chapter 179

Olivia

The following days after the clinic visit were a whirlwind of emotions and planning. The villa was filled with a kind of energy that was palpable, even with just the two of us there. We moved from one room to another, discussing baby names and making plans for the nursery.

“I’ve always liked the name ‘Aria’ for a girl,” I mused, looking through a baby names book.

“Hmm, Aria,” Nathan murmured, letting the name roll off his tongue. “It's musical, just like her mother.”

A soft blush spread across my cheeks. “Musical?” I asked. “I fail to see what’s so ‘musical’ about me.”

“Oh, come on, Olivia,” Nathan teased, poking me in the shoulder. “Have you really forgotten all about your love for 80s rock music when we were kids? And your penchant for dancing, even when there was no music playing?”

I felt my face turn an even deeper shade of red at the mention of those memories. “You know, Nathan,” I laughed, nudging him back. “Some memories are better left untouched. Alright, so Aria is on the list for the girl… And for the boy?”

He tapped a finger to his lips, pretending to think deeply. “How about ‘Eli’?”

I smiled. “Eli and Aria. Sounds perfect. For now, at least,” I replied, adding the names to the rapidly growing list.

As the days turned into nights and nights back into days, we realized that even though we had a plethora of baby supplies, it wasn’t enough. Especially now that we were expecting twins.

“We need to make a list,” Nathan stated, grabbing a notepad from the kitchen counter. I watched as he jotted down a series of items. Diapers, baby clothes, cribs, toys, formula...

“I’ll make some calls,” he said, reaching for his phone.

“We could just go to a store,” I suggested. “It might be easier to pick out things in person.”

Nathan paused, looking at me with raised eyebrows. “You want to go shopping for baby stuff?”

“I mean, we’re in this together, right?” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

He chuckled. “Alright then, let’s do this.”

…

The baby store was unlike any I had ever been in—vast and sprawling with high ceilings, and displays that seemed to stretch on forever. Bright and cheerful colors adorned every corner, with soft lullabies playing in the background.

There was an entire section just for cribs, another for baby clothes, and even an area dedicated to toys and accessories. It felt like a universe in itself, where the endless possibilities of parenthood unfurled before our eyes.

As we ventured further into the store, Nathan seemed to be on a mission, laser-focused on checking items off our list.

He would pick up a toy, test its durability, and look to me for approval. Sometimes, I would give him a thumbs up, and other times, I would laugh and tell him we probably didn’t need that particular item.

Then there were moments when he'd stumble upon something, eyes twinkling with mischief. Like the little baby sneakers he found. “Look at these,” he cooed. “Tiny shoes for tiny feet!”

I giggled. “They are adorable, but do babies even need shoes?”

He pondered for a moment. “Well, they’d look cute, right?”

I shook my head in amusement. “Into the cart they go, then.”

But the true defining moment of our shopping spree happened when we reached the section for baby blankets. The array of choices was breathtaking. Pastels, brights, neutrals—every conceivable pattern and material.

As I was drawn to a particularly soft-looking blanket with little stars and moons, Nathan seemed to have the same idea. We both reached out for it simultaneously.

Our fingers brushed against one another, and a familiar electricity shot up my arm. Time seemed to pause for a beat. I blushed, looking down, but Nathan had other plans.

In a bold move, he grabbed my hand, pulling it up to his lips and placing a gentle kiss on the back of my fingers. His eyes, filled with a fire I had come to recognize, locked onto mine.

Not breaking our gaze, Nathan took a step closer, leaning in. The world around us blurred, and all I could focus on was the warmth of his lips pressing against mine. The kiss was passionate, filled with raw emotion, and for those few seconds, the world outside ceased to exist.

As we broke apart, there were a few gasps and murmurs from the people around us, but Nathan didn’t seem to care. Breathing heavily, he looked into my eyes, his voice fierce yet tender.

“We don’t need to hide how we feel anymore. Remember? We might not be putting a label on it just yet, but I’m not afraid to hide my feelings for you, Olivia.”

I looked into his eyes, searching them, finding only sincerity. “Nathan,” I began, words failing me for a moment. “It’s just so... public.”

He smirked, the playful glint back in his eyes. “Let them watch. I want the world to know how I feel about you.”

I swallowed, my face a deeper shade of red than it had ever been. Without another word, I grabbed the baby blanket off of the shelf and set it in the cart.

“Um… we still need a stroller,” I mumbled, keeping my eyes averted.

With a grin, Nathan grabbed my hand. “To the strollers, then!” he announced.

The two of us made our way to the stroller section, where it quickly became obvious to me that this was the section where savings accounts came to die. So far throughout our shopping spree, every item seemed more expensive than the last; and as the cart had begun to fill, so did my anxiety. A stroller would add at least a couple hundred dollars to the expense.

I knew Nathan was wealthy, but this... this was a lot.

When he added a top-of-the-line stroller to our growing pile without even checking the price, I couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Nathan,” I whispered, catching his arm. “This is too much. You don’t need to do this.”

He looked at me, his blue-green eyes filled with determination. “Olivia, we’ve discussed this. I might not be their biological dad, but I am their dad by title. I want to provide for them. For you.”

“But—”

“No buts,” he interrupted gently. “Let me do this. For us.”

I sighed, looking down at the ground. “I just feel guilty. Like I’m taking advantage of you.”

He tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. “You’re not taking advantage of me. We’re in this together, remember? And besides,” he said, smirking, “I’ve always wanted to be a doting dad.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Alright, alright. Just... let me contribute somehow, okay?”

Nathan raised an eyebrow. “How about you choose the next item?”

I grinned. “Deal.”

…

As we approached the checkout counter, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of anxiety. The cashier began scanning our items, the total increasing with each beep.

But Nathan, ever the picture of calm, didn’t seem phased in the slightest. He simply handed over his credit card, signing the receipt without a second thought.

“Thank you,” I murmured as we exited the store, our cart filled to the brim.

He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close. “Anything for you. And for our babies.”

I rested my head on his shoulder, taking in the moment. This was our new reality—shopping for baby supplies, making plans, and building a life together. And for the first time in a long time, I felt truly content.

We loaded up the car and began our drive back to the villa, the weight of the day pressing down on both of us. Nathan’s fingers brushed against mine, sending a shiver up my spine.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

I nodded. “Just... overwhelmed. In a good way.”

He squeezed my hand. “Me too.”