Chapter 44

Olivia

I settled myself on the couch, exhaustion weighing heavily on my eyelids. Nathan tucked a cozy blanket around me, his touch soothing and gentle.

Even though it was still early in the day and not quite noon yet, it had still felt like a long and emotionally charged morning, and all I wanted was a few moments to rest.

Before I knew it, I was already dozing off right there on the couch in the warm embrace of the blanket that Nathan had tucked around me.

A little while later, I stirred awake to discover that the early morning sunshine had shifted over to dark skies and a mild rain. I yawned, rubbing my eyes as I slowly sat up and looked around for Nathan.

It felt as though I was asleep for a while, and when I picked up my phone and saw that it was almost one o’clock in the afternoon and that I had been asleep for a couple of hours, I couldn’t help but laugh a little.

I was never much of a person who took naps, but it seemed that lately I was much sleepier than usual. I supposed that it was the pregnancy hormones getting the best of me, in combination with all of the things that had been going on lately.

“Nathan?” I called out. There was no answer.

Figuring that he was still out and that he may have gotten busy with something, I yawned again and leaned back on the couch to shut my eyes for another few minutes.

Suddenly, my senses were instantly captivated by a delightful aroma wafting through the air and the sound of the front door opening and closing.

“Oliviaaa,” Nathan’s voice floated through the air along with the mouth-watering scent. I heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

My eyes fluttered open, and there he was — Nathan, marching in with a big box of hot food in his hands, and a mischievous grin adorning his face.

“There you are,” he said. “Still sleeping?”

I nodded. “This baby is just sapping the energy right out of me,” I said with a laugh. “Or maybe your mom put sleeping medicine in that soup.”

Nathan rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t put it past her,” he said.

“What is that?” I asked, nodding my head toward the food. “It smelled good.”

Nathan grinned and set the box down on the coffee table in front of me. “Open it and see.”

My heart swelled with anticipation as I lifted the lid, revealing a familiar sight that tugged at the strings of nostalgia. It was one of our favorite childhood indulgences — a mouthwatering pizza from the local pizzeria, accompanied by an array of delicious side dishes.

My eyes widened in disbelief. "Nathan, you didn't need to do all this," I murmured, overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness.

He simply shrugged, his gaze fixed on the raindrops outside. "It's raining," he said, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "Remember how we always used to crave pizza on rainy days when we were stuck inside?"

Memories flooded my mind as he spoke. Of course I remembered the times when we sought solace in each other's company as the rain poured outside.

I couldn't help but smile, touched by the sweet gesture. "Those were the best days," I whispered, my voice filled with fondness.

Secretly, in the back of my mind I remembered Alvin always being there, too. I wished that he was here now to complete our trio; I just wanted to talk to him and see his smile after all these years apart.

But I decided not to say anything to Nathan about it, as it seemed to be a sore subject.

“I’ll be right back.” Nathan jogged out of the room and returned a few moments later with some plates and cups.

“We’re eating here?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. I felt a bit like a slob already for sleeping the morning away, and now I was going to eat greasy pizza on the couch.

“Of course.” Nathan grinned as he sat down next to me and piled two slices onto one plate, then handed it to me. I blushed a bit as I took the plate, but that blush quickly turned to wide eyes and a watering mouth as I took a closer look at the gooey, greasy pizza.

“Thanks,” I said, resisting the urge to take a bite right then and there.

Nathan just smiled as he clicked on the television, then navigated to a movie. It was one that I had never seen before, but he reassured me that it was funny. I needed a good laugh right now.

We dove into the feast before us, savoring each bite as if it held the essence of our shared history. Laughter and banter filled the gaps between bites, the weight of the day dissipating with each passing moment.

Nathan chuckled, stealing a glance at me. "Remember how we used to have competitions to see who could eat the most slices?"

A playful smirk crossed my lips as I nodded. "Yes, and I'd always beat you!"

He raised an eyebrow, feigning disbelief. "Oh really? I seem to recall a certain rainy day when I finished a whole pizza by myself."

I playfully nudged his side. "Well, that was just one time! I still hold the record for the most slices in a single sitting."

As we continued devouring our favorite comfort food, our conversation flowed effortlessly and the movie became more of a steady background noise than anything else.

We reminisced about childhood memories, about how we used to sit right here in this living room. My aunt’s couch was much smaller and far less comfortable than this one, and although I had to admit that I missed seeing some of her touch on the place, I much preferred this new furniture.

The food was not only nourishing our bodies but also nourishing our souls.

At one point, our hands touched beneath the blanket, a gentle and familiar contact that sparked warmth within me.

I felt my cheeks flush red, but neither of us pulled away immediately.

Nathan's eyes met mine, and we exchanged a knowing glance. I thought I saw the ghost of a smile twitching at the corners of his lips.

“What is it?” I asked.

Nathan just chuckled and shook his head, then reached forward for his napkin. I felt my face turn an even deeper shade of red as he dabbed at my mouth with his napkin.

“Just a little something on your lips,” he whispered.

Our bodies were unfathomably close. For an instant, I pictured that distance closing even more, just as it had closed when he hugged me earlier after throwing his mom out.

Only this time, I wanted it to close in other ways, too. I had only tasted his lips once, at the hunt, when we had to kiss in front of all those people. I wanted to taste them again.

But we quickly pulled apart, and the distance grew larger, the air between us filling with the static electricity of our muddled desires.

The movie played in the background, the storyline blending seamlessly with the soundtrack of rain against the windowpane.

The combination of the delicious food, the cozy atmosphere, and Nathan's comforting presence made my eyelids grow heavy once again.

Resting my head on Nathan's shoulder, I yawned and mumbled, "I'm starting to feel sleepy."

Nathan said nothing. I glanced over at him to see that he was already asleep with his head leaning on the side of the couch.

For a few moments, I watched him as he laid there, his chest rising and falling steadily while the voices on the television faded into oblivion. I couldn’t help but smile during tender moments like this.

Seeing my friend again after so many years apart filled me with a sense of joy. But there was something different about it now. It felt that, no matter how hard I tried to push those thoughts away, they still lingered in my mind.

But I was too sleepy now from the rain, the food, and the warm atmosphere to fully comprehend my thoughts.

The last thing I remembered as I fell asleep on Nathan’s shoulder was his arm twitching, stiffening, and then tentatively wrapping around me.