CHAPTER EIGHT

 

I stayed last night at Mum and Dad’s, and when I woke early this morning, everyone was still in bed.  I decided to walk down to the river and sit under my favourite tree.  Watching out for crocs, I find a shady spot and rest my back against the trunk of the years-old tree.

“I can’t believe I felt you kick for the first time,” I tell my bump softly.  “You can do that anytime you want, little one, because I sure love the feel of it.”

I flip my phone over in my hand, contemplating whether or not I should call Hamish and take him up on his offer for a date.  Even though I’m completely single, I still feel… strange about the possibility of dating someone who is not the father of the child I’m carrying.  Especially when the father doesn’t even know about the child yet.

“Whatcha doin’?” Brooklyn asks as she plops down beside me.  Her hair is still pinned up from last night, though it’s a bit looser and messier now because she’s slept on it.  She still looks stunning, though.  We both got our dark hair, dark eyes, and naturally tanned skin from our dad. 

“Nothing much.  Just thinking.”

“I saw you dancing with Mr. Tyler last night,” she comments through a smile.  “He’s cute,” she adds when I don’t reply.  “He’s the hottest teacher at school.  All the girls think so, and I’m pretty sure most of the guys do, too.”

“He seems nice,” I say casually.

“Those dimples,” she sighs.  “Swoon.  He’s a great teacher, too.  Everyone always pays attention in his class, because he makes it fun.  And because he’s so hot.”  She giggles.

“He is pretty hot, isn’t he?” I say, unable to join along with her excitement.

“Completely.”

“He asked me on a date,” I mention quietly.

“Oh, my god!  Seriously!” She shrieks.

“Calm down,” I say through a laugh.

“You’re going, right?  You have to go, Oli!  He’s amazing and dreamy and he’d be perfect for you,” she gushes.

“I don’t know…”

“Why are you hesitating?  You guys looked so cute together last night.”  Her face goes all lax and dreamy.

“I’m pregnant,” I state.  She gives me a so what? expression.  “With someone else’s baby.” 

“Annnd?”

“And nothing.  I’m carrying another man’s child—a man who doesn’t know I’m even pregnant.  It makes me feel kind of dirty or slutty or… I don’t know.”  I’m getting so frustrated.

“Okay, calm down.  Take the pregnancy out of the equation.  Would you date Mr. Tyler?”

“Absolutely,” I reply instantly.

“Okay, so if he’s prepared to date you knowing you’re pregnant, then why should you hesitate, sis?  He could be the man of your dreams, or you could have one meal with him and discover he’s not for you.  What’s the harm in going for it?  Just because you’re pregnant, it shouldn’t stop you finding someone else.”

“I guess.”

“Are you in love with the baby-daddy?”

“Stop saying baby-daddy.”  I grin, then it falls from my face as I shake my head. “No… It was one night with a man who made it clear before we even started that he wasn’t in a position to offer me any more than that night.  I was happy with that, honestly.  I couldn’t see myself with him forever, you know?”

“I think you should give Mr. Tyler a chance.  Pregnant or not, you deserve to be happy, and you deserve to find your soul mate, just like Mum and Dad.”

“When did you get so smart?” I tease.

“Ah, I’ve always been a romantic at heart.”  She laughs.  “My life’s dream is to find a man who loves me the way Dad loves Mum.”

“You’ll find him, Brooky.  Every guy would love a girl as amazing as you.”

She leans in and throws an arm around my shoulder.

“Love you, sis.”

“Love you back.”

 

 

 

 

 

“Hello?”

“Um, hey, uh, Hamish… it’s, uh, Olive.  Um, from last night.”

I am such a fucking dork.  This was a bad idea.

“Hey, Olive.  I was hoping you’d call.”

Oh, he was?  Maybe not such a bad idea after all.

“You were?” I stupidly ask.  He just told you that, dumbarse.

“I just hope you’re calling to tell me you’d love to go for a meal with me.”  I can hear the smile in his voice.  Dimples.  My heart flutters in my chest. 

“Yeah, that would be nice,” I reply shyly.

“How about tonight?  Seven o’clock at the Cow and Calf?  I hear their steaks are great.”

“The best,” I instantly reply, because it’s the truth.

“Okay, shall I pick you up?”

“I can meet you there, it’ll be easier.”

“See you tonight, Olive.”  God, his voice.   How did I not notice the smooth, raspy purr last night?  My stomach flutters… it could be gas from the baby but I’m pretty sure it’s butterflies from Hamish.

“Later, Hamish.”

I end the call and resist the urge to squee.  Instead, I give Brooklyn a goofy grin, which of course, she returns.

I have a date.

Tonight.

Eeeeeep.