28. Oliver

Chapter 28

Oliver

I spent an hour figuring out what to wear on the day I was scheduled to go over to the cabin to "check the breakers." I didn't want to wear anything too fancy, because then she'd know I was up to something. She already seemed to suspect something when we discussed it at the Pig.

I had to talk to her, had to be around her. There was something about Lex that was so overwhelmingly... Lex. And I craved it. I wanted it, needed it, as much as I needed food and water.

I finally decided on a pair of jeans and a simple V-neck shirt. I ran a hand through my hair to tame it.

I knocked on the door of the cabin after taking in a long breath. After a few minutes, Lex answered.

She blinked at me with tired eyes. "Why are you here so early?" she groaned.

I looked at my watch. It was seven in the morning.

I winced. "Sorry, I just wanted to get this taken care of," I lied.

She moved aside and let me in. The whole cabin smelled like her. I wanted to breathe it in, breathe her in, but I had "work" to do.

I went down to the cellar to check the breakers, flipping them on and off, turning off appliances and lights all over the cabin.

I had no idea what I was doing.

Lex came down after a few minutes. "This seems a bit excessive," she complained.

"It's important," I insisted. "If there's a short somewhere, it could set the cabin on fire."

Lexie sighed, crossing her arms over her chest, and leaning against the cellar door.

"Are you really here to check the breakers or because you want to talk to me?" she asked flatly.

I froze, turning to look at her, the answer written all over my face.

She was showing now. She looked amazing. Her skin was glowing. Her green eyes were brighter than ever. Her breasts were swollen and there was a little baby bump all because she was pregnant with my baby....

God, I wanted her. Wanted to take her right there in the cellar. But unfortunately, she headed back up into the cabin and I followed her without even thinking.

I'd follow her to hell if she asked me to.

I sat down in the recliner in the living room, and she stood in front of me, glaring.

"If you're done with the breakers, you can go," she muttered.

"I'm not going anywhere," I said firmly. "This is my place."

"Don't throw that in my face, Oliver," she snapped. "You allowed me to live here. You wanted me to live here, didn't you? "

I huffed out a breath. "I want you close, can't you see that?"

"Why? We're just friends, right?" Her tone was sharp, but I could hear the hurt in it.

I groan. "That was stupid of me to say, Lexie. How many times do I need to apologize? We could never be just friends and you know it. Because we're in love."

She stared at me, her eyes wide. "We are? This is the first I'm hearing of it."

I leaned forward, putting my forearms on my thighs. "You can't tell me that you don't feel what I feel, Lex. I can't stand being away from you. I can't stand seeing you around town, pregnant with my baby, and knowing you aren't mine. It's killing me."

"What are you saying, Oliver?" she asked in a shaky voice. I noticed she was trembling, and I reached out to grab her wrist, pulling her into my lap. She instantly straddled me. We'd sat like this so many times before, with her wrapped around me, while I was emailing someone or on the phone. She'd always wanted to be close to me.

I pressed my forehead to hers. "I love you, Lex. I love you so much and I always have."

"Love was never the problem with us," she whispered. "Trust was."

"I want you to trust me again. Trust me like I trust you."

"Oliver," she groaned, and she opened her mouth to argue but I grabbed her by the back of the head, pulling her down to press my lips against hers. Despite her anger, she parted her lips instantly, and I delved my tongue into her mouth.

She made a little whimpering sound as she rocked her hips against my growing erection and I groaned, kissing her throat, nibbling little bites up and down her neck .

"I can't trust you," she said breathlessly. "I can't trust that you won't leave me again. I can't trust that you won't get jealous and try to control me."

With that she pulled away and stood up, leaving me sitting there, panting, as she left the room. I stayed that way for a long moment, thinking.

A memory washed over me.

Lex came in with tears streaking down her cheeks, her face puffy and her eyes haunted. She slid under the garage door, like she always did, so my dad wouldn't know she was here.

"Lex," I said. "What happened?"

She threw herself into my arms, hugging me tightly and sobbing into my neck.

"It's Mom. We had a huge fight. She kicked me out for the night. Said I could find somewhere else to sleep."

I huffed out a breath. "I need to have a conversation with your mother."

She shook her head. "It won't help," she mumbled. "She doesn't love me. She only loves Gillian."

"I'm sure that's not true, honey—" I started, but she cut me off, pulling away from me and pacing around the garage.

"You don't get it, Ollie," she said, sniffling. "You don't understand. Your dad might be hard on you, but at least you know your parents love you. Mine kicked me out over a disagreement. My dad is never home and even when he is, he acts like I don't exist. And my mother..." Her voice trembled and she took in a breath before speaking again. "My mother hates me."

She looked at me with incredibly sad green eyes, and my breath caught in my throat. I loved her more in that moment than I ever had. I wanted to protect her from everything, including her family .

"You're all I have," she said softly, coming close to me. "You won't ever leave me, will you, Ollie?"

"Of course not," I said fiercely, and I couldn't imagine ever breaking that promise.

But I did. And I did it all without talking to her first, without asking her if the allegations were true. I rubbed a hand across my face and stood up, walking into the kitchen where Lex was crying softly, her face in her hands.

"I'm so sorry I hurt you, Lex," I said quietly. She didn't turn around, didn't look at me. My heart ached. "I just hope that someday you can forgive me. Because I don't know if I can live without you."

I quietly walked out of the cabin. She didn't follow me.

Walking back up to my house felt like walking to the gallows.

An agonizing week later, I got a text from Lexie.

Ultrasound appointment this afternoon. 2 p.m.

The next text was an address downtown.

I drew in a deep breath. I could do this. I could co-parent with Lexie and accept that there would be nothing else between us.

When I dropped Trent off at my mother's house, she stopped me at the door. "You bring back some pictures of that baby," she demanded, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"I will, Mom."

She hugged me goodbye, and I walked to the car hurriedly, because I was running a little late.

Lexie was already there, frowning and watching the door as I walked in. Her face relaxed when she saw me. I took that as a plus, anyway .

I cleared my throat and sat next to her, shifting in my seat. "How have you been feeling?"

"Fine, just tired," she answered flatly, and my heart ached for her. She was pregnant, she shouldn't be working two jobs when I could comfortably pay for things But it's what she wanted to do. She was saving up to leave.

The idea of her leaving made panic claw at my throat but I pushed it down. I had to focus on the baby.

I missed every ultrasound for Trent. I missed the entire pregnancy. I wanted to be here for every second of this one.

The nurse called Lexie back and I followed, waiting patiently while she changed into the gown.

"I'm nervous," she admitted, shifting on the hospital bed.

"It's going to be okay," I promised her. "Our baby is strong and healthy; I just know it."

She smiled, taking my hand, and it made my heart soar.

The ultrasound tech smiled at us as she moved the wand around Lexie's belly. I was shocked by how strong the heartbeat was, how loud it sounded in the room.

"Here we are," the tech said. "Your baby's head, and arms..."

She pointed everything out and the baby was beautiful. It was just a tiny profile but what a profile it was. They had Lexie's nose.

"Do you want to know the sex?"

Lexie looked at me, tears in her green eyes. "Do we?"

"I do," I said and squeezed her hand. "But if you don't, we can wait."

"I want to know," Lexie said excitedly, looking at the tech.

"It's a girl," the ultrasound tech said, smiling. My heart swelled in my chest .

A little girl. A little girl with Lexie's nose and maybe her pretty green eyes.

Tears streamed down my face, and Lexie wiped them away as the doctor came in.

"Everything looks perfect. You're measuring well for six months, and the baby is a good size. Strong heartbeat. Healthy."

"Can I ask a question, doctor?" I asked. Lexie frowned at me slightly, but I had to know.

"Of course."

"Is it dangerous for her to work so much? Heading into the third trimester?"

"She should be fine to work right up until the eighth month, but then she'll have to take it easy," he warned. "And even now, she shouldn't be overworking, or on her feet too much. She needs her rest."

Lexie glared at me, but I was worried about what the doctor had said.

"You're quitting your jobs," I said flatly when we got outside, laden with ultrasound pictures.

"Hell, no, I'm not," Lexie shot back.

"You heard what the doctor said!"

"Did you hear what he said? Because he said I could work right up until my eighth month," she said smugly.

I frowned at her, feeling frustrated. Lexie could push my buttons unlike anyone else.

"Then at least quit one of them. The grocery job. I'll help my grandmother fill your position."

Lexie sighed heavily. "All right, fine. But I'm working out my two weeks' notice."

I nodded. "Deal. And by the way, I'm driving you home," I added, knowing she had taken the bus there .

Back at the cabin, Lexie got out of the car with a grunt. I called her name.

She turned to look at me. "What?"

"I love you," I said, and she blinked, looking shocked, before she headed inside.

I couldn't help but grin at the flush on her cheeks.

She still wanted me.

She had to.

Because I needed her.