Chapter 22 Olivia
OLIVIA
I might have gone shopping on an empty stomach. And? Food is made to be enjoyed. I might have gotten a little carried away. When it comes to movies, why not have a buffet of goodies to choose from?
The cart is overflowing and I’m still not done. I like to go up and down every aisle to make sure I don’t miss anything. On top of getting goodies for movie night, I am getting actual groceries too. We can’t survive on candy and chips—I mean, we could, but I’m not sure how healthy that would be.
Rolling my full cart down the aisle, I stop at the pickles, debating which ones I want. I’m not sure if I want the massive jar that could last me awhile, or a smaller jar that won’t take up as much room in my fridge.
I’m going for the big jar. Grunting when I wrap my arms around it, I lift with my legs, then waddle a few steps to put it at the bottom of the cart.
“Olivia?”
I freeze. I don’t want to turn around—I know that voice. I haven’t heard from him in ages. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath then spin around, plastering a smile on my face.
“Jeremy. Wow. It’s been a long time.” Now that I see him standing before me—tall, with a boyish face showing he still has so much growing up to do even though we’re around the same age—I’m wondering how I stayed with him for so long.
He isn’t my type. I don’t know if he ever was. Maybe that’s why we fell apart so easily and I didn’t really care to fix things between us.
“It has. Wow. You look beautiful. You look good.”
Before I can put more space between us, he removes it by stepping forward and giving me a big hug. My face smashes against his chest, his cologne tingling my nose to threaten a sneeze.
I pat his back, not wanting this hug to go on longer than necessary yet not wanting to be rude. “Thanks. You too.” I pull away, grabbing the cart. “I have to go, but it was really nice running into you. I hope you have a good night.”
“Wait. How are you doing? Do you still work for Dr. Warrick? He ran your life. I hope you got out of there.”
I clench my teeth together with frustration and impatience. Jeremy never supported my career. He thought I was lazy not doing something else.
“Nope. I still work there. I got promoted. I make great money, have weekends off, and great benefits. How are you doing?”
He sighs, leaning against one of the shelves. His shoulder bumps into a jar of banana peppers and it moves right up to the edge. He doesn’t fix it. I lean over, pushing the jar back until it’s a safe distance away from falling, and not shattering at our feet.
“I’ll be honest. Not too well. I got fired. I’m in between jobs right now.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure you’ll find another in no time. You were always great about that. You’ll get back on your feet.”
“I miss that about you. Always positive. Always optimistic.”
“Whatever you give, you’ll get, right? That’s my mindset.
” I begin to push the cart forward, wanting to get out of this conversation.
I’m not one of those women who wants to be friends with their ex.
I’d rather move on completely. The past is the past for a reason, and I don’t want any part of it in my future.
He steps in front of my cart and I nearly hit him. His blonde hair nearly reaches his shoulders, and his brown eyes seem tired, a bit lonely, and my resolve changes. Maybe he just needs someone to talk to.
I tell him, “I have plans tonight and I need to go down a few more aisles. You can walk with me and vent if you need to. I can tell you have something on your mind, but if it’s about us getting back together, Jeremy, forget it. I’m happy. I’m in a relationship.”
A sincere smile appears next. “It isn’t. No, no, nothing like that. I’m happy for you. You’ve always had a plan for yourself, and I admired that about you. Still do.” He falls in step with me, tucking his hands into his pockets. “That’s a lot of food. Did you shop again on an empty stomach?”
“Okay. Enough. Between you and Elias, you guys make it seem like I’m buying the entire store. This is just…” I frown at the overflowing cart. “Supplies.”
“For doomsday?” He chuckles.
“Haha. Very funny.” I turn down another aisle, snagging a few boxes of pasta.
I can make my favorite dish for Elias sometime this weekend. It’s just going to be us, and I’ve never been more excited to spend time with someone. I love learning about him. The way he thinks, the way he moves. He’s everything I had no idea I needed.
My phone buzzes.
Taking it out of my pocket, I grin when I see his name across my screen.
Elias: Why didn’t you tell me you don’t like scary movies? We don’t have to watch them. We can watch whatever you want.
Me: I want to watch them with you. That’s the difference. I have a feeling I’ll like them this time.
Elas: You just want my arm around you so you can tuck your face into my chest?
Me: Don’t go ruining my plans.
Elias: I’d never. Sounds perfect to me. When will you be done buying the store? I’ll be out of here in about an hour.
Me: I’m not buying the store! This is a light trip. I usually have two carts. I’ll be done soon.
Elias: When we have kids, the two carts will turn to four.
Me: I like that number.
Elias: Well, whatever you like, I like.
“Wow. You must really like this guy if he makes you smile like that,” Jeremy says, bringing me back to the present.
I forgot he was right next to me.
“Yeah, I do. I’m pretty sure I’m completely in love with him.”
“He’s a lucky guy. I’m happy for you. Really.”
I turn to him and give him a soft, appreciative smile. “Thanks. That means a lot.” I turn down another aisle, a wheel on the cart beginning to squeak. “What’s on your mind? You have that look in your eye.”
He blows out a breath and shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t know. I feel a little lost. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing. How did you know Warrick General is where you wanted to be? You never told me if you wanted more, like…climbing the ladder, you know.”
“Hmmm,” I hum while I gather my thoughts.
“I only ever wanted a job that I could tolerate and make enough money to live my life. I had no interest in climbing the ladder. I didn’t want my life consumed by corporate or any job, really.
My goal was to just be happy, to make enough money to support the life I want.
I think you just need to figure out what you want, not what’s expected of you, if that makes sense.
If you want to climb ladders and be the big bad CEO, great.
If you don’t, great. Who cares? As long as you’re happy in the end, that’s all that matters. ”
He nods long and hard, then a big smile crosses his face. “You’re right. You’re so right. Thanks, Olivia. It was great seeing you. I think…I think I want to go to art school. I want to draw.”
“You were always really great at that. I think you should.”
His eyes seem brighter and hopeful, as if what I said really helped him. “It was really good seeing you. I wish you and Elias the best. Truly. Have a good one, Liv.”
“You too, Jeremy.”
He gives me another hug, but it’s quick and light, and then he runs to the other end of the store, completely out of sight.
I sigh when I look down at my cart. I might have gone a little overboard.
It’s best if I stop now. I head to the cashier, a young lady wearing a blue apron who’s chewing gum behind the counter as I begin to unload the cart.
I can tell she’s annoyed by the way she blows a bubble, staring at me with pure disdain.
“Do you have your own bags or would you like paper?” Her voice is even and monotone, showing barely any sign of life.
“Paper is fine. Thank you.”
With every swipe of a barcode over the scanner, it beeps.
Over a hundred beeps later, and I’m paying and on my way out the door with the entire store in my cart, according to Elias.
I wanted us to be prepared to never leave the apartment ever again.
I know that isn’t realistic, but a girl can dream.
I load up the car, the last bag containing the pregnancy test box.
It’s early. Probably way too early to detect, but I’m excited.
I couldn’t stop myself from buying it. I’ve felt different the last few days.
I can’t explain it. My body just feels different than it usually does.
Maybe the test is negative and that’s okay.
I don’t expect to get pregnant so soon. But we haven’t been safe at all.
There hasn’t been a day where Elias hasn’t come inside me. Sometimes multiple times a day.
Slamming the trunk of my car, I can’t help the giddiness consuming me as I rush to the driver’s side door. I’m ready to get home and get the bedroom ready with a bunch of blankets and lay out all the treats on a tray.
All I have to do is push through the anxiety of driving in the dark. The lights always blur together, and it makes it difficult to see the road. Luckily, I don’t live far away. It’s a ten-minute drive and I know the route like the back of my hand.
Pulling onto the street, I make a right, stopping at a main intersection as I wait for the light to turn green. One of my favorite songs comes on the radio and I’m tapping my fingers against the steering wheel.
My attention flies to the rearview mirror when the headlights coming from behind me don’t slow down.
“Shit. Shit. Please, slow down,” I beg, curling my hand around the steering wheel.
The music blaring through the speakers fades when my heart begins to race. A cold sweat breaks out over my skin, my eyes locked on the headlights reflecting in the mirror. I brace myself, and the impact comes a second later, metal on metal grinding and crunching.
The force shoves me into the middle of the intersection, and my head slams against the steering wheel, the pain immediate through my skull and down my neck.
I can’t see. Not really. Everything blurs, and when I lift my fingers to my forehead I feel warm liquid dripping down my face.
“Oh, that’s…that’s not good,” I mumble to myself when my own blood coats my fingers.
Headlights blind me again and I turn my head to the left to see another car coming.
It slams into the driver’s side, and everything fades black.