24. Chapter Twenty-Four
chapter twenty-four
. . .
Carter
I slammed on the brakes as I took in the chaotic scene unfolding on Olivia's front lawn. Wick and Ethan were locked in a vicious struggle, fists flying as they grappled on the grass. Olivia's neighbor waved her arms frantically and yelled at them to stop. Pete's insistent barking from the porch only added to the ruckus.
“Jesus Christ,” I muttered, throwing the car into park and yanking the keys from the ignition.
Olivia gasped beside me, her face white with shock. “Oh my God, what are they doing?”
“Stay in the car.”
I didn't wait for her to respond before I was out of the car, sprinting towards the brawling men. Wick had Ethan pinned to the ground, raining blows down on his face. Blood streaked Ethan's chin, his lip split and swollen.
“Wick! Stop!” I shouted, grabbing his shoulder and trying to pull him off .
He shrugged me off, snarling, “This asshole deserves everything he gets!”
Ethan bucked beneath him, managing to land a solid punch to Wick's jaw. I cursed, diving in to wrap my arms around Wick's chest and haul him backwards. We tumbled onto the grass, Wick thrashing against my grip.
“Let me go, Carter! I'm not finished with that piece of shit!”
I tightened my hold, gritting my teeth as Wick's elbow caught me in the ribs. “Enough! This isn't helping anyone!”
Ethan staggered to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. “You're all fucking insane,” he spat.
“Get the hell out of here,” I snapped. “Now. Before I let him go.”
Ethan's gaze shifted past me, and I knew without looking that Olivia must have gotten out of the car. His expression twisted with pain and anger. “Liv, please. Let's just go inside and talk. We can fix this.”
I held my breath as I waited for Olivia's response. The silence stretched, broken only by Pete's continued barking and Wick's ragged breathing against my chest.
“No, Ethan.” Olivia's voice was soft but firm. “There's nothing left to fix.”
I almost passed out with relief, but I didn't dare loosen my grip on Wick. Ethan's face crumpled.
“You don't mean that,” he insisted. “We've been through too much together. You can't just throw it all away!”
Wick tensed in my arms, ready to lunge again. I tightened my hold, clenching my jaw as I fought the impulse to turn and look at Olivia. Something was off about her, had been since the hospital. The fear that she might change her mind, might choose Ethan after all, gnawed at my gut.
“It's over, Ethan,” Olivia said, her voice stronger now. “I want a divorce.”
Ethan's gaze darted between us, his fists clenching at his sides. For a moment, I thought he might try to push past us to get to her. But then his shoulders slumped, defeat written in every line of his body.
I released my hold on Wick, keeping a wary eye on Ethan as he backed away, his gaze still fixed on Olivia.
“This isn't over,” Ethan muttered, stumbling towards his car.
Wick surged forward, but I grabbed his arm. “Let him go.”
We watched Ethan peel out of the driveway, tires squealing against the pavement. Only when his taillights disappeared around the corner did I turn to Olivia.
She stood frozen on the lawn, hugging herself. The mask of strength she'd worn moments ago had crumbled, leaving her looking small and frightened.
I took a step towards her, aching to pull her into my arms, but something made me hesitate. “Olivia?”
Her eyes met mine, swimming with unshed tears. In that moment, all the doubts and fears vanished. Whatever was going on with her, whatever she wasn't telling me, I knew one thing for certain—I loved her, and I wasn't going anywhere.
“Come here.” I folded her into a tight hug.
She buried her face against my chest, her body shaking with silent sobs. I held her close, stroking her hair.
Wick hadn’t cooled down from his protective frenzy. He paced the lawn, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “We'll figure this out, Liv. Get a restraining order or something.”
I hated seeing Olivia so shaken. The idea of her staying here when Ethan could show up again at any moment tied my stomach in knots. I blurted out the offer before I lost my nerve. “Why don't you and Pete come stay at my house until he's dealt with?”
Olivia stared at me, shock written across her tear-stained face. After a moment, she wrung her hands and shook her head. “We can't do that. I don't want to impose.”
“You wouldn't be,” I insisted. “I want you there. Both of you.” I waited for her response with bated breath, hoping she'd see past her pride and let me help.
She nodded. “Okay. I need to pack a few things.”
“I'll help you, honey.” Olivia's neighbor, Amelia, who I had momentarily forgotten in the midst of this shitshow, stepped in.
I watched as Olivia and Amelia disappeared into the house, Pete scampering after them. Wick halted his pacing and locked eyes with me. In that silent exchange, we forged an unspoken pact. Come hell or high water, we'd move mountains to keep Olivia safe and far away from Ethan fucking Parker.
I tucked the blanket around Olivia, draping it over her shoulders before leaning down to press my lips to her forehead. Her skin was warm and satiny against my lips. When I pulled back and stared into her hazel eyes, I saw exhaustion and uncertainty swirling in their depths .
“There,” I murmured, my voice low in the quiet of my bedroom.
Olivia's eyes darted around my room. “I've never slept in your bed before.”
I glanced down at Pete, curled up by our feet. The little dog was already out cold, his snores shockingly loud. “We always stay at your house. For Pete.” I nodded toward him. “But he doesn't seem to have a problem with my bed. Do you?”
She shook her head, her long hair fanning out on my pillow. “No, of course not. I just feel terrible. You haven't slept all night, and the fight with Ethan, and?—”
“Olivia, stop.” I cut her off gently. “None of that is your fault. I'm not worried about missing a little sleep. I'm worried about you. ” I studied her face, noting the shadows under her eyes, the slight downturn of her lips. “I can tell something's off with you, and I just...I just wish you'd talk to me.”
Her eyes met mine briefly before skittering away. Her voice was barely more than a whisper when she replied, “I can't.”
“Look at me, Olivia.” I took a long breath, hoping to steady my pounding heart. “I need you to understand something. You've changed everything for me. From the moment you walked into my life. I’ve never dropped my guard like this for anyone.” My hand found hers, and I laced our fingers together. “Your kindness, your resilience, your ridiculous Sunkist addiction—they've all wormed their way into my heart. You make me want to be better, to open up, to feel things I've been afraid of for so long. You’ve shown me what it means to truly connect with someone.” My voice broke, filled with emotion I couldn't hold back. “I love you, Olivia. I'm in love with you, and I will be here when you're ready to talk. ”
My heart ached at the naked fear in her eyes. What was she so afraid of? My mind sifted through possibilities, each one worse than the last.
“Sunny, whatever it is, you can tell me. I'm here for you, no matter what.”
Her lip trembled and her eyes welled up with tears. “Carter, I...” Her voice cracked, and she took a shaky breath. “I don't know how?—”
When I touched her hand, her fingers were cold and trembling. “Just say it, Olivia. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out.”
She squeezed her eyes shut, and a tear trickled down her cheek. “I'm pregnant.”
The words knocked the air from my lungs. Pregnant? My mind reeled, struggling to process this information. But as I looked at Olivia’s anxious face, I knew my reaction was crucial. I pressed her hand gently and smiled. “Pregnant?” She nodded as more tears streamed down her cheeks. “That's pretty fucking amazing.”
The sob that tore from her throat had me instantly gathering her against my chest. “Olivia, that is so fucking amazing.”
I cradled her in my arms, rocking her gently as her tears soaked into my t-shirt. When her sobs finally subsided, I eased back, cupping her face in my hands. Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy, but still beautiful.
“So you're pretty scared, huh?”
She let out a watery laugh. “Understatement of the century.”
I wiped at her tears with my thumbs. “You've got this. We've got this. What did Mel say?”
Olivia inhaled shakily, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. “She said that, right now, we're both healthy. ”
My heart swelled, and I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face. Olivia looked at me uncertainly. “You're happy?”
“Of course I'm happy. I love you, and we're having a baby.” The words felt surreal coming out of my mouth, but also incredibly right.
Her lips trembled, fresh tears sparkling in her eyes. But this time, there was a glimmer of joy behind them. “I love you so much, Carter.”
I pulled her closer until her head rested on my chest.
“We're having a baby,” I whispered, testing the words on my tongue.
Olivia's fingers curled into my shirt. “You're not freaking out?”
“Oh, I'm absolutely freaking out. But in a good way.”
She tilted her head up to look at me. “What about work? And Ethan? And?—”
I pressed a finger to her lips. “We'll figure it out.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and she released her death-grip on my shirt. I kissed her forehead then her nose then her mouth. “Get some rest. You and our little sunshine need it.”
As Olivia drifted off to sleep, I held her close and thought about the life growing inside her. It didn’t feel quite real yet, my brain was still playing catch up. Fear and excitement battled within me, but one thing was certain—I was all in.