Never 'Til Now

Chapter 46

Olivia stirred from her slumber, blinking groggily as she glanced around her dimly lit bedroom. The curtains were drawn, casting a soft glow over the room, and the steady hum of the furnace filled the silence. She glanced at the clock on her bedside table and groaned—it was already midday, and she had slept through most of the morning.

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Olivia stretched and felt the heaviness of exhaustion weighing down her limbs. Since returning from the book tour, she had been inexplicably tired, struggling to find the energy to do anything. Even the simplest chores left her feeling drained and listless.

She couldn't pinpoint the cause of her fatigue; there was no apparent reason for her sudden lack of energy. She had never been happier than she was at that moment, from both her relationship with Sam and the successful book tour. It wasn't depression, she knew that much. At most, she suspected it was her body's way of telling her it needed a break, perhaps coming down with a mild illness or simply needing rest.

Shrugging off her worries for the moment, Olivia reached for the remote control on her nightstand and flicked on the TV, the soft glow of the screen illuminating the room. She settled back against the pillows, intending to lose herself in a mindless binge-watching session on Netflix.

But just as she was getting engrossed in a gripping true crime documentary, the sound of her bedroom door bursting open made her jump out of her skin. Her heart leaped into her throat, and she looked up to see Ashley standing in the doorway.

"Jesus, Ash, you scared the crap out of me!" Olivia exclaimed, trying to slow her racing heartbeat.

Ashley chuckled apologetically, stepping further into the room. "Sorry, Liv, I didn't mean to startle you. I just couldn't wait any longer."

Olivia raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Wait for what?"

Ashley hesitated for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip nervously. "Um, well, I think I might be pregnant."

The words hung in the air, and Olivia's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, that's... Already."

Ashley nodded, a mixture of excitement and apprehension flickering in her eyes. "Yeah, I know. Damon and I weren't really planning for another baby just yet, but yeah I think so."

Olivia nodded in agreement, reaching out to squeeze Ashley's hand reassuringly. "Regardless. This is amazing, if it's true."

Ashley offered her a grateful smile, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Thanks, Liv. That means a lot."

Suddenly, an idea seemed to strike Ashley, and she straightened up, her eyes lighting up with determination. "You know what? I'm going to go buy a pregnancy test right now. I can't just sit around and wonder."

Olivia watched as Ashley turned to leave the room, but before she could take a step, Olivia's voice stopped her in her tracks. "Wait!"

Ashley turned back to her, a questioning look on her face. "What is it?"

Olivia hesitated for a moment, her mind racing. Then, she remembered the pregnancy tests tucked away in her luggage from the trip. "I... actually have some pregnancy tests here. I got sick while I was gone, and Sylvia thought it was a possibility, but I told her there was no way."

Ashley's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Why is that not a possibility? Do we need to have the talk?" she asked jokingly.

Olivia rolled her eyes at the suggestion. "Because I'm consistent with my birth control."