ARE WE END GAME?

(E)levate

OLIVIA

"Where's Liv?" asked my brother as I walked down the stairs to the living area.

"Resting, I hope," Spencer replied with assurance.

As soon as Spencer spoke, my brother turned around and saw me stop, frozen after hearing my fiancé's answer. I waved my arms frantically to signal him not to give away my presence.

"Ahem... I thought you guys were past the vulnerable stage of the pregnancy. Isn't she supposed to start doing things normally again?"

My brother asked, taking his gaze away from me fast enough for Spencer not to notice.

"She should take as much rest as possible. This is a vulnerable time in her life, period."

"What does she have to say about that?"

"What do you mean?"

Darnell walked into the house with his gym bag hung over his shoulder, looking ready to unintentionally cause trouble, as he usually does. He threw me a questioning look, seeing as I crouched down, holding onto my knees, in the staircase.

"What are you doing?"

His question caught Spencer's attention, blowing up my cover.

"Liv?!"

I finally revealed myself to a very confused Spencer, visibly trying to work out how long I have been sitting behind that wall.

"What are you doing up? I thought you were resting."

"Why are you traumatizing this girl so much? She was balled up in a corner just to avoid you seeing her." Darnell interjected.

I threw daggers at my male best friend, knowing very well how those words would affect the next few hours of my day.

"Were you crouching over there this whole time?" Spencer asked, sounding panicked.

"Babe, I'm fine. I took a two-hours nap. I'm good."

"Hey, sis. Hey nephew or niece." Jordan said, talking to my very flat belly.

I was not showing yet, so it was easier for me to sometimes forget about my state. It was not that the pregnancy was not a priority, but it felt like my brain and body were protecting me from the possible consequences of stressing too much about whatever could go wrong.

Giving my mind the needed peace to accommodate to this new, and also very oddly familiar, reality.

"Come sit, then." Spencer said, leading me to the living room couch. "I'll order you some food."

"I thought you had an interview today. How did it go?" I asked, feeling excited about the food.

"I did... I mean, I do, but I'm about to call to push it back to another time."

"Spencer, no way! This is your career we're talking about. I'm still going to be here after your work day."

"Olivia-"

"Get your dry skin ass out of here, bro! You're acting like we're going to let anything happen to her on our watch!" Darnell added. "Isn't that what you called us over here for?"

That man was created to be the death of my peace. I sent him another harsh look, begging him to stop rattling Spencer.

"Man, the real question is, why did you even have time to come over? Aren't you two busy professional athletes too? Why do you come all the way here just to bother me?"

"Oh, I get it now. You were using us as a potential excuse to bail on the interview, right? You didn't think we'd be free to come hang out with Liv. Well, jokes on you!" Jordan added.