The First Omega || NaNoWriMo 2019

Chapter 17

 Excitement and anxiety bubbled through me on the way back to the apartment building. I'd only just gotten my liscence and a car a little over a month ago, so my driving left much to be desired even on a good day. As it was, my managing to get home without getting into an accident was a miracle in and of itself.

Locking my car I made my way to the front door, only to stop as Rhett pulled into the parking lot as well. Watching him, I debated sharing the news with him, both about the baby and that Nathan and I were through. My heart longed for me to run to him, to beg him to forgive me and give us a chance. My brain however, my brain knew it was time for me to learn to take care of myself.

Forcing out a slow breath I moved to the door, ignoring the heat of his eyes on my back. Once I got to the lobby I turned toward the stairs, the idea of being trapped in an elevator with him too much to bear. Just his lingering scent in our apartment and the hallway had me in a mess anymore.

I'd barely made it up the first flight of stairs before I started to regret my decision. The second flight had me panting for air and contemplating just giving up and going to the damn elevator after all, but stubbornness won out.

Reaching the top of the third set I stopped to catch my breath, silently cursing my cowardice. I'd have to talk to Rhett eventually.

The door next to me opened, making me jump in surprise. The smell of leather assaulted my nose, dread filling me as I glanced at the massive frame in the doorway. Swallowing hard, I offered him a small smile.

"Oh... Hi Rhett."

"Don't 'Hi Rhett' me." He replied, eyes hard as steel, arms crossed over his chest imposingly. "We should talk."

I moved to the doorway, trying to edge around him almost desperate to get to the apartment door and what safety there was beyond it.

"I'd love to... but see I'm kind of late for a thing and... well I really need to get going actually... I just stopped by to umm.. To grab something really quick..."
Rhett raised an eyebrow, shifting to lean against the doorframe, stopping me from moving any farther past him.

"This will only take a minute and then you can go back to avoiding me." He replied, refusing to move, a mountain blocking my escape.

"I haven't been avoiding you, per se... More like I've just been avoiding the whole world." The words came out almost like a grumble mixed with a guilty admission. "I've had a lot going on lately and I'm just now starting to pull things back together."

"Sure. Whatever I get that." He glanced down for a moment, leaving me to wonder what he was thinking. "I wanted to say I'm sorry for threatening you that day. I get it if you don't want me to be a part of your life, but if you're pregnant then... I feel like I should be allowed to be involved, Nathan be damned."

"I... Well you're in luck because I'm not." Guilt built in my chest as I lied to him. I just didn't want to lock him into something he didn't want, at least not with me. "I just got back from an ultrasound. No baby. Seems my serum didn't work as well as I had hoped it would."

"O...oh well umm... that... That's too bad... or maybe it's good?" He glanced at me confusion dancing in his eyes. "I mean I did want a kid of my own some day, but this... mess, it wouldn't be a good environment to raise a child in..."

"Exactly, and I'm hardly able to take care of myself, let alone a kid so it's all good. We're good." I did my best to offer him a sincere smile even while my heart was crumbling inside me.

"Right. Well umm... I should let you go then... It was nice... umm I'll see you around." Rhett turned and moved down the hall, not once looking back at me.