Chapter 33: Episode 32: "Reality Sinks In"

Episode 32: "Reality Sinks In"

Briar’s POV

I tossed and turned in bed, staring at the ceiling as my mind refused to shut down. The room was dimly lit by the glow of my laptop screen, the remnants of a half-finished essay abandoned hours ago.

I was going to be a mom.

The thought hit me again, just as hard as the first time Olivia told me. It wasn’t like I regretted it—not even a little—but I was terrified.

I was only eighteen. I had just started college. I had dreams, goals, things I wanted to accomplish. And now? Everything was changing.

Not just for me. For Olivia, too.

I pulled my phone from under my pillow and stared at Olivia’s contact name. It had been a few days since she told me she was pregnant, and while we had talked, we hadn’t really talked. Every time we did, it was filled with excitement and jokes from Tara and Ethan, or Olivia reassuring me that she was fine.

But neither of us had really acknowledged the weight of what was happening.

I hesitated for a moment before hitting the video call button.

The phone rang twice before Olivia’s face appeared on the screen. Even in the low light of her bedroom, she looked stunning—her dark hair tousled, eyes slightly tired but warm.

“Hey, sweetheart,” she greeted with a soft smile. “You okay?”

I swallowed, gripping the phone tighter. “Yeah. Just… couldn’t sleep.”

She frowned. “Something on your mind?”

I hesitated, then sighed. “Everything.”

She adjusted her position, now fully sitting up. “Talk to me, Briar.”

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. “I’m scared, Liv.”

Her face softened. “I know.”

“It’s not that I don’t want this,” I continued quickly. “I do. It’s just… this wasn’t in the plan. I had this whole idea of how things would go—I’d finish college, get a stable job, build a life with you, then maybe talk about having a baby. And now?” I let out a breathless laugh, shaking my head. “Now, it’s happening, and I don’t even know what I’m doing.”

There was a beat of silence before Olivia spoke, her voice gentle.

“I’m scared too.”

I blinked. “You are?”

She nodded. “Of course I am, Briar. This isn’t just about me carrying the baby. It’s about us. You’re away at college, and I don’t want you to feel like you have to give everything up because of this.”

I frowned. “Liv, you know that’s not—”

“I do,” she cut in softly. “But I still worry. You worked so hard to get here. This was your dream, and now I’m afraid you’ll start resenting me for changing everything.”

My heart clenched. “I could never resent you.”

She gave me a sad smile. “Not now, maybe. But what about later? When things get harder?”

I shook my head. “No. That’s not how this works. We’re in this together, Olivia.”

She sighed, rubbing a hand over her stomach. “I just don’t want you to regret anything.”

I took a deep breath, trying to put my feelings into words. “Look… is this scary? Yeah. Is it happening sooner than we expected? Absolutely. But that doesn’t change how I feel about you, or how much I love this baby already.”

Olivia’s lips parted slightly, surprise flickering in her expression. “You do?”

I smiled, feeling the warmth spread through my chest. “Yeah, I do. And you know what? Maybe this wasn’t our plan, but maybe it was meant to happen like this.”

Her eyes softened, and I could see the tension in her shoulders ease just a little.

“I love you, Liv. And I love our baby,” I said firmly. “And I don’t care if I have to take a million flights or spend every second of my free time traveling back and forth—I’m not going anywhere.”

A deep emotion flickered in her eyes, and when she finally spoke, her voice was thick with emotion.

“You always know exactly what to say to make me feel safe.”

I grinned. “Good. Because you are safe. With me, with us. No matter what.”

Olivia exhaled, a small but genuine smile tugging at her lips. “You know, I think our baby is going to be just as stubborn as you.”

I smirked. “Well, obviously. They’re our kid. Double the stubbornness, double the attitude.”

She laughed, the sound light and warm. “Moon, help us.”

I placed my hand on my chest. “I solemnly swear to be the cool parent.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what does that make me?”

I grinned. “The hot, protective one.”

Olivia snorted. “You’re ridiculous.”

“But you love me.”

She sighed dramatically. “Unfortunately.”

I laughed, but then my gaze softened. “I mean it, though. We’ll figure this out. Together.”

Her eyes held mine through the screen, and for the first time since she told me about the pregnancy, I saw the full extent of her relief.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “Together.”

---

Olivia’s POV

After we ended the call, I sat in bed, my hand resting over my stomach.

For the past few days, I had been drowning in my own fears—of what this would mean for Briar, for me, for us. I had worried that she’d feel trapped, that she’d pull away.

But she hadn’t.

Instead, she had done what she always did—stood by my side without hesitation.

I smiled, my heart feeling lighter than it had in days.

This wasn’t going to be easy. We had challenges ahead, sacrifices to make, and obstacles to overcome.

But for the first time, I wasn’t afraid.

Because no matter what, we would face it together.