Chapter_281
Tyler could feel the tension in the room as Dylan stared at him, his disbelief clear. Tyler remained calm, his usual composed demeanor unshaken. He wasn’t surprised by the reaction, but he could sense that this revelation about Olivia was going to stir more than just curiosity among his friends.
“I know it sounds strange,” Tyler continued, his voice steady, “but it’s true. We’re happy.”
Dylan wasn’t convinced. He leaned forward, his expression still one of incredulity. “Happy? You’re telling me you’re secretly married to someone in university, and she’s pregnant, and you didn’t say a word about it? You’re keeping it all hush-hush?”
Tyler’s gaze softened slightly. He knew this was going to be hard for others to understand, especially for someone like Dylan, who had seen Tyler’s past relationships, especially with Naomi, so openly played out in the public eye.
“It’s complicated,” Tyler said quietly, his mind flickering back to the quiet moments he and Olivia had shared, to the growing bond between them that neither of them had quite fully defined yet. “I didn’t want to make it all public. It wasn’t the right time.”
Dylan gave him a skeptical look. “But Tyler, this isn’t just any situation. You’re about to be a father, and you’re practically hiding it. You’ve always been so upfront before, especially with Naomi.”
Tyler took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the comparison hanging in the air. Naomi had been the one who everyone expected him to be with. Their bond had always been the subject of speculation and concern, especially when Naomi had fallen ill. But things had changed. Things were different now.
“I’m not hiding anything from anyone. It’s just… between us for now,” Tyler said with a faint smile. “And it’s not about hiding Olivia. It’s about giving her space. She needs that right now. We need to take it slow.”
Dylan sat back in his chair, his curiosity piqued but his skepticism still strong. “Alright, man. I get it. But you can’t blame me for being shocked. I never thought you’d move on like this, especially with someone so… young. And pregnant.”
Tyler’s expression darkened just slightly at the mention of Olivia’s youth, but he quickly masked it. He’d been in this position too many times before, where people judged the nature of his relationships without fully understanding them.
“She’s a good person, Dylan. That’s all you need to know,” Tyler said, his voice firm but kind.
Dylan wasn’t quite ready to let it go. “I just can’t wrap my head around it. Naomi, then this mystery woman. It’s all so fast.”
Tyler didn’t answer right away. He thought about Naomi, the years they’d spent together, and the way his life had seemed to revolve around trying to help her. But it wasn’t fair to compare the two women—Olivia wasn’t Naomi. Their relationship was different, more complicated, and yet, somehow simpler at the same time. They hadn’t asked for this situation. They were just figuring it out as they went along.
“Life moves quickly, Dylan. Sometimes, you have to adjust,” Tyler said, standing up and finishing his wine. “I’ll bring Olivia by next time. You’ll see for yourself.”
Dylan was silent for a moment before shaking his head in disbelief. “Alright, man. But you’re going to have to prepare us for the shock of meeting her. Because, seriously? A university student?”
Tyler gave him a smile, a slight chuckle escaping his lips. “Trust me, Dylan. You’ll see she’s worth it.”
With that, the conversation drifted away from Olivia, but Tyler couldn’t shake the lingering discomfort. He wasn’t worried about his friends’ opinions—they’d get used to it eventually. What concerned him more was the quiet pressure he felt building between him and Olivia. They were still so new to each other, and everything felt fragile. And no matter how many people questioned their relationship, the only opinion that mattered to him was hers.
He just hoped they could navigate this new life together without too many cracks.