Chapter 8 Overwhelming

• Ruby’s POV
• The park buzzed with laughter and the chirping of birds. It was the perfect day for an outing. I watched Emma as she ran ahead, her little feet barely touching the ground in her excitement. Ethan walked beside me, his presence reassuring and comforting.
• “Ethan, you didn’t have to come,” I said, glancing at him. I had planned a day in the park with myself, Emma and Emily but once I asked him he immediately cleared his schedule and made it happen.
• He waved it off with a smile. “Nonsense. It’s good that I’m here. Besides, who wouldn’t want to spend a lovely day in the park with you two?”
• I couldn’t help but smile at his words, feeling a warmth spread through me. Soon, we found a quiet spot near the basketball court, and Ethan immediately grabbed a ball, heading over to the hoops.
• “I want cotton candy mom,” Emma whined, her little hands dragging mine.
• I gestured to Emily and she immediately came over, taking Emma’s hand. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s go get some cotton candy.”
• As they walked away, I turned my attention back to Ethan. He was already on the court, effortlessly sinking baskets one after another. Every time he jumped, his shorts rode up, revealing more of his muscular thighs and calves. My eyes were glued to the defined muscles, the dips and swells captivating me. My vein pulsated as beads of sweat made their way down his thighs.
• He then turned away from the hoop and smiled at me, his eyes brightening. His smile was radiant, the eye wrinkles around his eyes adding to his charm. I felt a lump in my throat, my mouth suddenly dry. I swallowed hard and shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.
• I clearly remembered the day we met. I had gone to Oliver’s office to discuss about a business idea he was hoping to start soon and all of a sudden the door flew open and Ethan walked in.
• He was the very definition of a walking temptation. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a chiseled jawline that looked like it had been sculpted by a master artist. His eyes were a deep, mesmerizing gray, framed by thick lashes that any woman would envy. His dark hair was stylishly tousled, giving him an effortlessly rugged look. He had a confident stride, his body moving with a grace that belied his muscular build. The first thing I had noticed was his smile—a smile that could light up a room and make my heart race.
• He had been dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, the fabric hugging his body in all the right places, highlighting his powerful physique and build. And of course, igniting waters from deep within me. As he had walked nearer, I had felt an instant magnetic pull to him, my eyes drawn to the way his white shirt stretched across his broad chest and the way his trousers hinted at the strength of his legs. His presence had been overwhelming, a mix of raw masculinity and undeniable charm.
• “Hey, Ruby! Want to give it a try?” Ethan’s voice brought me back to the present.
• I laughed, shaking off the memory. “I don’t think I can compete with you.”
• He walked over, the basketball tucked under his arm, and offered his hand. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
• I took his hand, feeling a spark as our fingers touched. As we walked towards the hoop, I couldn’t help but marvel at how things had changed in just a few short months. Ethan had become an important part of my life, a source of strength and support.
• He positioned me in front of the hoop, his hands gently guiding mine on the ball. “Just like this,” he murmured, his breath warm and landing against my ear. “Now, aim and shoot.” He said and moved backwards, giving me space to shoot.
• I did as he instructed, the ball sailed through the air and—much to my surprise—it went through the hoop. I laughed, a joyous sound that made Ethan smile even wider.
• “See? You’re a natural,” he said, his eyes twinkling with pride.
• I looked up at him, feeling a rush of affection. I knew Ethan liked me, and although he has never said it outright, his actions said everything. The way he looked at me, how he’s always present when I needed him, and how he’s concerned about making Emma happy—it all showed how much he cared. But I had chosen to ignore those feelings. I can’t let myself get caught up in the emotions, the temptations he sparked every time he’s near.
• It’s not that I don’t feel anything for him. I do. More than I’d like to admit. But my heart had been broken too many times. I’ve been let down, betrayed, and hurt so deeply that I don’t think I can go through it again. That’s why I chose to have a child through artificial insemination. I wanted the joy of motherhood without the risk of heartbreak. My heart was always on guard, constantly protected. The only time I’d let that guard down was when I was married to Dominic and he made sure to remind me to bring it back up.
• “You wanna go again?” He asked, walking dangerously close to me. Once again, I could feel his warmth, his breath landing against my ears and it took everything in me not to lean into him in that moment. Gathering every logic I knew, I moved away from him.
• “As far as I don’t have to jump too high,” I said, my eyes resting on my protruding belly.
• “Oh!” He gasped, immediately understanding. “You’re almost due,” he smiled, covering the distance between us.
• “Yes, just two months left,” I said, my voice barely a whisper as I wiped the tiny tear that had formed in my eyes. This pregnancy has been a tough one, it had been filled with several pains. From the pain of rejection from Dominic to the financial hardship I went through.
• “Hey, hey,” Ethan snapped, resting his hands on my shoulders to get my attention. “Everything would be fine Ruby. You have Oliver now, you have me, you have Lily and Emma. We’re all here for you.”
• I nodded my head, trying to let his words sink in but instead tears flowed from my eyes down to my face and he immediately pulled me into a hug, gently patting my back and hair until I stopped crying.
• Once I felt better, his hands unwrapped my body and he pulled away softly, his fingers wiping away the tear buds away from my face.
• He looked down at me, his eyes deeply staring into mine and I met his gaze, and for a moment, I saw the depth of his feelings, the affection he was trying to show me. It made my heart ache, the urge to let him in was overwhelming. But then I remembered the pain, the heartbreak, and I took a step back, creating a physical distance to match the emotional one I need to maintain.
• Just then, Emily returns with Emma, both of them clutching sticks of pink cotton candy. Emma’s face lights up when she sees me and Ethan together.
• “Mommy! Look! I got cotton candy!” she exclaims, running over to show me.
• “That looks delicious, sweetheart,” I say, scooping her up and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
• Ethan ruffles her hair. “Did you get enough for all of us?”
• Emma giggles, her eyes sparkling. “Maybe! But I might eat it all first!”
• We laugh, and for a moment, it feels like we’re a real family. The kind of family I’ve always wanted but never thought I could have. The kind of family I’m too scared to believe in.
• As we walk back to the park bench, I feel Ethan’s gaze on me, warm and steady. He’s not pressuring me, not pushing for anything more than I can give. He’s just there, patient and kind, waiting for me to decide what I want.
• But what I want is complicated. It’s tangled up in fears and past hurts, in dreams I’ve buried deep. I glance at Ethan, then quickly look away, focusing on Emma’s happy chatter. I can’t afford to let my guard down. Not yet. Not ever.
• For now, I’ll cherish these moments, these glimpses of what could be, and keep my heart safely locked away.