Chapter 37 Thirty Seven
Later that afternoon, the apartment had settled into a quiet rhythm. Lucy had returned to her laptop on the small desk, fingers flying across the keyboard, occasionally muttering under her breath about deadlines and projects. Antonia sat cross-legged on the edge of her bed, absently tracing patterns on her blanket, her mind replaying the morning’s events—the fire alarm, the smoke, the chaos—and, most vividly, Austin.
Finally, when the apartment seemed truly theirs for the moment, Antonia let curiosity overcome her. She cleared her throat.
“Lucy,” she began cautiously. “About… Austin.”
Lucy looked up from her screen, one eyebrow raised, the corners of her mouth twitching. “Oh? What about Austin?”
Antonia felt her cheeks warm. “You… noticed him, right? This morning?”
Lucy’s grin widened, and she leaned back in her chair, a teasing sparkle in her eyes. “Noticed him? Antonia, I couldn’t not notice. He was practically hovering over you with that tray like a knight delivering treasure. And don’t even try to deny it—the way he looked at you? I saw that.”
Antonia’s brow furrowed slightly, a mix of irritation and embarrassment. “You’re exaggerating.”
Lucy leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “I’m not. The way his eyes lingered when you weren’t looking, it was obvious.”
Antonia exhaled slowly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I… noticed. But that doesn’t mean anything.”
Lucy tilted her head, studying her friend intently. “Doesn’t mean anything, huh? Are you telling me you didn’t feel… something?”
Antonia’s gaze fell to her lap, hands twisting nervously in her sweater. “Lucy… I can’t. Not… not now.” Her voice was soft but firm, and there was a subtle quiver to it. “I’m still… navigating my life. I have… a lot to deal with, and having… a relationship… with anyone right now is… the last thing on my mind.”
Lucy leaned back, nodding slowly, but the teasing glimmer never left her eyes. “Fair enough. But let me just say, in case you forgot, he clearly noticed you. And if you’re being honest with yourself, I think he liked what he saw.”
"He couldn't have noticed that I am pregnant."
"I doubt that would scare him away," Lucy said, "Why not get to know him first, he is a really nice person."
Antonia shook her head lightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite herself. “We’ll see,” she murmured, though the doubt in her mind told her that her life was too complicated for anything simple like that.
Evening came quickly, bringing with it the gentle hum of the city outside. Antonia had just started organizing her things, attempting to distract herself from the persistent thoughts of Kennedy, the lost relationship, her pregnancy, and the complicated emotions she was still untangling.
A soft knock at the door made her pause. Her stomach fluttered slightly, and she found herself walking to the door cautiously. Peeking through the peephole, she saw him—Austin, holding a small basket, looking relaxed, casual, approachable.
She opened the door.
“Hey,” he greeted softly, a small smile playing on his lips. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
“Not at all,” Antonia replied, stepping aside to let him in. "You're here to see, Lucy?"
“Actually, I was thinking…” he began, holding up the basket slightly. “I know it’s a bit late, but would you like to take a walk? Just around the neighborhood. Fresh air, nothing fancy. Let me give you a little tour.”
Antonia hesitated, and before she could respond, Lucy appeared from her room, her grin wide. “Go! Go! You need to stretch your legs anyway.”
Antonia looked at her friend, caught between caution and curiosity. Lucy’s eyes were dancing with mischief.
“Fine,” she said finally, exhaling. “But just around the block.”
Austin’s smile widened. “Just around the block it is.”
They stepped out into the warm evening air. The street was quiet, the sounds of distant cars and faint laughter from other apartments the only interruptions.
As they walked, Antonia found herself noticing little things, the rhythm of his footsteps matching hers, the way he occasionally glanced at her when he thought she wasn’t looking, the faint scent of herbs and spices that must have clung to him from the kitchen.
“It’s a nice street,” she said softly, trying to fill the silence.
“It is,” he agreed. “Quiet, calm… perfect for a stroll without having to dodge traffic or impatient people.”
She smiled faintly. “I wasn’t expecting much. This city is still new to me.”
“I get that,” he said, his tone gentle, reassuring. “It can be… overwhelming at first.”
Antonia nodded, silently appreciating his presence, the subtle comfort he brought. They walked slowly, without hurry, the conversation weaving in and out naturally, lighthearted stories about Lucy, his cooking experiments, and aspirations.
At one point, he stopped beside a small park tucked between two buildings. “I like this spot,” he said quietly. “Not many people know it’s here. Feels… private, peaceful.”
Antonia glanced at him, noticing the softness in his expression. “It does.”
They stood there for a moment, the world around them quiet, the soft hum of distant traffic fading into the background.
“So,” Austin said after a beat, his tone casual but tinged with curiosity, “how’s your first day in the city? Settling in okay?”
Antonia exhaled slowly. “Better than I expected. I… wasn’t sure what to expect at all.”
He nodded, eyes lingering on her face. “I think you’re going to like it here. At least, I'm going to make sure of that.”
Antonia met his gaze, noticing a subtle intensity there, a hint of something unspoken, and her cheeks warmed. “Thanks,” she whispered.
They resumed walking, side by side now, the faint brush of their arms against each other sending little sparks of awareness through her. The conversation was easy, laughter spilling out naturally as they shared small jokes and playful comments. Every shared glance carried an understated tension, a quiet intimacy forming.
By the time they returned to the apartment, the night had deepened, the streetlights casting a soft glow across the sidewalk. Antonia felt strangely lighter, the world a little less oppressive, even as the knot of her current situation; Kennedy, her pregnancy, her past—still lingered stubbornly.
Austin paused at her door, basket tucked under his arm. “I hope this wasn’t too much,” he said softly, almost shyly.
“No,” she said honestly, her smile genuine. “It was… nice.”
He smiled back, a hint of something tender and playful in his expression. “Good. Maybe we can do it again sometime?”
Antonia hesitated, feeling the pull of cautious realism but also… something else. She nodded slowly. “Maybe.”
He lingered a moment longer, as if memorizing her face, then gave a small nod. “I’ll see you around, Antonia.”
She watched him walk away, and felt a subtle flutter in her chest leaving her with a quiet thought she hadn’t expected: for the first time in weeks, she felt a little like maybe, just maybe things could start to feel normal again.