CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

'We should do this. We can start by being friends. We can forget that everything happened and pretend that we just met," Nicholas said and Astra laughed a bit.
'We have a child together, and in four months, we would have another one. That is not a very good plan," Astra said with a smile.
'Says who?" Nicholas said. He looked so cheeky. It reminded Astra of how she found him so funny when they had first met and that was one of the reasons she fell in love with him.
'Oh, good evening. I just saw you walking by and I was in awe, such a beautiful lady, I said to myself that I had to meet you. My name is Nicholas, and you are," Nicholas said to Astra, he took her hand in his and kissed her fingers. Astra felt like butterflies were erupting in her stomach like the first day they had met. She felt like he was so handsome then, just like when they had met, a little more than seven years back.
'My name is Astra, I love your smile," Astra said. She did love the way he smiled. She remembered that was one of the things that attracted her to him in the first place.
'Thank you, Astra. I am sure nothing compares to when you widen your lips in a smile," Nicholas said and Astra laughed. It was a loud and free one. It was an easy laugh. The type that she did not know when it left her.
'Where did you get this sweet tongue from?" Astra said. She was still looking him in the eye. He was starting at her so intently that she could not tell what was going on in his mind, but the air was so intense. She could feel the electricity between them.
'I think I have always had it," Nicholas said. He was moving closer to her. Astra's heart was beating faster in anticipation she could barely wait. She wanted him to close to her. Astra moved closer and sighed when she felt Nicholas' arm around her. She moved closer to him and melted in his embrace.
'This is too fast. We are moving too fast," Nicholas said. His hands were still around her though, he was not pushing away.
'Friends can hug," Astra said, she was still in his arms, she felt safe and she did not want to leave him. She felt like she was home.
'Friends don't hug for this long," Nicholas said. He was removing himself from her, albeit slowly. Astra still wanted to stay with him, but she understood his fear, she had the same fear too. Maybe she would feel that she had enough, or too much and she would back off from his life too.
'We should have dinner tomorrow, as friends," Nicholas said, and Astra nodded.
'We should, it will be nice. I hope Stephanie will be free to baby sit," Astra said.
'Brian is with me at the moment, Sarah will help baby sit," Nicholas said. Astra did not feel that the newly engaged woman would be baby sitting, but she knew that they would figure it out eventually.
'I don't think we can be friends for long though," Astra said, she moved closer to him again. She wanted him to hold her.
'We have to at least try," Nicholas said and she pouted.
'I will see you tomorrow then," Astra said with a huff. She did not know why Nicholas was being so high handed.
'I will see you tomorrow Astra. Dream of me, I am already missing you," Nicholas said and Astra smiled back at him. They both started walking out of the garden together. She could not even be angry at him when he was being so lovable. She put her hands through his and they walked back to the house together.
'Do friends do this too?" Nicholas asked. It was clear that he was joking, but she glared back him. Nicholas then laughed. It was a long and full laugh. Astra's stomach tightened at the laugh. She loved listening to him laugh.
'Daddy! Mommy!" Brian shouted as he saw them coming. Their son ran to them with his little legs and went on to hug them.
'I missed you Mommy," Brian said. Astra felt like crying, she did not ever want her son to feel that way, but it was inevitable at the moment.
'I missed you too baby," Astra said, lifting her son up.
'Will you stay here Mommy? In Daddy's house?" Brian asked. He had this innocent smile on his face that made her wonder if someone had put him up to saying that.
'No, Brian. Mommy is going back to her own house," Nicholas said to Brian who pouted.
'I want Mommy to stay here with the two of us," Brian said. He looked like he was about to cry. Astra wanted to say that she would stay at home with Nicholas and Brian then. They were her family.
'Don't worry Brian. Mommy can always stay another time. Mommy is really tired now and she would like to sleep in her own bed," Nicholas said. Yet again answering for her. She wanted to call him out on that, but Brian seemed to buy his words and he was smiling broadly.
'Okay Daddy, Mommy will stay another time. Bye bye Mommy," Brian said to her, waving his hand at her, and Astra laughed. Brian really got on well with his father. She could remember that he was actually a Mommy's boy at a point.
'You want me to go home already?" Astra asked him. Brian looked confused because his father already said Mommy wanted to go home.
'I want you to sleep on your bed. I am sleepy too," Brian said, and then let out a yawn.
'I guess I should go on and sleep on my bed then," Astra said, she was handing Brian over to Nicholas. Nicholas held Brian and Brian rested his head on his father's shoulder.
'We should put him to sleep together," Nicholas said to Astra and she nodded. They both went to Brian's room in Nicholas' house. It housed two cots, one for Brian and the other for Theo.
'I will get another cot soon, the nursery is big enough to house three children," Nicholas said as she tucked Brian in. She knew that he was referring to her unborn child. Astra did not know what she thought about moving back to Nicholas' house because of the children, but she was ready to start somewhere, friendship was a good beginning.
'Read me a story Daddy," Brian muttered, and Nicholas smiled at his son. He looked at him with so much love that Astra was almost jealous, she loved that the father of her children adored them.
'Okay, Brian, I am going to read you one," Nicholas said and picked up a story book. Before Nicholas got to the third page, Brian was already asleep.
Astra and Nicholas then tiptoed out of the room. The house was almost empty as all the guests were gone, including Sarah and Jared. Just the household staff and Brian were around. Sarah left a message for Nicholas.
'Let me drive you home. It is already late," Nicholas said to her.
'I drove here, Nicholas. There is no need," Astra told him.
'I will get one of my guards to drive my car and follow us, it is that easy," Nicholas told her and Astra shook her head.
'You do not have to go through all that unnecessary stress. There is no need," Astra told Nicholas. She did not understand why he was so adamant to drive her home.
'You are pregnant, you are a woman and it is passed then, I am driving you home," Nicholas said in a tone that broke no argument. Astra glared at him, but put her car keys into his hands when he opened it.
'Let's go," Nicholas said and she followed him into her car.
'You do not have to be so forceful," Astra said as they drove to her place. She was referring to their argument.
'I don't know Astra, I care about you and I do not want anything to happen to you," Nicholas said and Astra felt touched. The fact that he cared about her was no news to her but to hear him say it out loud.
'I will try to stay safe," Astra replied him and he nodded.
'So I will see you tomorrow by seven. I will pick you up, please take care of your self and wear something pretty," Nicholas said as he dropped her at her house. He then gave her the keys to her car and watched her as she entered into her apartment.
Astra felt excited about her date tomorrow. It was almost the way she felt when she had her first classic dinner date with Nicholas. He had told her to dress pretty just like he told her now. She had wondered if she would be over dressed or under dressed. She wanted to look perfect for him and so she looked for a dress for hours before she finally found something that fit the bill.
She also wanted to look beautiful for their date tomorrow. Astra did not have anything beautiful that would fit her bump, so she knew that she would have to go shopping for the dress. Astra knew that she would have to get something fabulous, a perfect first date dress to show new beginnings.
She brought out her phone to call Stephanie. She hoped that her friend would be up for shopping. The pregnancy seemed to bring out the fashionista in Steph, she was always buying one thing or the other. Stephanie was already planning to open her culinary school and restaurant when she had her baby and when he was old enough.
Stephanie was already eight months gone, and she looked ready to pop, but she was always more than ready to shop.
Astra picked up her phone to call her friend to confirm if she would be free to shop.
'Hey Stephanie, how are you doing?" Astra said as Steph picked the call.
'Oh I am good. I did not see you after the dinner was over, but I did not see Nicholas too, I figured you were fine," Stephanie said.
'Oh I was fine. I am good, Nicholas and I are going on a date tomorrow. Can you come shopping with me for a dress?" Astra asked her friend.
'Oh, all I do these days is sit at home, of course I want to come. I am so happy for you and Nicholas. I guess you are getting back together," Steph said and she smiled.
'Thank you Stephanie. I do not know if we are back together just yet, but I would like to try," Astra said.
'I will leave you to get some rest for the big date then.. Good night," Stephanie said.
'Good night, Stephanie," Astra said before disconnecting the call. Astra smiled as stared at her phone, she could not wait for the next day to come. As she was staring at her phone, she saw a text. It was from Nicholas.
I am texting you with hopes that friends do this, they text each other when they get home. How are you? Are you thinking of me? I can not wait to see you again tomorrow, I did not know how much I missed you until I saw you again today.
Astra smiled at the text and placed her phone on her chest. She let out a little squeak and turned around with her phone. Nicholas could be so sweet. The butterflies in her stomach felt like they were going on a rampage.
Astra was still smiling when she went into the bathroom and took her bath, she was remembering every sweet thing that Nicholas did. She remembered how she took her coat and helped her with the chair, how he refused to kiss her because he was scared that she would leave, how he insisted on driving her back home and how he texted her and he was so sweet.
Astra was already on her bed that night when she remembered that she went to the party with the thought that she would not talk to Nicholas, and that she would not get back with him.