My Everything

When Josie bought this run-down space I never expected we’d be able to make her dream come true. Only days after opening Whimsicality she has a line out the door and down the street all just to buy flowers. The four of us, Mason, Katelyn, Josie and I, worked night and day to get this place up and running. I took a week off – our planned vacation to Disneyworld canceled – to help open the store. I should’ve been more accepting when she came home with her expansion plans, but we all know how I felt about those.
    I’m happy for her. I’m happy for me.
    “Are you going to ask her?”
    Aubrey snaps me out of my musing. “Ask her what?”
    “If you can see Noah.”
    “No.” I pull out a packet of sugar and fiddle with it.
    Aubrey places her hand gently on mine. I move mine ever so slightly so I can hold her hand. “Noah is the one person you talked about daily. You need this, Nick. You need to see him and tell him that you’re sorry for just leaving.”
    “I don’t know. She has no reason to let me see him.”
    “Just ask.”
    I don’t respond because Josie is making her way toward us. She sets down our coffee and an assortment of pasties.
    “On the house,” she plasters on a smile and I can’t tell if it’s fake or not.
    Aubrey kicks my leg. I scowl at her, but the look she’s giving me is much worse. I have a feeling if I don’t do as she suggests, I’m in for it.
    I look at Josie, who is observing the both of us. I can’t maintain eye contact with her. I don’t know what I’ll do if I see the negative look in her eyes when I ask.
    “Can I see Noah?”

Chapter 7
     
    I want to take the words back as soon as I’ve said them. I should’ve waited. Asking her today, the first day that she knows I’m back in town, is probably not the best idea. I’m afraid to look at her for fear that the answer is written all over her face. I’m not sure I can handle this rejection. I need to see him, apologize for my actions, and ask for his forgiveness. He’s by far the most important person in my life, aside from Aubrey, and I want to have any semblance of a relationship I can with him. I think I’m at least owed that.
    Josie takes a step back. My eyes are on her now, waiting for her reaction. She looks around the shop, smiling at the patrons that have just walked in. She hangs her head. Is she ashamed?
    “This isn’t a conversation for here, Nick.”
    “Where can this conversation take place?”
    “I don’t know. I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
    “Yeah, well I wasn’t expecting a lot of things, but life has a funny way of determining its own path.” I try to hide the sarcasm in my voice. Deep down, I know she had no choice when it came to Liam. I just wanted to hope that I was enough for her.
    “Where are you staying?”
    I want to shout ‘in the house we shared’ but I bite my tongue. That was always her house. I just squatted in it for years.
    “We’ve been staying at my parents, but we just rented a loft across from the park.”
    Josie looks out the window. I know she can see the loft from here. This is what Aubrey wants and I’m not going to deny her.
    “When are you moving in?”
    “We’ll be in by next weekend.”
    Josie nods. “What if Liam and I come over to your place. We’ll bring dinner and we can all sit down and talk about what’s best for Noah.”
    I look to Aubrey who nods. I’ll never thank her enough for being supportive of me having a relationship with another woman’s son. 
    “My number hasn’t change. Why don’t you hash out the details with Liam and call me.”
    “Okay.” Josie leaves and tends to her other customers. In the past, I’d watch her walk way. Let my eyes linger on her body longer than necessary, but not now. With one last glance at her retreating form, I shake my head. Aubrey’s thumb caresses over the top of my hand.
    “You did well.”
    “I feel like an idiot. I’m setting myself up.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    “Liam and I are anything but friends. He has no reason to let me see his son.”
    Aubrey leans over the table. I meet her half way and kiss her lightly. “Everyone is reasonable, you just have to believe.”
    I want to tell her she’s wrong that not everyone is reasonable, especially Liam Westbury or Page, whatever he goes by now. I also need to find the right moment to tell her that I hate the tank top that she sleeps in and that she’s about the meet the lead singer of the band that adorns her chest at night.