deflated any more than it already has been.
“I need to tell you something important.” My words are soft. I push her hair off her shoulder and cup her face, my thumb caressing her soft cheek. I love how soft her skin is.
“Am I going to be upset?”
I shrug. I really don’t know, but I hope not. “It’s about Josie and Liam.”
“Okay.” She says as she steps back, but I won’t have it. I put my hand on her waist and hold her to me.
“You have nothing to worry about, but you might be mad at me because I kept this from you. When I think about it now, it’s silly. I should’ve told you, but it’s not something I like to think about or even care about.”
“Just tell me, Nick.”
I sigh and close my eyes. What if she thinks I’m less of man? When I open my eyes she’s looking at me with such concern that it breaks my heart. I shake my head and blurt out, “Liam is Liam Page of 4225 West.”
Aubrey steps back and this time I let her. I don’t know what she’s thinking. Her eyes wander and I can tell there are a million thoughts running through her head.
“Is this why you hate my tank top?”
I try not to smile, but it’s to no avail. I nod, afraid that if I say yes it will sound as if I’m jealous. I know I used to be back in high school, but I grew out of that. I’d like to think I’m more mature than to be jealous of Liam, even now. The only thing he has that I want is Noah.
“You went to high school with Liam Page?”
“Westbury, but yeah.”
“How did you meet Josie?”
“High school. I had a crush, but she was with Liam. I went away to college, determined to finish in four years and when I came back she was in my office one day with a sick toddler.”
“He left her?”
“Long story, but yes he did and in his defense, he didn’t know about Noah.”
“And now he’s coming to our house for dinner?”
I nod.
“Are you afraid I’ll fall at his feet?”
“No,” my voice cracks when I answer. I hang my head. I hate the feeling that he has a hold over me, but hell if the thought doesn’t cross my mind.
Aubrey steps closer. Her fingers splayed out in my hair. “If I had known, I wouldn’t wear the shirt. I’m not a fan by any means. I’ve heard them a few times and my friend gave the shirt to me. I’ll get rid of it, but for the record, Liam Page has nothing on you!”
I capture her lips. My hands cup her ass to bring her closer. I’ve never been so in love and I know now that my love for Josie stemmed from a high school infatuation. I have no doubt we loved each other, but not in the way that counts at the end of the night.
With a loud knock I pull away from her lips. I kiss her once more before pulling her hand into mine and walking us to the door to greet our guests. If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be eating dinner with Liam, Josie by his side, I probably would’ve punched them, but here we are, about to be civil adults. At least I hope Liam is civil because he’s the one who stands in my way of seeing Noah, even if it’s for one last time.
I open the door wide with Aubrey standing just behind me with one hand on my bicep the other on my back. Josie and Liam stand before us. Josie’s smiling and Liam’s looking down at the ground. He doesn’t want to be here anymore than I want him here.
“Come in,” I say in a fake ‘I’m so happy you’re here invading my space’ voice. Josie grabs Liam’s hand and pulls him into our place.
“Can I take your coats?”
“Sure,” Josie says as Liam helps her out of her jacket. He folds it across his arm and somehow maneuvers his off without setting Josie’s down. He hands them both to Aubrey, who nods graciously.
“This is nice,” Josie says as she looks around. I shrug and put my hands into my pockets. Liam and I don’t need to shake hands, there’s no need to get reacquainted.
Aubrey returns and slides her arm into my mine. I look down at her and try to fake a smile, but I know it was more
“I need to tell you something important.” My words are soft. I push her hair off her shoulder and cup her face, my thumb caressing her soft cheek. I love how soft her skin is.
“Am I going to be upset?”
I shrug. I really don’t know, but I hope not. “It’s about Josie and Liam.”
“Okay.” She says as she steps back, but I won’t have it. I put my hand on her waist and hold her to me.
“You have nothing to worry about, but you might be mad at me because I kept this from you. When I think about it now, it’s silly. I should’ve told you, but it’s not something I like to think about or even care about.”
“Just tell me, Nick.”
I sigh and close my eyes. What if she thinks I’m less of man? When I open my eyes she’s looking at me with such concern that it breaks my heart. I shake my head and blurt out, “Liam is Liam Page of 4225 West.”
Aubrey steps back and this time I let her. I don’t know what she’s thinking. Her eyes wander and I can tell there are a million thoughts running through her head.
“Is this why you hate my tank top?”
I try not to smile, but it’s to no avail. I nod, afraid that if I say yes it will sound as if I’m jealous. I know I used to be back in high school, but I grew out of that. I’d like to think I’m more mature than to be jealous of Liam, even now. The only thing he has that I want is Noah.
“You went to high school with Liam Page?”
“Westbury, but yeah.”
“How did you meet Josie?”
“High school. I had a crush, but she was with Liam. I went away to college, determined to finish in four years and when I came back she was in my office one day with a sick toddler.”
“He left her?”
“Long story, but yes he did and in his defense, he didn’t know about Noah.”
“And now he’s coming to our house for dinner?”
I nod.
“Are you afraid I’ll fall at his feet?”
“No,” my voice cracks when I answer. I hang my head. I hate the feeling that he has a hold over me, but hell if the thought doesn’t cross my mind.
Aubrey steps closer. Her fingers splayed out in my hair. “If I had known, I wouldn’t wear the shirt. I’m not a fan by any means. I’ve heard them a few times and my friend gave the shirt to me. I’ll get rid of it, but for the record, Liam Page has nothing on you!”
I capture her lips. My hands cup her ass to bring her closer. I’ve never been so in love and I know now that my love for Josie stemmed from a high school infatuation. I have no doubt we loved each other, but not in the way that counts at the end of the night.
With a loud knock I pull away from her lips. I kiss her once more before pulling her hand into mine and walking us to the door to greet our guests. If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be eating dinner with Liam, Josie by his side, I probably would’ve punched them, but here we are, about to be civil adults. At least I hope Liam is civil because he’s the one who stands in my way of seeing Noah, even if it’s for one last time.
I open the door wide with Aubrey standing just behind me with one hand on my bicep the other on my back. Josie and Liam stand before us. Josie’s smiling and Liam’s looking down at the ground. He doesn’t want to be here anymore than I want him here.
“Come in,” I say in a fake ‘I’m so happy you’re here invading my space’ voice. Josie grabs Liam’s hand and pulls him into our place.
“Can I take your coats?”
“Sure,” Josie says as Liam helps her out of her jacket. He folds it across his arm and somehow maneuvers his off without setting Josie’s down. He hands them both to Aubrey, who nods graciously.
“This is nice,” Josie says as she looks around. I shrug and put my hands into my pockets. Liam and I don’t need to shake hands, there’s no need to get reacquainted.
Aubrey returns and slides her arm into my mine. I look down at her and try to fake a smile, but I know it was more
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