Chapter 4
Sweet Aroma, Bitter Truths
GAbrIEL
When Josh and I leave Beanstalk, the cool breeze from the street hits my face, and I feel a momentary sense of relief.
It’s a perfect day to be out—a little overcast, with the sun peeking through the clouds.
The air smells like rain, which only adds to the calmness.
Josh, as usual, is already in high spirits.
“So, man, when are you going to admit you like Millie Feely?” he asks, grinning from ear to ear like he’s already won some kind of bet.
I furrow my brows at him and shake my head, confused by his sudden shift in conversation. “I literally just met the woman,” I say, my tone flat as I try to brush him off. He knows better than to bring up something like this out of nowhere. Doesn’t he?
Josh chuckles, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “Don’t play coy, Gab. We both know you think she’s cute. Come on, I can see it in your eyes.”
I laugh nervously, trying to downplay it.
Sure, Millie is attractive, I think, but that’s not enough to make me actually like her.
She smells like vanilla and caramel coffee, which is a draw, but that doesn’t mean I’m attracted to her.
The way she acts—like she’s constantly got something to prove—puts me off.
I’ve never been one for drama, and Millie seems like she brings more than enough of it to the table.
“I don’t,” I grunt, sticking to my guns. “She’s incredibly infuriating. You should know. You know her, don’t you?”
Josh shakes his head, a smug look on his face. He’s enjoying this too much. “Sure, Gab. Keep telling yourself that. But we both know the truth.”
The car ride to the restaurant is brief, and Josh is relentlessly trying to get under my skin with little comments about Millie. It’s like he’s trying to convince me of something, but I’m not biting. Not today.
We pull into the parking lot of The Grilled Plate, a cozy spot right on the water. The restaurant is a local favorite, known for its laid-back vibe and great food. It’s the place where you can sit on the patio, watch the boats float by, and forget about everything else.
A young hostess greets us as we walk in, leading us to a table by the windows.
The view of the water is breathtaking, with the light shimmering off the surface of the lake, reflecting in the quiet, steady waves.
I sink into the seat and try to relax, feeling the tension from the day ease away, just a little.
A man in his late twenties or early thirties walks up to us, his face lighting up when he sees Josh. “JJ! What’s going on, man?” His voice is loud and friendly, and there’s a familiarity between them, a bond that only comes with years of friendship.
I glance at the name on his shirt. Reuben.
Josh grins and slaps him on the back. “Ruey S, hey man! Just grabbing a bite before going home to sleep. This is my new partner, Gabriel. Gab, this is Reuben Feely. He owns the restaurant.”
Feely. That name strikes me like a bolt of lightning. Millie’s last name is Feely too, right? I wonder if they’re related, and if so, where the connection is. A brother? A cousin?
I extend my hand to Reuben, trying to stay casual despite the small whirlpool of curiosity forming in my chest. “Nice to meet you. Great place you’ve got here.”
If Reuben is anything like Millie, he’s more laid-back than she is.
He has an amiable smile, and his demeanor is calm, which is a relief.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but he’s the exact opposite of what I imagined—he’s warm, open, and doesn’t seem to have a care in the world.
He’s probably the guy who gets along with everyone, effortlessly.
Josh continues talking to Reuben, catching up like old friends do. “We just came from Mill’s place. The cafe is coming along great! I’m happy for her. It’s been a long road, but she’s finally living out her dream, especially after what happened this past year.”
I glance between Josh and Reuben, my mind processing the words. What happened this past year?
Reuben’s face shifts just slightly, his expression darkening for a moment, before he continues.
“It’s been rough on her. Mills is one of the best people I know.
Definitely the best of my three sisters.
Sweet to everyone, even when they don’t deserve it.
I don’t know how someone could break her heart the way her ex did.
” His voice softens, and there’s an edge of protectiveness there that makes me respect him more.
“But I’m just glad she’s come out on top.
I’m so proud of her for how she’s handling everything.
After being dumped after five years in a relationship, she could’ve just shut down. But she’s thriving now.”
A few things cross my mind. First, the Millie I’ve interacted with today doesn’t seem like the same person Reuben’s describing.
She’s been short with me, practically seething at me when I was just trying to be friendly.
Could it be that I’m just getting a side of her that no one else sees? Or maybe she just doesn’t like me.
The more I hear about Millie’s past, the more I wonder what she’s been through. Five years with someone? That’s a long time. What kind of person would do that to her? What happened that made her shut herself off so completely from the people around her?
I glance at Josh, who is watching me with a knowing smile.
“Gab here has been getting the feisty version of Mills today,” he says, nudging me with his elbow.
“Not sure what he did to get on her bad side, but when I got to the cafe today to congratulate her, she was practically throwing daggers at him.”
I’m about to defend myself when Reuben speaks up, his tone much softer.
“I’m sure Millie is just stressed. The grand opening is in a few weeks.
She’s doing it on her own. Knowing Millie, she’s out of her mind stressed.
Give her another chance. Once you get to know her, you’ll see she’s worth the effort.
She’s the person everyone needs in their life. ”
There’s a certain light that shines brightest only when you’re surrounded by shadows—and I think Millie has that kind of light.
Something in his words hit me. I want to believe him. I do. But after my interaction with Millie today, I’m not sure I’m ready to give her a second chance. I don’t even know if she wants it.
Before I can respond, my phone buzzes in my pocket, pulling me out of my thoughts. I check the message and see it’s from my Ma.
Ma
Amore Mio, when are you coming home? I’d hate for you not to see Aura until tomorrow morning.
My heart squeezes at the thought of my daughter. I quickly stand up, feeling the familiar comfort of home calling to me. “I’ve got to go,” I tell Josh, a little regretful. “See you later tonight.”
The drive home is quicker than expected. The restaurant was closer to my place than I thought, and before I know it, I’m pulling into the driveway of my house. I get out of the car and head inside, the familiar scent of dinner cooking filling the air.
When I walk in, I’m greeted by Ma holding a wiggly Aura Bean, my little girl. My Ma hands her to me without saying much, but her eyes sparkle with the love she has for Aura.
“Gabriel,” she says, shaking her head with that disapproving but affectionate smile. “I’m running to the store. She just ate, so she should be fine until I get home. But change her.”
I roll my eyes at her. “Ma, I know how to care for her. I am her Papa after all.”
She smiles and shakes her head, murmuring something under her breath. I know it’s a jab, but it’s filled with affection. “Stupid fool,” she murmurs fondly.
Aura fell asleep in her bassinet not long after my Ma left for the store. I get up to grab a drink from the refrigerator and notice that I need to pick up some beer for the weekend. Although I don’t drink a lot, especially now that I am the only one watching Aura when I am off.
A few minutes later, I hear Aura stirring in her bassinet, waking up. I walk over to her and stare down at the tiny baby. Since becoming a dad, I swear I am softer. Much to my protest, having a daughter has changed my perspective on life.
No longer do I sulk around going through the motions of life. I do everything with a purpose in mind. For my daughter.
“Hi Beanie, aren’t you the prettiest baby?” I coo to my daughter.
Aura may only be two months old now, but she is growing and changing every day. Ma tells me that in a few months, she will start eating baby food for lunch.
Aura looks at me with wide eyes and smiles. There it is. That smile does it all. I’m not sure how someone, especially a mother, could not want to experience the joys of watching your child grow up. I am so grateful that I get to watch her grow up.
Aura’s little face scrunches up as she stirs, and I look down at her, feeling an overwhelming surge of love.
This little girl has changed everything about me.
I never thought I’d be the person to settle down, to care so much about anything outside of myself.
But here I am, taking care of her every day, doing what it takes to give her the best life possible.
I play with Aura for a while with these black and white books Ma bought for babies. When I look at the clock, I see it is eight at night and know that Aura gets a bottle anywhere from eight to eight-thirty.
I saunter to the kitchen and grab a bottle from the cabinet. Before Haley left, she had been pumping only, not wanting to be close to the baby during breastfeeding. Luckily, we still have some supply leftover.
I wonder what we will do once we run out? Will we have to switch Aura to formula? I decide to ask Ma when she gets home. The bottle warmer goes off, and I check the temperature of the milk, making sure it’s not too hot.
As I feed her, I can’t help but marvel at the way she looks up at me with those big, innocent eyes, trusting me completely. It makes all the hard days worth it.
After I finish feeding her and she falls asleep, I hear the front door open. Ma walks in with several bags of groceries, the scent of fresh produce following her.
“I got some fresh ingredients and produce for dinner for the next week,” she announces excitedly, clearly proud of her haul. “And I got all the stuff for you to make your homemade Pizza Margherita.”
I smile, my heart swelling with gratitude. Cooking has always been something I’ve loved. Back in Italy, my Nona would let me stand on a stool in the kitchen, teaching me how to make all of our family’s traditional dishes. Food has always been a connection, a way to show love.
“Grazie1, Mamma. I can’t wait,” I respond.
After helping Ma put away all the groceries, I head upstairs to get showered and ready for work.
Alone in the shower, I find myself aroused, fantasizing about a specific girl as I stroke my cock.
Millie. I know it’s probably not the most prudent thing to be feeling this way about a woman I have only just met.
But I have to admit, Millie has given me a very strong and lasting positive, even if I acted like a dick to her.
Once I am done getting ready, I head downstairs, kiss Ma and Aura goodbye, and head out to get to work. Still with one thing on my mind. It’s going to be a long night.
1. Grazie- Thank you