Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Noah
This is the first time I’ve had the woman of my dreams in my house.
Josy steps inside, looking like a goddess in that green sundress, the fabric flowing with every graceful move she makes.
She’s taking in the space, eyes roaming over the kitchen, the living room, and the dining area.
There’s this look on her face like she expected me to live in some bachelor pad with mismatched furniture and a mess everywhere.
I almost laugh, but I keep it to myself, enjoying her surprise.
As she walks further in, her stomach growls, and I can’t help but chuckle. “You hungry?”
She nods, a little embarrassed. “Yes. I haven’t eaten anything since I felt sick earlier.”
Hearing her tell me she hasn’t eaten since I saw her last, wipes the smile off my face.
I close the space between us, my hand lifting to brush some of her wild curls away from her face.
As I do, I let my fingers linger, tracing her soft skin.
She’s wearing a little makeup tonight, not that she needs it but knowing she did that for me makes something warm settle in my chest.
Her breathing picks up the moment I’m close and My voice drops low as I murmur, “You need to eat, sweetheart. I know you weren’t feeling well earlier, but you have to think about our baby now. You need your strength.”
My hand moves to her belly, the spot where our baby is growing, and her breath catches.
God, I love that I can make her react like this.
Her body responds to me even when she tries to keep her distance.
I entwine our fingers and pull her closer, feeling the slight tremor in her body as she gasps at the sudden movement.
Now that I’ve got her right where I want her, chest-to-chest, I lean in toward her lips.
I’ve been craving another taste of her just a small bite of that bottom lip I love so much.
She must sense it because she licks her lips, and that tiny action sends a surge of heat straight to my dick.
Damn, she has no idea what she’s doing to me.
But instead of kissing her, I lean down to her ear, my voice barely a whisper as I say, “Let me feed you, sweetheart. Then we’ll talk.”
Her breath hitches again, coming in faster now that I’m so close.
I should pull back and give her some space, but I can’t help myself.
As I lean away, I let my lips brush against hers, just enough to nip at her bottom lip.
It’s not nearly enough for me, but I know if I start kissing her now, there’s no way we’re going to have that talk. And we need to talk.
For now, I’ll just have to settle for the taste of her lingering on my lips, knowing that after dinner, I’ll be ready for more if she lets me.
With our fingers still intertwined, I guide Josy to the dining table, pulling out the chair for her to sit.
Once she’s settled, I head to the kitchen, ladling the chicken soup into bowls.
The smell is rich and comforting, just like I hoped it would be.
I grab the toasted bread from the oven, making sure everything is just right.
Placing the bowl in front of her, I return for the bread and my own bowl. When I sit down, I notice the way Josy glances between the soup and me, curiosity and something else flickering in her eyes.
“I figured since you weren’t feeling well, I’d make something light that might help,” I explain. “I read online that soup, crackers, and ginger ale are good for morning sickness. I hope this makes you feel better.”
She tries to hide her surprise, but I see the little smile tugging at her lips. “You read about pregnancy and made this just for me?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?” I tease.
“I don’t know, I just am. I really appreciate it,” she says, her smile turning a little shy.
“What do you want to drink? I’ve got ginger ale, water, lemonade.”
“Water is fine.”
I nod and grab two bottles from the fridge, placing one in front of her and the other in front of me. Sitting back down, I watch her, anticipation building. “Go ahead, try it. It’s not poison, I promise,” I say with a grin.
“I know it’s not,” she replies with a chuckle. “I’m just... I don’t know.” But she picks up the spoon and takes a tentative bite. Her eyes widen, and the satisfaction in her expression makes me feel damn proud.
Looking at me, she’s clearly impressed. “Wow. This is delicious. I didn’t know you could cook. Wait, did you actually make this, or are you messing with me? Did someone else do all the work?”
I burst out laughing. “Come on, woman. I made this myself. I’ve got skills, and I know how to use them.” I wiggle my eyebrows, earning a laugh from her, and damn, it’s the sweetest sound. She’s so beautiful when she laughs, and for a moment, I’m completely mesmerized.
I want to be the one who makes her laugh like that for the rest of her life.
"Come on, eat so we can talk." I nod toward her soup, and Josy picks up her spoon. I watch her as she takes a few bites, trying not to let my thoughts show on my face.
“When are you calling your doctor to make that appointment?” I ask, breaking the silence.
“I already did,” she says between bites, her voice steady but distant. “They scheduled me for next Wednesday morning at ten.”
“Good. I’ll be there. Do you want me to pick you up?”
“No, it’s better if I meet you there. That way, when we’re done, we can head back to work.”
“Josy, I don’t mind picking you up. But if you’d rather go alone, that’s fine too. Just text me the address, and I’ll be there.”
She nods, her movements precise, but there’s a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. She’s holding something back; I can feel it.
“What do you want it to be?” I ask, softening my voice to coax her into opening up.
“I honestly don’t know,” she says, her eyes darting away from mine. “I just want a healthy baby. What about you? Boy or girl?”
“I don’t mind either.” A smile tugs at my lips. “But if I had to choose, I’d love a girl who’s as beautiful as you.”
Her cheeks flush pink, and she hides her smile behind a piece of bread. The sight tugs at my chest, a mix of joy and longing swelling inside me.
“If it’s a girl, I have a name I’d like you to consider,” I say, my voice carrying a hint of hesitation.
“Yeah?” She nods, curious. “What name do you have in mind?”
“Everly,” I say, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I don’t know why, but I’ve always loved that name. Plus, I could call her Ever for short.”
She lets the name settle in her mind before nodding. “I like it. Let’s think about it once we know the gender.”
“Of course,” I say, my smile widening.
“I still can’t believe we’re going to be parents,” I say quietly. “Have you told anyone else?”
She shakes her head. “No, just you. I don’t want to tell anyone until the doctor confirms everything. But I’ll tell Violet tomorrow. If not, she'll start asking questions if I keep getting sick.”
“I get it,” I say. “I want to tell the guys, but only if you’re okay with it.”
“Sure,” she says softly, but there’s a distance in her voice, a wall between us I can’t seem to breach.
“And what about us?” I finally ask, the question clawing its way out of me. “What’s gonna happen with us?”
“We’re friends, Noah. Nothing more. Two friends who are having a baby. Why?”
Her words hit me like a punch, the air rushing out of my lungs. I swallow hard, trying not to let the sting show. “Is there a chance of exploring something between us?” I ask, letting a sliver of hope escape despite myself.
She looks away, her expression tight, like she’s bracing for impact. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, Noah. I don’t want to complicate things more than they already are. Let’s just be friends. We can co-parent and be good at it.”
Her answer feels like a door slamming shut, the echo reverberating in my chest. Why does she keep denying what could be so good between us? I know we have something real, something worth fighting for but she’s too scared to see it. Or maybe too stubborn.
Fine. If she wants to live in denial, that’s her choice. But I’m not walking away. Not now. Not ever.
I force myself to change the subject, steering us back to safer ground. “How’s the shop coming along? Still on track to open before Thanksgiving?”
She relaxes, her shoulders dropping slightly. “Yeah, if everything goes according to plan. There’s still a lot to do, but the staff starts training next week, so that’s one thing off the list.”
We talk about work, the shop, and her plans for the future. For the first time in what feels like forever, we’re having an easy, normal conversation. And I get to see a different side of Josy—the side that’s determined, focused, and fiercely independent.
She’s grown into an incredible woman with clear goals and the drive to achieve them. I find myself falling harder with every little detail she shares. The more I learn about her, the more I realize how deeply I’m in love with her.
Even if she’s not ready to admit it, I’ll wait. For her. For us. For the future I know we can have together.
When we finish eating, Josy gets up to leave. I walk her to the door, and as she steps out, she takes with her every bit of my restraint. I wanted so badly to kiss her again, to pull her close and show her that whatever this is between us could be something real. But tonight wasn’t the night.
Not yet.