Chapter 11
Topher looked ridiculously happy in his sleep, sprawled on the floor in the morning light with a blanket half-draped over him, like he was dreaming of closing the biggest deal of his life.
It was hard to stay irritated when he looked so adorable. All his sharp edges and arrogance were softened, and he looked kind of cute. Of course, I’d never tell him that. The moment he woke up, he’d be back to his usual, all-business self. But for now? Yeah, he was pretty much impossible to hate.
I slipped out of the room and headed toward the kitchen, where I could already hear the faint sound of classic rock. I wasn’t prepared for what I found.
There was Josephine, in her bright floral robe, quietly grooving around the kitchen, her hips swaying to the Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” playing on low volume. In one hand, she held a spatula; in the other, a frying pan, as she danced her way from the stove to the fridge and back again.
“Good morning, sunshine!” she said in a whisper-shout, throwing in a little hip shimmy as she flipped an omelet. “Topher still asleep?”
“Yeah. You’re having way too much fun for this hour.”
“Honey, if you’re not moving, you’re not living.” She gave the spatula a quick flip. “Alexa, keep it low.”
“Volume at a respectful level,” Alexa responded in its usual robotic tone, which made me chuckle.
“You’ve trained her well,” I teased.
Josephine winked. “Oh, I run a tight ship. She knows not to mess with me, especially not before coffee.”
She gave a little twirl as she whisked the eggs, her moves as fluid as someone half her age. I watched her, wondering where this woman found her energy so soon after leaving the hospital. “Should you be cooking right now?”
Josephine waved off my concern as if it were nothing.
“Of course I should! You know, when Topher was a kid, I used to cook for him every morning. He could eat his weight in pancakes.” She smiled, the kind of warm, mischievous smile that made you feel like you were in on some kind of inside joke.
Despite everything she’d been through, she looked happy. Stronger than yesterday.
Josephine held up a spatula, pointing it toward me like a microphone.
“Now, what’ll it be? Rock star omelets or scrambled eggs with a side of disco?”
“An omelet sounds great but let me help you.”
Josephine smiled, gave a little twirl, and winked.
“Omelets it is. And you can help me by sitting and talking to me.” She grinned as she cracked an egg into the pan, then grabbed a second plate and set it down in front of me without asking, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, like I belonged there.
A warm, fuzzy feeling spread through me.
But almost instantly, I felt guilty. This was all fake. Pretending to be close to Topher, playing the doting girlfriend. It wasn’t real. And the better I got to know Josephine, the worse I felt deceiving her.
As she flipped the omelet, I glanced at her. “You know, Topher told me he’d love for you to move closer to him. But you seem so happy here. What is it about New Orleans that makes you stay?”
Josephine paused, a soft smile crossing her face. “Oh, I know. Topher’s always trying to get me to move. But this city has got a hold on me. There’s just something about it. It’s hard to put into words.”
“I get that,” I said, leaning forward. “What do you love most about it?”
She flipped the omelet with ease. “It’s the rhythm, the people, the places. I’ve been here for years, and it’s always felt like home. There’s a certain magic to New Orleans. You find your spots, your routines, and they become part of your life.”
I nodded. “It’s like every corner of the city has a story, something special.”
She smiled, her eyes lighting up. “Exactly! That’s what I’ve tried to create at Muses—a place where everyone is welcome.
And there’s this little coffee shop I love a few blocks over.
It’s called Brewed Awakening. I used to go there all the time when I needed to step away from everything.
The regulars are like family, the baristas know your name, and it’s just a comfortable place. ”
“That sounds wonderful.”
She plated the omelets and sat down across from me, smiling. “Maybe Brewed Awakening will become one of your spots, too. Plus, they give out free muffins.”
I laughed. “Now you’re speaking my language.” As she plated the omelets, I couldn’t help but glance at her more closely. “You seem to be feeling better today.”
“Oh, I am,” she said, setting a plate in front of me. “You and Topher have been a big help, you know.”
Speaking of Topher, I leaned back in my chair, trying to sound casual. “You ever notice how he’s always working? Like, constantly?”
Josephine sighed, sitting down across from me. “That boy doesn’t know how to slow down. He’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders. Like if he stops for even a second, everything will fall apart.”
I nodded, my heart giving a little squeeze. I didn’t know why I cared so much about his well-being, but there it was. “He acts like the world will collapse if he’s offline for five minutes.”
Josephine tried to hide her grin, but it slipped out. “Well, the internet does tend to get a little... spotty when he’s home.”
I stared at her, something clicking into place. “Wait a second. Have you been messing with the Wi-Fi?”
Josephine gasped, her hand flying to her chest in an overly dramatic display. “Me? Sabotage my own son’s internet? Never!” But the twinkle in her eye gave her away.
I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. “You have, haven’t you?”
She sighed, dropping the act with a guilty smile. “Alright, fine. I might’ve unplugged a thing or two here and there. But in my defense, he works too much! A little break won’t kill him.”
I remembered the weird episode with Gladys and the Saran Wrap in the kitchen. “Did you get Gladys in on this scheme too?”
Josephine’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “She was a very willing participant. You know how much she loves getting into people’s business.”
I shook my head but smiled. “You’re devious.”
She grinned. “Please don’t tell Topher, though. It’s been so good to see him relax.”
“So, that’s your grand plan? Sabotage his Wi-Fi, so he’ll slow down?”
Josephine chuckled, a little too pleased with herself. “It’s worked so far, hasn’t it?” She gave me a knowing smile, her eyes twinkling. “You’re good for him. Whether he admits it or not.”
Just then, Topher walked into the kitchen, his brown hair perfectly mussed, as handsome as I had ever seen him. He crossed the room with that easy stride of his and bent down to kiss his mother on the cheek. “How are you doing?”
“Better every day, sweetie,” she said.
Topher swept across the kitchen and wrapped his arm around my waist. “Good morning, beautiful.” His sleep-roughened voice made me want to melt, but his strong arm kept me upright as he pulled me closer.
“I’m the luckiest man alive.” Before I could respond, he leaned in and gently brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.
“You always manage to look perfect in the morning.”
I blinked. “Perfect? I didn’t even brush my hair.”
He grinned, leaning just a little closer. “Well, whatever you’re doing, it’s working.” I could feel my face heat up, and before I could come up with a response, he added, “Is it some secret moisturizer or something? Because you’re glowing.”
I blinked again, dazed. “Uh, coconut oil... I guess?”
Topher chuckled softly, his voice low and teasing, his breath warm against my skin. “Coconut oil. Noted. Whatever it is, don’t ever stop.”
The warmth in his voice, the way his hand rested on my waist, and how he looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered.
“I won’t,” I said, barely thinking before speaking, “if it keeps you this close.” Butterflies stirred in my stomach.
He looked at me with such intensity, such warmth. His touch sent a little thrill through me, his smile making my heart stumble in my chest. I reached up and pushed a wayward strand of hair off his forehead, smiling.
“Oh, you two.” His mom laughed. “Nothing like young love, is there?”
Reality hit, hard and fast, like a cold splash of water.
All for show. His mother was there. This was all part of the charade, part of the lie we were selling.
But for a moment, it had felt real, as if he were a man in love.
My body had responded before my brain could catch up, leaning ever so slightly into his touch, craving more of the connection I hadn’t realized I wanted.
I felt a pang of sadness, a heaviness in my chest, knowing that it was fake.
Still, for just a moment, it had felt nice. Really nice.
Josephine looked between the two of us, her smile wide. “So, what made you fall for Kathleen?”
Topher paused, his arm tightening just slightly around my waist. For a second, I wondered if he’d been caught off guard. Then, as if he’d just thought of the funniest thing in the world, he grinned.
“Well, I couldn’t resist the way she almost mowed me down with a shuttle at the airport. Most women give me their number, but Kathleen? She tried to give me whiplash.”
Josephine laughed, and it was a full, joyful sound. Topher was good at this.
“And the way she yelled at me afterwards? That sealed the deal.” His voice was light, teasing, but with just the right amount of sincerity. “I thought, ‘Here’s a woman who’s not afraid to put me in my place.’ People don’t do that to me too often. They tiptoe around everything. But not Kathleen.”
He smoothed my hair, flashing a crooked grin that made my stomach flip. “I was a goner right from the start.”
Josephine turned to me. “And what about you? What made you fall for my son?”
I nearly choked on the air I was breathing.
“Fall for him?” I stalled for a moment, wracking my brain.
“Well, he’s tall, so he can always reach things on the top shelf, which is handy.
And, he’s like a human encyclopedia. Doesn’t matter what the topic is.
He always has an answer. He’s probably right ninety percent of the time, but believe me, he never doubts that other ten percent. ”
Josephine clapped her hands, laughing. “Yes, yes! Exactly! He always thinks he knows everything!”
Topher rolled his eyes, clearly outnumbered. “Hey, I’m right at least ninety-five percent of the time! You two are just ganging up on me.”
I grinned. “See? He can’t help himself. It’s part of his charm.”
But then I paused, my voice softening. “I think it’s how he drops everything for the people he loves.
Like the way he came to New Orleans when he found out you were sick.
And the way he looks at you in the hospital, as if nothing else in the world matters.
I saw how he was completely overwhelmed, but he still tried to act calm for your sake.
And I remember thinking… that’s the kind of person you want in your corner.
Someone who shows up when it counts, even if they don’t know how to say it. ”
Topher’s eyes flicked to mine, surprised and pleased. However, the moment was over almost as quickly as it had happened.
My phone buzzed loudly on the table. I glanced down, my stomach flipping again, but for entirely different reasons this time.
The loan company. Again.
I could feel the color drain from my face, and I was desperately trying to hide my anxiety. “I, uh, I need to take this. I’ll be right back.” I hurried outside, my heart pounding in my chest.
When I was out of sight, I answered the call, my hands shaking. The voice on the other end was cold and impersonal, reminding me of overdue payments and accruing interest. The weight of my debt pressed down on me like a heavy stone.
I tried to keep my voice calm, but the panic was rising. “I know... I just need more time. Please.”
After the call ended, I stood there, my back against the house, trying to steady my breathing. My hands trembled, and my mind raced. I needed a plan. I needed to fix this, but I wasn't sure how.
Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me. Topher had followed me outside.
“Are you okay?” His voice was soft but full of concern.
I straightened, quickly trying to pull myself together. “Yeah, just financial stuff. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
His brows furrowed, and he took a step closer. “If you need help—”
“No,” I cut him off, sharper than I intended. “I don’t need your help. I’ve got this.”
There was a beat of silence before I turned away, desperate to escape his concerned gaze. “I just need to clear my head. I’ll be fine.”
Without warning, Topher stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug. His embrace was warm and firm, and I could feel the steady beat of his heart against my back.
I blinked in surprise. “Why are you hugging me?”
He leaned in, his voice low in my ear. “Just go with it. My mom’s watching.”
But something about the way he held me felt different. His heart was racing at first, his chest rising and falling a little too fast. Slowly, I felt him relax, his grip softening as if he was holding me not for show but because he wanted to.
I didn’t pull away.
His hand stroked gently up my back, and I closed my eyes, letting the comfort of his touch wash over me. I could feel his nose nuzzle my ear when he whispered, “Everything will work out. I promise.”
For a moment, it was like the world had disappeared, and all that was left was the steady rhythm of his breath, the warmth of his body, and the way he wove our fingers together and then tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
It was fake. I knew that.
But it felt real.
And I couldn’t help but wonder if, for just a second, Topher felt it, too.