Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Josy
The sight of Noah is like a balm to my soul, soothing the restlessness that has plagued me all evening. I don’t know why he’s here, but I don’t care. It’s as if my thoughts summoned him, pulling him to me when I needed him most.
I’ve been sitting on the steps of my back porch, staring out at the fading light, lost in a storm of thoughts about my life.
Lately, it feels like I’m walking a tightrope, balancing between fear and longing.
A big part of me wants to give Noah and me a chance, but the part of me that’s still hurt is terrified to try.
For the past week, I’ve been battling this indecision.
Noah is always there, in the back of my mind no matter how hard I work or how busy I am at the coffee shop.
It’s maddening. Even when I’m elbow-deep in spreadsheets or hustling to train the new baristas, I can feel him lingering in the corners of my thoughts, haunting me.
And every time he walks into the coffee shop, it’s like the world shifts.
The air around me feels electric, charged with his presence, and my skin tingles, hyper aware of him.
I’ve tried to be cordial, keeping my distance while managing a polite smile, but it’s impossible not to notice how he looks at me.
That look.
I remember seeing it in Austin’s eyes last year every time he came to the shop and glanced at Violet. I never told her, but I envied her. I’ve always wanted someone to look at me like that, with raw, unfiltered admiration. And now, Noah is looking at me the same way.
My chest tightens as I take him in. He’s standing there in a gray henley shirt that clings to his broad chest, paired with black jeans that fit just right.
A backward cap sits on his head, the casual look somehow amplifying his rugged appeal.
It’s like he knows exactly what I like and wears it on purpose to drive me crazy.
He’s so handsome it’s unfair, but it’s not just his looks that get to me. It’s the way he makes me feel seen, wanted, and cared for in a way I’ve never experienced before.
As he steps closer, his smile warm and familiar, I can’t help but feel a flutter in my chest. It’s almost enough to drown out the voice of doubt that’s been holding me back. Almost.
“Noah,” I say softly, the word slipping out before I can stop it.
He pauses, his eyes searching mine as if he’s trying to read every thought running through my head. For a moment, it feels like the world around us fades, leaving just the two of us in this bubble of quiet intensity.
“I... I didn’t mean to scare you,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck, his voice softer than usual. “I just needed to see you.”
My heart gives a small, involuntary flutter. “Oh. Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong.” A small smile tugs at his lips. “I was with the guys at the Tavern, and I told them about Grape.”
I blink at him, confused. “Grape? Who’s Grape?”
He chuckles, the sound warm and familiar, and pulls his phone from his back pocket as he sits beside me on the porch steps.
“Grape is what I’ve been calling the baby,” he explains.
“You’re about nine weeks along, right? Since we don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl yet, I needed something to call them. So I went with Grape this week.”
“Grape,” I repeat, incredulous but amused.
He opens an app on his phone and holds it out to me.
The screen shows a diagram with information about fetal development at nine weeks.
“See? This app tells me the size of the baby every week, and right now, it’s the size of a grape.
In two weeks, they’ll be the size of a lime. So I’ll call them Lime then.”
I stare at the phone, then at him, my chest tightening. This big, rugged man—the same one who teases me endlessly and has a penchant for making me crazy—downloaded a pregnancy app. He’s tracking our baby’s growth and even gave them a nickname.
“You’re serious about this,” I say, my voice quieter than I intended.
“Of course I am,” he says, his expression earnest. “In the app, it explains how the baby is developing week by week. I’ve been learning a lot.”
The way he says it with excitement makes my throat tighten. “Wow, Noah. I never thought of doing that. I’ll have to download it too.”
“You should.” His enthusiasm unmistakable. “I’ve also been watching a ton of YouTube videos about pregnancy and babies. I want to be ready when Grape comes. I don’t want to screw this up.”
My emotions catch me off guard, swelling in a way I can’t control. For so many days, I’ve carried the weight of this pregnancy by myself, not because Noah wasn’t around, but because I was afraid to let him in fully. And here he is, throwing himself into this, showing me that I’m not alone.
“Noah,” I whisper, blinking back tears. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
He turns to me, his brows drawing together in concern. “Hey,” he says gently, his hand reaching for mine. “You’re not in this alone, Josy. I’m all in. For the baby, for us, whatever it takes. I want this. I want us.”
His words settle over me like a warm embrace, softening the sharp edges of my fears. I let myself believe that maybe, we could make this work. If only I can let him.
“What did the guys say when you told them about Grape?” I ask, curious to hear their reactions.
Noah chuckles, his lips curving into a soft smile. “They were excited for me. I mean, I’m the first one in the group to have a baby, so it’s definitely uncharted territory. But the guys have my back—they always have.”
I nod, understanding exactly what he means.
“Yeah, I know that feeling. Violet was over the moon when I told her. She had a million questions, and honestly, I didn’t know how to answer half of them.
But she’s so excited about becoming an aunt.
And Adrian—oh, Adrian is even more excited than Violet.
He keeps saying he’s going to take care of his baby cousin. ”
Noah’s grin widens as I speak, and I can’t help the wistful tone that slips into my voice. “He even told me that if it’s a girl, he’ll be her protector. My little dude is growing up so fast.”
“He’s a good kid,” Noah says warmly. “With him as a cousin, this baby’s already got a solid team on their side.”
I glance at him, feeling a pang of warmth in my chest. “Yeah, he’s really stepped up. But I’ve been thinking about something... If it’s a girl, I have to be ready for what’s coming. You know, keeping all the boys away from her.”
Noah leans back slightly, crossing his arms as a mischievous smirk tugs at his lips. “Oh, I’ve been thinking about that too. If she looks even a fraction as beautiful as her mother, we’re in so much trouble.”
The way he says it, so casually yet full of sincerity, sends a flutter through my heart.
“I’m serious, Josy.” His voice teasing but with an edge of protectiveness.
“I’m not above sitting on the porch with a shotgun, glaring at every boy who tries to come near her.
And if one of them dares to step out of line.
.. well, let’s just say I don’t want to end up in jail for murder, but I’d do it if I had to. ”
I laugh, a genuine, belly-deep laugh that feels like it clears away weeks of tension. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”
He shrugs, unbothered. “Maybe. But I’m also serious. No one messes with my girl—or my boy, for that matter. This baby is going to have us both wrapped around their little finger, and I’m okay with that.”
His words settle over me, wrapping me in a sense of security I hadn’t realized I needed.
“Thank you,” I say softly, my eyes locking onto Noah’s piercing brown eyes.
He tilts his head slightly, his brows drawing together in genuine curiosity. “Why are you thanking me, sweetheart?” he asks, leaning closer.
The way he looks at me so open, so steady makes my heart race.
I can see every detail of his face now: the crinkle at the corners of his eyes when he smiles, his long, dark lashes that any woman would kill for, and his lips soft, full, and utterly kissable.
I can’t help but get lost in him, my thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind.
He smiles then, a slow, heart-melting grin that shows off his perfectly straight teeth, and nods as if to pull me back to the moment. “Josy?” His voice warm with amusement.
Wait... what was he saying? I blink, dazed, realizing I’ve been staring too long. “What?” I whisper, barely audible, my voice catching in my throat.
He chuckles, the sound deep and rich, and leans in so close that our breaths mingle. “Why are you thanking me?” he repeats, his tone softer now, almost reverent.
Oh, that’s what he asked. My cheeks heat as I finally gather my thoughts.
“Because... because of how you’ve handled all of this,” I murmur, my voice trembling with emotion.
“Your happy attitude toward this whole mess. I know we didn’t plan for this, but I’m so grateful.
You’re so excited about this baby, so willing to be part of every step.
Look at you, downloading apps, watching videos, doing all these things while I’ve barely had time to even Google ‘pregnancy.’”
His gaze softens, and his hand finds mine, his thumb tracing slow circles on the back of it.
“Josy,” he says with a low chuckle, “you’ve been busy building a business from the ground up. Give yourself some grace. We’ve got plenty of time to figure this out. Together.”
The warmth in his voice soothes the knot of guilt I hadn’t even realized I was carrying. I glance down at our joined hands, the strength in his grip anchoring me, grounding me in a way I didn’t know I needed.
“You really think we’ll figure it out?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I know we will.” His firm tone leaving no room for doubt. “We’re in this together, Josy. You, me, and Grape—whatever comes our way.” As I look into his eyes, I realize something: for the first time in a long time, I believe him.