“Hey Bree, someone is here to see you.” I look up to see my friend, Robyn, standing in the doorway of the manager’s office where I’m counting money, trying to wrap up my shift for the evening.
Today is my last day waitressing at La’ Belle. I thought I’d be more excited to be moving onto bigger and better things, but I’m honestly a little sad to leave the restaurant where I’ve been waitressing for nearly three years now.
When I started applying for jobs with the county last month, I had been warned that it can sometimes be a very long process so I was more than a little surprised that within two weeks of interviewing I had been offered a full-time position working with children services. I got the call less than a week ago and due to the offer, I was only able to give a weeks’ notice here, though my boss, Jane, was amazing about it.
“To see me?” I finally question, having no idea who would be here to see me or why.
“Tall. Broad. Dark hair. I mean, if you don’t want to claim him I will,” she jokes, giving me a quick smile.
“Ant,” I say, the name instantly bringing a smile to my lips.
It’s been less than twenty-four hours since I’ve seen him and yet by how my body reacts to the news of him being here, you would think it’s been weeks.
We’ve been nearly inseparable the last three weeks. And while he hasn’t yet nailed down the job at Thoma Technologies, which was his excuse for wanting to stay with me temporarily, he’s still ended up sleeping on my couch more nights than not over the past few days.
He says it’s because Tess and Sebastian are unbearable, but I think it’s more about feeling like he’s imposing on them than how they are together. Though he doesn’t seem to have the same problem at my place. I swear that man just makes himself right at home which, of course, is fine by me.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love having him around, I do. And while I still get butterflies every time he looks at me a certain way, I’ve managed to compartmentalize those feelings enough that an easy friendship has reformed between us, to the point that you would think almost no time has passed.
Jack loves having him around maybe more than I do. Uncle Anthony is not only the best swing pusher, but he is also the best fort builder, the best grilled cheese maker, and the best story teller among many other things. I try not to be offended that he seems to be so much better at just about everything.
But I still give the best snuggles; that’s a title I refuse to let anyone take from me.
“Go,” Robyn says, cutting into my thoughts. “I’ll take care of closing you out. It’s your last day, get the hell out of here and be free for all of us,” she jokes, a sad smile on her face.
“I’ll come visit,” I promise, crossing around the desk to wrap my arms around her neck. Pulling her into a quick hug, I add, “Besides, now you’ll get first dibs on my section.” I pull back with a smile, knowing my assigned section is the most sought after but because of seniority I always get it.
“Yeah, if Tina’s ass doesn’t swoop in and try to take it.” She rolls her eyes.
“Like you would ever let that happen,” I retort.
“Yeah, good point. I will throat punch that bitch if she tries,” she says so straight faced I can’t help but laugh.
“Girl, I know you will.”
“Now go, don’t keep that hottie out there waiting.” She shoos me away, and I do nothing in the way of correcting her belief that Ant is something more than a friend.
“Thank you.” I quickly grab my bag and offer Robyn one more quick hug before practically skipping out of the office, through the kitchen, and into the dining room.
I spot Ant instantly; how could I not? His tall, broad build and handsome face stand out in any crowd. Of course, the dining room is nearly empty so that helps too.
He smiles the minute he catches sight of me, but it’s not just any smile. He seems genuinely excited about something.
“Hey,” I say the moment I reach him. “What are you doing here?”
“I got the job,” he announces, practically bouncing in front of me.
“Oh my God, Ant, that’s amazing.” I laugh when he wraps his arms around me and pulls me straight off my feet, spinning me in a full circle before setting me back down.
“I was starting to lose hope that they would ever make an offer.”
“It’s California. I swear everything moves ten times slower here,” I laugh.
“Not for you. Hell, you got that job so fast I think even I got whiplash.”
“That’s rare. Trust me,” I assure him.
“So I was hoping I could take you out for a celebratory drink. What do you say?” He gives me a hopeful grin.
“Okay, but only one. My grandma is dropping Jackson at the apartment on her way to dinner, so I’ve got to be home in two hours tops.”
“I promise I will have you home in time.” His smile widens as he wraps his hand around mine and pulls me out of the restaurant.
“So did they say when they want you to start?” I wait until the waitress has sat our two draft beers on the bar table and walked away before asking.
“Monday,” he says, taking a long pull of beer.
“Wow. That’s fast,” I say, mirroring his action and taking a drink of my beer.
“I know, there’s a shit ton of stuff I have to do over the next five days, but I’m glad to not have to wait. This living off of savings and putting out my friends is for the fucking birds.”
“Please.” I swipe my hand through the air and then pause before asking, “So I’m assuming you’ll be staying with us full-time now?” I wish my voice didn’t sound so hopeful. The truth is I love having Ant around.
“A month at most. Once I can show a reporting income I’ll be able to start looking for apartments. You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Are you kidding?” I give him a look that says he should know better by this point. “You practically live with us now.” I point out. “And we love having you.”
“You seriously have saved me these past couple of weeks. Hanging out with you and Jack has been amazing. I really can’t thank you enough for letting me crash your space.”
“What are friends for if not to offer up their couch to a friend in need?”
“Well, you didn’t have to and I really appreciate it. Seriously, Kingsley, you’re a gem.” He reaches across the table and squeezes my hand, and I swear the entire left side of my body feels the effects.
“Yeah. Yeah.” I blow it off, pulling my hand back to grip my beer in an effort to compose myself. “You just remember that when I come knocking on your door one day.”
“Done and done.” He grins, wide and genuine.
“I’m assuming you’ll need to get your stuff from Sebastian’s?”
“What’s not already at your apartment, yes.”
“If you can wait till tomorrow, I’d love to ride over with you and visit Tess for a little bit if that’s cool.”
“Yeah, I’d love the company.”
“Jack has pre-school from nine to twelve thirty, and I can have my grandma pick him up after that so we don’t have to rush.”
“Sounds good. Maybe after we get back the three of us can go out to a nice dinner and celebrate both of our new jobs.”
“I’d like that.”
“Me too,” he offers, staring at me for a long moment before adding, “I’m really glad I ran into you that day at Sebastian’s. I didn’t realize how much I had missed you until you were standing right in front of me.”
My heart instantly picks up speed.
“I know what you mean,” I agree, taking a drink of beer just to avoid having to say more because, honestly, what more can I say.
“It feels like months ago doesn’t it?” He continues without waiting for an answer. “I look at you and Jack and feel like we’ve been here forever. It’s only been what, a month, and already I can’t picture me without the two of you.”
A tight knot lodges in my throat, and I try so hard to swallow it down, but once it’s there it seems impossible to get rid of.
“He’s such an amazing kid.” He continues. “And you, you’re a natural Bree. That boy is so lucky to have you as his mom.”
“Thank you.” I push past the emotion welling inside of me long enough to answer.
Ant doesn’t know my past, not entirely. Maybe bits and pieces he’s picked up along the way, but he has no way of knowing the magnitude of the statement he just made. Because that’s been my biggest fear all along—that Jack could do better than me. I doubted my ability to be what he needed from the very beginning and honestly teetered on adoption for a very long time. It wasn’t until I felt him move inside me that first time that I knew there was no way I could give him away.
But even after that, even after holding him in my arms for the very first time and knowing I would never love someone the way I loved that little baby, I still doubted that I was what was best for him. I’ve tried to do right by him. To protect him and put him first in a way my mother never did for me. I guess hearing someone say it out loud—to have someone acknowledge that maybe I’m doing something right—is validation I didn’t realize until this very moment that I needed.
“I mean it, Bree.” Ant once again reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. “You have absolutely no idea how incredible you are, do you?”
I don’t know what to say to that so I just stare back at him, my loss for words apparent.
“You always did doubt your self-worth, I guess I just never understood why,” he admits, clearly questioning if he should have said the statement out loud.
“I can give you a million reasons,” I blurt, wishing I could pull the words back in.
“Don’t do that.” His thumb runs circles across the back of my hand. “You may not see the amazing girl I do, but one day, Kingsley, one day I’m gonna make sure you do,” he promises, his words holding more meaning than I think I’m really equipped to process at the current moment.
“I already agreed to let you stay with me,” I joke, pulling my hand away in an attempt to lighten the mood. “What the hell more do you want?” I cross my arms in front of my chest and give him a pointed look.
“Well, there is one thing.” I know instantly he can tell I’m shutting down, and he switches gears from serious to joking with ease.
“Uh oh.” I smile, thankful for the shift.
“I’ve got this really bad knot in my left shoulder blade.” He reaches around and rubs the spot he’s talking about, clearly just messing with me.
“Now that’s where I draw the line,” I laugh, shaking my head. “The only massaging that will take place is if you’re massaging me.”
“Is that so?” The look he gives me sends heat straight through my body and I physically squirm in my seat, hopeful that he can’t tell what he’s doing to me.
“That’s how it works.” I shrug, uncrossing my arms to grab my beer.
“I just so happen to be the world’s best masseuse.” He smirks.
“Among everything else,” I quip.
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” he promises, and again I can’t tell if he’s just messing with me or if he’s trying to feel me out and gauge my reaction to his clear flirting.
“You talk a big game, Treadway.” I play his card and call him by his last name.
“Oh, but I can back it up too; don’t you worry that pretty little head of yours about that.” He winks.
“Oh my God,” I laugh, shaking my head. “Does that actually work on girls?” I call him out, deciding that’s he’s just messing with me, and a little disappointed by this fact.
“What?” he questions cutely. “Not impressed?”
“I mean, maybe if I had no sense whatsoever,” I kid.
“Ouch.” He flattens his hand over his heart. “You wound me, Kingsley.”
“You’ll recover.”
“And she’s cold as ice.” He forms a fist over his heart like I’ve just stabbed him.
“I just don’t know what to do with you,” I say through my laughter.
“I can think of a few things,” he quickly adds.
“You’re relentless. My God, I can’t take you anywhere.”
“That may be true,” he admits.
“So back to the matter at hand, tell me more about the job offer.”
His eyes sparkle under the dim lighting, and it’s clear he knows exactly what I’m doing. Even still, he doesn’t question it. He shifts back into our previous conversation without missing a beat. He spends the next thirty minutes telling me everything he’s learned about the company so far, and, based on what they’ve told him, exactly what he’ll be doing.
Normally, I might be underwhelmed listening to someone talk about work, but with Ant, I swear he could read me the phone book and I’d still be hooked on every word.