Page 48 of Naked Coffee Guy
I shake my head like it doesn’t matter, then push up from the table just as Claire and Finn approach. “I have to warm up for my set. But stay. You remember Claire, right?”
Lydia nods, holding out a hand. Claire leans in instead, giving her a big bear hug. I haven’t even hugged my sister yet, but it’s not like I’m much of a hugger anyway.
“And this is Finn, Claire’s son. His dad owns the place, so order whatever you want and he’ll pay for it.”
“Maren!” Claire laughs, and I give her an evil grin.
“I’m kidding,” I say, “Put it on my tab.”
“I got it,” Ethan says from behind us, sliding a hand around Claire’s waist and kissing the top of her head.
“Ugh. If they start macking in front of you, you have my permission to leave.” I reach over and squeeze Lydia’s hand. “You’ll stay though, right?”
Lydia nods and pulls on my hand, bringing me closer. Then she hugs me. It’s awkward at first, and I don’t know what to do with my hands except hold them straight down to my side. But then I tentatively reach for her and return the hug. I’m surprised at the tears that form in my eyes, and I do my best to sniff them away. When we finally release each other, her face is wet, and I’m wiping my makeup all over my sleeve.
“Great,” I laugh. But I don’t really care about my ruined face. The relief I feel at having Lydia back in my life makes me feel lighter than I have in years.
It feels like a different night as I perform each song in my set, and I know it has everything to do with Lydia being a part of the crowd. But it’s more than that. This past week, it’s like my whole universe has shifted in a way I’ve never experienced. I started out this week saying goodbye to my independence as I moved from my apartment into Nina’s. But then I saw Mac, and despite all the ways I fought it, he made me fall for him. I learned how much I needed his kind of love, and I no longer care that he was the agent who sold the apartments. It’s not like they were his, and it’s not like he even knew. It doesn’t even matter. I see now how many doors this whole change opened up. I never would have run into my sister, and I never would have known what it’s like to fall in love.
Because that’s what’s happening. I’m falling in love, and instead of fighting it, I’m going to ride this all the way as if my heart can’t get broken.
I carry these feelings through my whole set, pouring my heart into every word, every chord. When it’s over, my smile shines through my tears as I leap from the stage and engulf my sister in a hug—our first in years—before we all go home for the night.
It’s late when I finally pull up to the house, but I don’t feel tired. I sit in my car for a moment, mentally reliving the events of tonight. I reach for my phone, wanting to share it with Mac, but then remembering that he hasn’t texted me all day. I pause, my fingers aching to reach out to him, but my mind reminding me it’s against the rules.
“What rules, though?” I say aloud, then laugh. Fuck the rules. I find his name, then send him a quick chat.
Me: I missed you today.
Then I hold my breath, waiting for a reply. I don’t wait long. My face breaks into a smile as three dots appear. Then his text.
NCG: Then get out of the car, silly.
I quickly look toward the house and see a dark human shape sitting in the shadows on the porch. I throw open the door and run to him. He stands and catches me, kissing my mouth as if it wasn’t just yesterday we were waking up together, but years ago.
“You didn’t call me all day,” I protest when we break apart.
“It was a hard day,” he says, and my heart lurches.
“Benji?” I ask. He nods, but then shakes his head.
“He’s okay, but he’s going downhill. Today he was more agitated than usual, and I couldn’t find it in me to leave him alone with the nurse. I came here as soon as he fell asleep.”
I take a hard look at him, though the lights from the streetlamps make his features look pale.
“How long have you been here?” I ask.
“Just a few hours.” He pecks me on the nose, but I jerk my head back and swat his shoulder.
“You knew I had a gig. You could have come.”
“Yeah, but I needed to stay close. Just in case.”
Just in case this is the end. I know that’s what he means. I rest my head on his chest, realizing just how hard this must be for him. It’s so much more important than some silly romance. Still, now that he’s here, I don’t want to let him go.
“Do you want to come in?”
He winces, then shakes his head. “I’d love to, but I can’t. I probably should have been back a while ago, but I just had to see you. and I wanted to be here to ask you a very important question.”