Page 36 of Loving Josy
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.
Chapter Nineteen
Josy
Ican’t seem to sit still. My right leg has been bouncing non-stop ever since I grabbed the clipboard with the papers I had to fill out for the doctor. I got here ten minutes early and handed everything back to the office clerk, but now it’s already ten minutes past ten, and Noah still hasn’t shown up. He hasn’t texted me since yesterday when he confirmed the time and place of the appointment.
