Read Online My Everything by Heidi McLaughlin - Free Book Online
Authors: Heidi McLaughlin
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memories.
My hands clench under the table when Liam looks at me.
“When I came back, I wasn’t planning on staying. I had a life away from here and as much as I wanted to see Josie, I wasn’t going to interrupt her life, but then I saw Noah and I knew there was no way I was letting him go.”
Liam picks up Josie’s hand and kisses it. There’s no denying the love they have for each other.
“If it was up to me, you’d never see Noah again. I’m that selfish of a man when it comes to him. I’ve missed so much time with him. I don’t want to share. Everything you did – the bumps and bruises, the colds, the coaching – those are all things that I imagined doing one day. I’m not saying this is your fault. I’m thankful that Noah had you and that you were man enough to step up and play dad for a child that wasn’t yours because not too many men will do that, especially considering the history between us. But this isn’t up to me.” He moves the ring on Josie’s finger back and forth. She nods at him and mouths that she loves him.
Liam takes a deep breath. “Noah wants to see you. Most importantly, he wants you to coach his football and baseball teams. He didn’t like his coach this year. In fact, I think the only one who did is Candy Appleton.”
I can’t hide my smile. Aubrey claps her hands before throwing them around my neck and giving me a kiss.
“I can see him?” the emotion is thick in my voice as I look at Liam, not Josie, for confirmation.
“I’m not going to deny my son because that would be wrong. You’ve been a part of his life for a long time and he has the right to continue a relationship with you if that’s what he wants. But know this, Ashford, if you hurt my son again by disappearing for a year without a word, I’ll hunt you down and make you pay. Am I clear?” This is the first time Liam looks at me. His gaze is deadly and I have no doubt he’d follow through with his threat. I know I screwed up and plan to do whatever Noah asks to make it up to him.
“Crystal.” I say because other words escape me. I can’t believe Liam just said I could see Noah and not just see him, but coach him as well. “Thank you,” my voice cracks as I fight back the tears. I told myself I wouldn’t cry, especially in front of Liam. I can’t show him any weakness that he may want to exploit later.
Aubrey stands and pulls me into her arms. “I told you he’d be reasonable,” she whispers in my ear. I pull her to me, burying my face in her neck and let out a long, ragged breath that I didn’t know I was holding. I let her go all too soon, remembering our guests. She kisses me lightly on the cheek before turning back to Liam and Josie.
“Do you guys have time for coffee and dessert?”
Josie looks at Liam, he nods, which I know makes Aubrey’s heart soar.
“Do you really want coffee, Westbury, or another beer?” I try the friendliness tactic knowing it’s a stretch.
Liam cracks a smile and shakes his head. “Beer.”
“Coming right up.” I gather up our plates and carry them to the kitchen. Aubrey is busy preparing dessert and coffee.
“Just you and Josie on the coffee.”
“Okay, babe.” I take a moment and nuzzle into her neck.
“I love you. Thank you for pushing me to do this. You’ll love Noah, he’s an amazing kid.”
Aubrey turns and captures my lips, pulling away all too soon. “I can’t wait.”
Josie is piling napkins and gathering the bowls when I come back in. “What are you doing?”
“Helping,” she says sheepishly. Liam shakes his head and takes the offered beer out of my hands.
“She does this all the time.”
“Some things never change.” My comment causes Liam to laugh. I join in when Josie shoots him a death stare. It’s easy to see why they are meant to be together.
“Can I ask how Noah’s doing?”
Aubrey comes in with a tray full of different cookies and slices of cake. She wanted to cook, be a hostess since they were coming over
My hands clench under the table when Liam looks at me.
“When I came back, I wasn’t planning on staying. I had a life away from here and as much as I wanted to see Josie, I wasn’t going to interrupt her life, but then I saw Noah and I knew there was no way I was letting him go.”
Liam picks up Josie’s hand and kisses it. There’s no denying the love they have for each other.
“If it was up to me, you’d never see Noah again. I’m that selfish of a man when it comes to him. I’ve missed so much time with him. I don’t want to share. Everything you did – the bumps and bruises, the colds, the coaching – those are all things that I imagined doing one day. I’m not saying this is your fault. I’m thankful that Noah had you and that you were man enough to step up and play dad for a child that wasn’t yours because not too many men will do that, especially considering the history between us. But this isn’t up to me.” He moves the ring on Josie’s finger back and forth. She nods at him and mouths that she loves him.
Liam takes a deep breath. “Noah wants to see you. Most importantly, he wants you to coach his football and baseball teams. He didn’t like his coach this year. In fact, I think the only one who did is Candy Appleton.”
I can’t hide my smile. Aubrey claps her hands before throwing them around my neck and giving me a kiss.
“I can see him?” the emotion is thick in my voice as I look at Liam, not Josie, for confirmation.
“I’m not going to deny my son because that would be wrong. You’ve been a part of his life for a long time and he has the right to continue a relationship with you if that’s what he wants. But know this, Ashford, if you hurt my son again by disappearing for a year without a word, I’ll hunt you down and make you pay. Am I clear?” This is the first time Liam looks at me. His gaze is deadly and I have no doubt he’d follow through with his threat. I know I screwed up and plan to do whatever Noah asks to make it up to him.
“Crystal.” I say because other words escape me. I can’t believe Liam just said I could see Noah and not just see him, but coach him as well. “Thank you,” my voice cracks as I fight back the tears. I told myself I wouldn’t cry, especially in front of Liam. I can’t show him any weakness that he may want to exploit later.
Aubrey stands and pulls me into her arms. “I told you he’d be reasonable,” she whispers in my ear. I pull her to me, burying my face in her neck and let out a long, ragged breath that I didn’t know I was holding. I let her go all too soon, remembering our guests. She kisses me lightly on the cheek before turning back to Liam and Josie.
“Do you guys have time for coffee and dessert?”
Josie looks at Liam, he nods, which I know makes Aubrey’s heart soar.
“Do you really want coffee, Westbury, or another beer?” I try the friendliness tactic knowing it’s a stretch.
Liam cracks a smile and shakes his head. “Beer.”
“Coming right up.” I gather up our plates and carry them to the kitchen. Aubrey is busy preparing dessert and coffee.
“Just you and Josie on the coffee.”
“Okay, babe.” I take a moment and nuzzle into her neck.
“I love you. Thank you for pushing me to do this. You’ll love Noah, he’s an amazing kid.”
Aubrey turns and captures my lips, pulling away all too soon. “I can’t wait.”
Josie is piling napkins and gathering the bowls when I come back in. “What are you doing?”
“Helping,” she says sheepishly. Liam shakes his head and takes the offered beer out of my hands.
“She does this all the time.”
“Some things never change.” My comment causes Liam to laugh. I join in when Josie shoots him a death stare. It’s easy to see why they are meant to be together.
“Can I ask how Noah’s doing?”
Aubrey comes in with a tray full of different cookies and slices of cake. She wanted to cook, be a hostess since they were coming over
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