Page 70 of For Fake's Sake and other stories

I raise an eyebrow, and she has the decency to blush a little, just like Noah does. “Not everything. For goodness’ sake, he’s my son. I meant what did you do to make him leave.”

I tell her about our conversation, all of it. How he feels about me, about having to leave me to care for his mum. “He misunderstood it all. Everything was misconstrued, and he behaved like a petulant child, overreacting and storming off without accepting any explanation. I’m as angry with him as I am with myself.”

“Maybe you both need some time to cool down.”

“You should speak to him too, Julia. You’ve been planning your future behind his back. When are you going to tell him you’re leaving? That’s something you should’ve told him before me.”

“What do you mean you’re leaving?”

I spin on my heels. Noah stands in the doorway, his face pale and his eyes wide.

Julia swears quietly under her breath.

“Why are you here, Everett? I told you to leave me alone.” Noah pushes past me. “What the fuck is going on?”

“I think we all need to sit down and talk this out,” Julia says, her voice shaky and her eyes filling with tears. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this, Noah.”

“I should let you have this conversation by yourselves,” I say. Noah flinches, but he needs to know this and the consequences of him rushing out. “You know where to find me, kitten.” I kiss the top of his head and leave them to talk.

Julia’s decision to move away to live with her parents is a good idea but not one she should’ve made by herself. The fact that she’s doing it to give Noah his life back is kind, but I warned her that it could also leave him feeling angry. He might argue—and rightfully so—that she could’ve done this before he gave up his flat and his life. We were supposed to talk it all through once Noah decided where he wanted to be and with who, meaning me.

I get back in my car and drive home. Now I have an empty day, which is not how I expected to spend my first weekend with Noah to go. We didn’t even get to have breakfast. Hell, we hadn’t even made coffee. I start the coffee brewing and strip the bed. Changing the sheets after the amount of sex we’ve had is not a bad idea. Even if Noah chooses me, we will need a clean bed.

The day goes slowly, with no word from either Noah or Julia. After dinner, I open a bottle of wine, take it into the living room, and turn on the telly. Hopefully, he’ll be back before the end of the action movie I watch with half an eye. By nine o’clock, I have to admit it’s not going to happen. But we still could be okay. We need to be okay. It’s not like I gave him an ultimatum. He can come back at any time, on any day.

At eleven, the wine bottle is empty, and I’m buzzed enough to ensure sleep without missing Noah in my arms.

The days drag on. I hardly leave the house in case Noah comes back and tell Phil to deal with everything. When I walk to the front door to make sure it’s locked, a shadow stands behind the opaque glass. I can’t get the door open fast enough, and there, in the dark summer night is Noah.

I let go of a breath that feels as if I’ve been holding on to it since this all started a week ago.

Even with anger coursing hot like lava through my veins, watching Everett leave is the hardest, most painful thing I’ve ever done. I want to chase after him, to apologise for storming off like a teenager, but I need answers from my mother before I can sort it out with Everett.

Once the front door has closed, I turn back to her. “What the bloody hell is going on, Mum?”

She takes my hand, her face pale and her eyes full of tears. “We should sit down.”

That’s the last thing I want to do. I want to pace and scream and shout that my perfect weekend has been ruined. I can take some of the responsibility by storming off, but if Mum has decided to leave, I should at least have some say in the matter. Where does she plan to go and when? “Tell me, Mum.”

“I’m going to live with Granny and Granddad. At least for now.” She says it quietly as if saying it out loud will make the blow worse.

“Why? Has something happened to you? I should’ve stayed here with you instead of going out all the time.”

“That’s exactly why, Noah. You’re twenty-three. You should be going out with your friends, finding a boyfriend. Being with someone you love and starting a life. You won’t do that with me here. However many times I tell you I’ll be okay, that I can manage, you will still put me first. And that’s not fair.”

“You’re my mum. Of course I’m going to put you first. It’s what you’ve done for me my whole life. I want to be here for you. I don’t begrudge you for anything.”

“I know that, my sweet boy. But I don’t want you to. I want you to be with that amazing man who loves every inch of you. I want you to have everything you deserve. It’s all arranged with Granny and Granddad. They will pick me up on Friday, which gives me plenty of time to pack up and get ready.”

“When were you going to tell me?” I can’t control the tremor in my voice. I feel like everything around me is tumbling down. I gave up my flat to come back here. And instead of staying in college, I got a job so we had enough money coming in, and she wasn’t even going to let me have a say in what she does. “I gave up so much to help you.” A tear drips down my cheek.

“I know, lovely, and I’m so grateful. But you have Everett now, and it’s time for you to get back all you gave up for me.”

“What if things with Everett don’t work out? It’s so new.” I’m not so sure about us now. He may not want me back.

“That man loves you so hard, Noah. You’ve got the real deal with him, I promise you.”

Everett is it for me for as long as he’ll have me. But it’s a lot to ask a man nearly twenty years my senior to have someone so young. She still hasn’t told me when she was going to fill me in. Not that it matters. Her mind is made up. “I’d better get started sorting out some boxes.”

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