“Fair, I’ll shut up now.” That lasts for about thirty seconds before I ask, “How is my nephew?”
“I will be happy to answer that question as soon as you tell me why you’re here.” He takes a slow sip of his own coffee, content to wait as I decide what to say.
“Just… feeling a lot of feelings.”
“Helpful,” Jules deadpans. “Care to expand on that?”
Thea walks in then, a squishy Emmett in her arms, hair piled high on top of her head. She looks like she got about as much sleep as Jules but at the same time she looks more content than I’ve ever seen her.
“Hey, Ben, I didn’t know you were coming over.”
“He didn’t tell us,” Jules answers. “Coffee on the counter for you,” he tells Thea, a warm smile aimed her way.
She gives Jules a kiss on his cheek before handing him their son. “Can I sit with y’all or is this secret twin time?”
“Have a seat!” I say, eager to continue avoiding why I came here.
“If she sits, you still have to talk,” Jules says, seeing right through me.
I sigh. “Fine, it would probably be helpful to have a woman’s point of view anyway.”
“I’m glad to be the only woman in the vicinity.” She smiles. “Should we ask if Bex wants to come over too?”
“God, I think she’d pass out if we did that,” I joke.
Thea starts texting before I have the opportunity to stop her. Jules’ hand comes over the top of Thea’s. “We aren’t waiting for anyone else. Spit it out, Benoit.”
“Full-naming me, are we Julien?”
He doesn’t respond, just waits.
“I’m not even sure why I came over here,” I admit. “I went to Cole’s and her dad was there and she asked me to leave and I didn’t want to go to my apartment so now I’m here.”
“Cole’s dad?” Thea asks. “The one who lives in Florida?”
I nod. “I don’t get it. He’s barely been in her life for years at this point. I don’t really understand how he knew where she lived or if she’s communicated with him recently. I was fully expecting to… I don’t know, defend her honor? And she askedmeto leave.”
“Does Cole’s honor need defending?” Jules asks.
“No.” I scrub my hand down my face. “She can fight her own battles. I guess I was hoping she’d want me to help.” My head hits the table in defeat. “I want her to want me to help,” I whisper.
Thea rubs my back in an extremely maternal gesture. “I’d wager that she wouldn’t mind the help but doesn’t know how to ask for it. The sudden appearance of her father had to be jarring.”
“I know you’re right.” Emmett lets out a little cry in agreement and then snuggles right back into Jules’ chest. “I also need to talk to her about something important, and I’m a little bit pissed that he’s blocking me from doing that.”
“Maybe it’s not the right time,” Thea suggests. But I hear the impliedDon’t overwhelm her, you idiot!
“Fuck. I know… It’s important, though,” I repeat.
“We don’t doubt that it’s important,” Jules cuts in. “But you can’t argue that maybe it’s not the right time to talk to her about whatever it is.”
I look out their kitchen window, fiddling with the coffee cup in front of me. “I’m worried. About her. About us.”
“Hang out here for a bit,” Thea says around a yawn. “Then you can call her to check in. But give her space right now—it’s what she asked for.”
“It’s what she’s always asking for,” I mutter.
“I don’t think she always means it though, when she asks for space,” Thea says. “I think she doesn’t know any other way. And it’s your job to continue showing up for her, to continue showing her what it’s like to have a true partner by her side.”
