“Because—” He cut himself off, biting his bottom lip. He didn't want to finish as the truth was that so many others had. Bad texture days didn’t happen often, but they were common enough for past partners to have used it in their list of reasons to break up with him.
“Baby, why would you think I’d get mad about this?” Noble’s jaw seemed to set into a firm line, telling Ollie he’d likely not get out of answering.
Taking a careful breath, he wound his hands together tightly before admitting, “Because everyone else has?”
“And everyone is?”
“Past partners, ex-friends…my godfather… Just numerous people?”
Noble clucked his tongue. “Well, I’m not going to comment on your godfather, as I don’t think you’d like what I have to say about him, but as for the rest…does what they think really matter? They aren’t in your life anymore. And based on what you’ve said, it’s for very good reasons. But I am. And I like you just the way you are, even when your brain is being difficult.”
“You do?” He blinked before giggling. “I mean, I-I like you too.”
The man chuckled and kissed his cheek. “Come on, let’s get you to where you need to be, so I can run out and grab our food.”
Ollie beamed, and just leaned against the man as they walked, only stopping when they reached Winnie’s desk and she asked, “Did you see the news about the owner of Bab’s Diner?”
He went to answer, but paused when Noble kissed him on the forehead and said, “You stay and chat, I’m gonna head out.”
Ollie gave him a peck on the lips with a giggle. “Okay, meet me in my living quarters when you get back.”
“Will do.” The man nodded politely towards Winnie before walking away.
“Got him well-trained, I see,” Winnie drawled with a chuckle when he was gone.
Ollie huffed. “He’s not a dog.”
“Mm, men, dogs…not much difference, if you think about it.”
He rolled his eyes. “Gee, thanks.”
She laughed. “Welcome! So, about the diner?”
“Yes, yes, I saw the news.”
“Shocking, isn’t it?! Wonder what will happen to Bab’s Diner now? Or Mr. Babs, for that matter. Though I imagine, with the extenuating circumstances, he’ll likely get off with a slap on the wrist at most.”
Ollie frowned at that. He hadn’t actually considered what would happen to the diner now. With such a huge scandal, he imagined it would be hard to keep it going, if it remained under Georgie’s ownership. Not that the diner mattered as much as Irene and her family finally getting closure. It was just…well…he’d been going there since he was a child, and losing it would suck.
Ollie sighed on realizing that Winnie was still waiting for him to respond. “I’m not sure what will happen now in either case. But I’m sure we’ll find out in the coming months. Anyway, I’m heading up to check on the progress in the newly restored room.”
“Fine, fine, I see how it is. Too good to gossip with Winnie,” she huffed dramatically.
Ollie smirked. “Bring me new gossip and I’ll talk to you for as long as you want.”
Winnie giggled evilly. “Oh, I’ve got something juicy!”
He winced when he spotted the spark in her brown eyes that usually meant trouble, so he started rushing away as he said, “If it’s about staff personal lives, I don’t want to know.”
“Oh, come on! It’s really juicy! It’s about Elias and Percy!”
Yeah, hedefinitelydidn’t want to know. Elias was super prickly when it came to his personal life, and he did NOT want to deal with that lecture again. “Nope!” he cried without looking back.
“No, but Elias asked?—”
“NOPE!” Ollie yelled louder this time, as he practically sprinted away. He kept running right past the circulation desk, Jahla giving him an amused look as he passed, but he didn’t stop, he just headed up the stairs.
While he did slow down, he kept going until he reached the third floor, going straight to the newly repaired room and slipped inside, eyeing the progress.
