Until Cobi (Until Her/Him #7)(45)

Chapter 12


Hadley

“SO HOW WAS IT seeing Harmony again?” Brie asks as we slide into a booth across from each other. It’s the Monday after I met Cobi’s parents on Saturday morning and the rest of his family that night when we went to his Uncle Nico’s house for dinner. Having met Nico and Sophie at the hospital I felt at ease around them, and it didn’t take me long to fall in love with the rest of Cobi’s family. Just like his parents, everyone made it a point to include me and make me feel welcome. It was strange at first being around a family that actually cared and obviously loved one and other, and, if I’m honest, it made me crave that for myself. “Hadley,” Brie calls, pulling me from my thoughts and bringing my attention back to the moment. “How was it?”

“Sorry,” I let out a breath. “At first it was a little weird,” I admit, unwrapping my fork and knife from the napkin bound around it. “Harmony and I just kind of stared at each other from across the room then she started to cry and so did I and we ran to each other.”

“You cried?” Brie asks astonished.

“It was emotional,” I say quietly.

“I bet. And it’s understandable. You two went through something traumatic together.”

I nod. “It’s odd, but I feel a strange connection to her because of what happened that night.”

“I think that’s normal. Who knows what would have happened to her or either of you if you weren’t together.”

“Yeah,” I agree, then look up at the waitress when she arrives. After she takes our lunch orders and leaves, I look at Brie once more. “But it was good to see for myself that she was okay and being taken care of.”

“So you met all Cobi’s family then?”

“Most of them, everyone who lives in the area was there.” I say, placing my napkin on my lap.

“What do you think of them?” she questions, studying me.

“They’re all really nice.”

“Real nice or fake nice?”

“Honestly they all seem like good people, the kind of people who you’d want to have as a family. They are super close, but I never once felt uncomfortable or out of place.”

“Like Cobi would ever allow you to feel uncomfortable.” She rolls her eyes.

“You’re right, he wouldn’t. Still, I never did. Not once.”

Her face is soft as she asks, “And Cobi’s parents?”

“I love them,” I say easily. “Even if things between Cobi and I didn’t work out, I would want to keep in touch with them. His mom is sweet, and his dad is funny. I liked them instantly and love how they were together. I’ve never seen a couple who’s been together for years still happy after all that time, but they are. Really thinking about it, his uncles and their wives are the same. They are like some kind of family science experiment that went right instead of wrong.”

“I like that for you. I like the idea of you being with Cobi and having them too,” she says just as the waitress arrives at the table dropping off our orders.

“I like it too.” I pick up my sandwich then admit. “I’m also a little worried.”

“About?”

“What if I get used to Cobi and his family and having all these great people around then things don’t work out between us and…” I’m left alone again? I don’t add.

“First, you’ll always have me and Ken.” She holds up one finger then adds another. “Second, if you’re constantly thinking about what could go wrong, you’re going to miss when things are going right. Just enjoy the moment. You told me yourself that you’re taking things one day at a time with Cobi so continue to do that, continue to enjoy what you’re building with him and don’t let what might happen affect it.”

“You’re right.”

“Um… when the hell have I ever been wrong?” she questions, tone faux indignant.

“Oh, I can think of a few times.”

I smirk at her and she mutters, “Whatever,” under her breath, making me laugh.

We dig into our food since we don’t have much time before we have to get back to the office. When we’re both just about finished, the waitress drops off the check and I start to dig into my bag for some cash, then stop when I hear. “You fucking bitch!” I look up and feel the color drain from my face. Mr. Shelp, Lisa and Eric’s dad, is standing just inside the door of the restaurant with his angry eyes on me. “You fucking bitch!” he repeats and Brie turns to look at him briefly before swinging her head back my way.

“Do you know him?”

“He’s the father of two of my kids who have recently been removed from his custody,” I tell her quietly.

“Fuck!” she hisses, understanding exactly what that means as he starts to storm toward our table.

A large man wearing a construction vest blocks his path and Mr. Shelp shoves him in the chest roaring. “Get out of my way! That bitch took my fucking kids from me.” He points directly at me and my pulse that was already beating hard starts to thunder as everyone in the place turns to look in my direction. Adrenalin rushes through my veins and fear fills my chest when he shoves the guy blocking him out of the way. I stand quickly and Brie does as well. When he gets to Brie, who’s closer to him than me, she tries to say something to him but he puts a hand to her chest and shoves her back into the booth. I glance at her, making sure she’s okay then focus on the man coming at me quickly.