balance

“Oh god, I don’t know that I can take three twenty somethings and a baby in the same house. That just seems like a mistake,” she teased, resting her chin on his chest so she could look up at him as she spoke. “But, also, I don’t think I’d mind that much. Give me a bunch of helping hands around here for a change.” Everything was changing and quickly but she liked how calming this moment was. Sure, they knew nothing about the future but at least they were going to be in the dark together and they’d figure it out side by side. She wasn’t going to be alone anymore and a part of her knew it’d take some adjusting but at least she’d get there and finally start to be happy for once in her life. “Probably have a full head of hair but then, who knows. Isn’t there some old tale about heartburn and hair or something like that?”

“A mistake or a brilliant idea?” Robert joked with a wide grin. “Exactly! Helping hands around the house. Jaymes will have the most attentive set of adults around her with my kids, Eric and your friends. Smothered in love and lots of toys.” Robert could only imagine how many toys would be surrounding the house in a matter of months when she was old enough to start knowing what they were. The thought excited him- thinking about the future and what was to come for them. He genuinely thought he’d be more worried but it was just excitement and contentment, chalking it all up to having Allie by his side. “I think I’ve heard that but never really thought about it too much. So long as she doesn’t look like an alien, I’ll be fine.”

“No I agree with you. You’re right. I think on Tinder though, people feel like those rules don’t apply. Unfortunately. But that’s what blocking people is for and it’s exactly what I’m gonna do.” She let out a slight chuckle to try and brush some of it off. But it was definitely weird and even more weird talking to a stranger about it. “Oh god, no no, you’re fine. You have ever right to laugh at it. It’s not every day someone publicly judges someone’s explicit pictures for everyone to hear.” 

“I wonder how that happened. Maybe it’s just the generation thing and I’m actually terribly old and don’t get it,” Robert shrugged with a laugh. It was just another thing that made him feel a little too old and honestly, as this point, he didn’t really care as much as he thought he might. “I insist. Maybe the milkshae will help the scarring from having to see all of that. I’ve heard sugar is the best way to help someone forget. Or maybe that was tequila...”

“Burgers are my thing but you know what? I like the sound of your favorite,” Isaac nodded confidently, turning back to the guy behind the bar. “Chicken sandwich and onion rings for me. I think this guy wants in, too.” Smirking, he turned back and took a look at the guy. There was a certain air to him—almost as if he was someone important. Maybe it was worth the introduction. “Sorry, didn’t wanna take a shot at guessing your name. I’m Isaac.”

“Wise choice,” Robert laughed, taking a sip of his water and glancing around. The man seemed to be by himself and it made Robert feel a little less lonely to know he wasn’t the only one dining alone. “Yeah, can I get in on that? You know my usual.” In that moment, Robert felt his stomach growl and he hoped no one else managed to hear it. “Nice to meet ya, Isaac. I’m Robert. Are you new around here?”

“Oh good, this is going to work out in my favor then,” she teased. For once, she was actually happy and not the fake kind of happy she’d convinced herself of either. An actual kind of happy that she hadn’t known in years. But laying there, just talking nonsense to each other after making a huge decision? It felt weirdly right and like what they should have been doing from the start. But like everything else in her life, it’d taken her a while to get to where she wanted to be and she was happy that she at least had some semblance of a normal life with everyone around her. “Next, we just have to get Lennox here then the whole lot of them will be taking over everything.” 

Robert rolled his eyes, “Alright, alright. Don’t get too excited about this.” Robert knew they still had a lot of ahead of them now- with him officially moving in and finishing up the baby proofing, getting everything ready for Jaymes to actually come. It seemed like a lot and a bit overwhelming but he couldn’t remember a time where he was more excited about the future and what was to come. It was like the world was at his feet and all he had to do was start running. “God, could you imagine this house with all of us in it? Might as well call my son too and get Christian in on this too.” The thought was hilarious to him but he wouldn’t actually mind having his whole family under one roof, something that hadn’t happened in years. “I keep thinking about what she’s gonna look like. Think she’ll be a baldy or come out with a head full of dark hair?”

     “About an hour…give or take,” Nora laughed breathlessly as she leaned forward to stretch her muscles, to make sure she wouldn’t get a cramp later, “And I am not training to run a marathon by the way…I actually hate those,…always causing traffic issues but I prefer running to clear my head and get some exercise in.” She shared with Robert as she leaned back against the bench, “What about yourself? How have you been?” 

“I was literally about to ask if you were training for a marathon. An hour, though? Jeez,” Robert laughed. Not one for running at all, he couldn’t imagine how tired she must be. He walked too fast and was out of breathe. Usually chalking it up to old age, maybe he should think about getting some type of exercise. “I do hate the traffic jams they create. And the large crowds at the finish line. I’ll pass.” Kicking his feet out in front of him, Robert folded his arms across his chest as a swift wind blew through. “I’ve been alright. Well, better than alright, actually. Couldn’t find a thing to complain about, if I’m honest.”

“God, you’re so cheesy,” she said. The smile that took over her face felt like the first genuine smile she’d had in quite a while because it felt like they were just actually figuring everything out. For so long, it was a cycle of either making the same mistakes or refusing to actually open up to each other and so now, while she was cuddled up to his side with him trying to feel for their daughter, she couldn’t help but be a bit overwhelmed by how everything was working out in her favor for once. “Now that that’s decided, does that mean I can tell you what I want you to do around the house now? Or am I going to have to pretend like I want to keep doing all this stuff since you technically have to work from home during specific hours?” It felt nice to tease him about this stuff, like a switch had flipped and they could actually be a couple excited about having a baby and she didn’t feel as alone as she’d felt before.

“But you love it, don’t lie to me.” Robert wanted this moment to last forever. It was like everything leading up to this exact time was actually worth it. The heartbreak of the first go around, the shock of Allie being pregnant, the push and pull of trying to figure everything out between them. Robert finally felt at peace with everything in his life and couldn’t think of anything he could ask for that would make him happier. Maybe to have Jaymes with them at this point but he knew she was coming sooner rather than later and he didn’t want to speed up that process. “You could’ve always told me what to do,” he snorted, “Just had to ask. But yes, I’m at your service. I wouldn’t mind you pulling me away from work if you really needed it.” That was one of the perks at finally allowing himself to step away from work and he was excited to see how much better he’d feel, knowing work was on of the issues to begin with.

“I’m trying to find my sister.” Felix sighed as he sat at the bar and looked at the other man. “ I haven’t seen her in years and now she is pregnant, I wanted to check she was ok.” He said and scanned his phone for the address he had been given. “ She lives in…” He sighed again. “ It just says Wilmington.” He gave an eye roll and shook his head. “I couldn’t be more unorganized if I tried. I swear its a gift.” 

“Your sister, huh? Well, being pregnant does narrow down things a bit.” Robert knew quite a few women in town who were on the brink of popping out a kid, his own girlfriend for one, but tried to wrack his brain for who he might be related to. “Well you’re at least in the right town so that’s something. Do you have a street or I mean, I might know her if you give me her name. Could point you in the right direction.”

OPEN STARTER: @wilmingtonstarters​

LOCATION: The Copper Penny, Downtown

“Well, that was the longest fucking drive of my life.” Isaac huffed out, setting his duffle bag filled with all of his worldly possessions to the ground as he took the empty bar stool. “I’ll take, like, two beers and…” pausing, he glanced around looking for some sort of menu before falling short and simply asking the person sat beside him. “What’s good here?” 

It was a working day for Robert and usually when he was buried in papers, the last thing he wanted to do was leave the house for food but since him and Allie were grocery shopping later the house was pretty bare. Deciding to hit up The Copper Penny since he hadn’t been Downtown in a while, Robert took a seat at the bar and started to look over the menu when he heard a voice to his left and turned. “Burgers are great, if that’s your thing. Also a good chicken sandwich and their onion rings are a favorite of mine.” His stomach was grumbling loudly at the thought of food, motioning over for the bartender to take his order.

She smiled into the kiss, happy for the first time in a long while. Not happy in the sense where she felt like smiling, that was more common place than not recently. But more like she actually felt like she could be happy and not constantly worrying about the unknown of what the future held for her or even their relationship. “My man-friend, huh?” She couldn’t help but make fun of him a little, mainly because getting all mushy right now just seemed like it was going to lead to her crying for no reason and she didn’t feel like dealing with it in that moment. “Pretty sure, man-friend, that they’d just call you my boyfriend. Or my partner. Or baby daddy, whatever you want. The list could be endless. Could even do a ‘we like to cuddle and share a bed and have a kid together so call us whatever you want to’ label. Might end up being a mouthful.” 

Robert laughed at how ridiculous calling him her ‘man friend’ was, and he nodded, “Well boyfriend sounds a bit childish to me? Like, I’m 50 here and you’re my girlfriend. But I wouldn’t call you a girl, you’re a woman? Am I making any sense?” He knew it didn’t really matter to him, they were just titles and she could call them whatever she wanted. “Partner is good, though now I’m thinking of cowboys. And baby daddy makes it sounds so crass.” He was just complaining to complain at this point, teasing her about how ridiculous this all was. “Partners I guess is probably the best choice. Because it fits best. Like I’m your partner in this.” Putting a hand on Allie’s belly, Robert willed for a kick or some sign that Jaymes was in there, listening to her parents finally get together after what seemed like months of limbo.

@wilmingtonstarters​

Felix had been in town a day and already he was losing his mind. He knew where the country club and the winery was and so far had figured out that he would need to get into jogging or drugs to make friends in town. He walked along contemplating when he should head to Sirena’s. It had been a long time since he saw her last. Before he knew it, he was lost. “ Fuckballs.” He muttered under his breath. Feeling a little disorientated, Felix walked into  the nearest bar. There he was in a three piece pinstripe suit, walking into a bar that looked like the carpet was made of liquor and blood. He literally couldn’t make this shit up, it was like a bad joke. He felt eyes on him as he approached the bar. “ Whiskey and coke please and could you tell me where the fuck I am? because I have managed to get  myself lost like a total prick.” 

Another day spent in the bar to enjoy the atmosphere but not actually drink. Robert was feeling a lot better recently, feeling more comfortable in himself that he trusted that he wouldn’t go off the rails or mess up his progress. Six months and he felt like that was quite the feat. His glass of Coke with the ice starting to melt around the bottom looked sad but he wasn’t bothered by it in the least bit. The bartender knew Robert’s troubles and was there for support, if he needed it. A voice startled him out of his thought and he turned, taking in a fancy suit that didn’t fit in with the bar’s aesthetics and he glanced around. “Well,  we’re in a bar but to be more specific, Wilmington. You alright, do you need help getting somewhere?”

She knew she was going against the grain for her family, by working in a retail position. But quite honestly? She didn’t care. She loved her adopted parents as though they were her own. She felt like she was as much a part of the Noh DNA as she possibly could be. But still, they considered this somewhat beneath her, though they’d never tell her as much, and she didn’t care. She loved meeting people, she loved music, and she loved talking about it. Plus, she was good at what she did - she didn’t understand why others felt as though she was settling. “Aw! Okay, yes. I’d suggest a Crosley. They’re generally good starters. There are obviously some super pricey brands you could shell out for. Or you could be as bold and adventurous as to try and sniff out a nice vintage, but maybe work up to it?” She grinned. “Look, I live and die by Stevie Nicks, so that’s a great first choice. Maybe raise your kid on some good ol’ classic rock. I think the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Pink Floyd? All of that will do the trick.”

“Well I don’t mind splashing out for something more expensive if it works better because I’d like for it to be something she keeps with her for a while. So sell me your most expensive player and I’m in,” Robert smiled. The passion was clear in her eyes as she gave him more music recommendations and he noted them mentally. He didn’t want to take up too much of her time despite knowing he could probably sit and take notes on her music knowledge. “Good to know I started somewhere then. Classic rock is definitely what I’m going for. But also I was thinking of mixing in some newer-ish stuff? I don’t know much about what’s going on with music right now so if you’ve got some ideas, I’m all ears.”

“I mean, you know I’d like it if you just moved in here.” She turned to look up at him, letting her hand rest of his chest. The conversation wasn’t new but from as far as she could tell, he wanted her to say that she wanted him to move in with her and she did. Not just so he’d be there for Jaymes but because, more selfishly, she wanted to have moments like this whenever she wanted. She didn’t want to lay in her bed and wish he was there, she just wanted him around. “So, if you need me to say it then yes. I want you to move in with me and not just because of the baby or the backyard or any of that but because I actually want you to move in with me.” She hated being this open and vulnerable, always had and it was probably how she had even ended up where she was now but if it was what she needed to do in order to move forward in her life then she’d do it.

“I know, sometimes it’s just nice to hear.” Robert knew he was grinning as they lay there in the dark. Months had passed since that initial conversation about them moving in together and Robert finally felt like this was the moment. That they could actually have this all the time and not just because Jaymes or a pup that they weren’t even sure they could keep but because the timing was right. Because he didn’t want to sleep in a bed that didn’t have Allie in it, cuddled into his side. “Well when you put it that way,” he teased, moving a hand down to tilt her chin up and place a soft kiss on her lips. “I’ll move in. But not as roommates or whatever else- as your boyfriend or man friend. I don’t know what they’re calling people my age who have partners.” Sliding his thumb across her jaw, Robert pressed another kiss to her forehead and pulled her closer, relishing in the way their bodies seemed to meld together.

She giggled in a way that made her feel like a teenager again, trying to shift slightly out of reach of him tickling her but she didn’t really want to move. She was comfortable. Instead, she settled back in and lightly smacked at his chest. “First of all, rude. You shouldn’t tickle me, I’m eight months pregnant. That’s not fair. Second, look, you live in a small apartment. He’s going to need space and I have all that backyard I don’t know what to do with so yes, it’d be a we situation.” She kept her tone light but she was being serious, they’d figure it out together because that’s what they had to do now. It wasn’t about her making a decision and then telling him about it or vice versa. They had to be a team and talk through everything and that extended to this puppy now. 

Allie’s laughter filled the quiet of the room as he had tickled her and he backed off, letting his arms wrap around her to pull her in closer to his chest before she hit him. “True, you might pee the bed. I forget,” he snorted, squeezing her hip. Robert was silent at her second statement, noting she was entirely correct and also knowing the pup would fare much better at her place than his. It was the fourth or fifth time that night that Robert had wished they lived together to make things more simple and just the straight up fact that he wanted to be around Allie at all times. “Is this an official ‘Move in with me’ question?” He asked, wanting, no, needing the clarification before he said yes. His stomach was full of knots at the thought of this happening, mouth dry and body stiff again.

@wilmingtonstarters​

     Nora felt like the world around her was crashing and all she could do was stand there watching everything crash, after what felt like ages she finally stopped to catch a breath and could feel her legs shaky from the run affect her immediately as she plopped down on the bench. “I think I might have pulled something but then again, I feel like my lungs are ready to collapse.” She commented to the other as she wiped her forehead. 

Walks around the beach had become the new norm for Robert. It helped him think more clearly- the fresh air, the quiet if he went at the right time. The day had been long with work piling up more than he’d like and despite trying to take a step back from it all. He’d thought a walk would do him good until he needed to take a second to gather his thoughts when he sat down, someone almost immediately taking the seat next to him. Glancing over in surprise, he noticed Nora sat next to him as she tried to catch her breath. “How long have you been running?” He asked, chuckling.

She had noticed that the more Robert stayed over, the more he seemed to use the excuse of being clingy just so they could cuddle close to each other while they slept. She didn’t mind it, it was just interesting to her that he felt the need to justify it at all. Especially when they’d both established that they both clearly cared about each other but were taking it incredibly slow for Jaymes. “Sure sure sure, that doesn’t sound like you’re making it up or anything just so I won’t say anything,” she teased. Truth was, she didn’t really care. It was a win win situation for her. She got to have him around and had someone she could be close to while she slept and, despite everything that had happened between them, she liked where their relationship was going. Once he was settled, she move to rest against him, her head on his chest as she made herself comfortable. “If he doesn’t have a home, we’ll just keep him then,” she said after a few moments of silence, knowing that she couldn’t exactly tell Robert he shouldn’t keep the dog and not really wanting to give him up either.

Robert knew he didn’t need a reason or an excuse to have Allie close to him but for some reason he felt like he needed to tell her something. “Wow, alright. See if I warn you next time,” he scoffed, settling into bed and clicking the lamp off to drown the room in darkness. Having Allie pressed against his side made Robert’s heart jump, the feeling something he wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to. It was such a comforting feeling, her head against his chest where he was sure she could hear his heart beating a faster than usual. The silence wasn’t comfortable just yet, Robert holding his body a bit more still than he would if he was going to sleep and he willed himself to relax. “We, huh?” He glanced down at Allie, blinking a few times to focus on her in the dark. “Sharing an animal is a pretty big step you know? Who knows, maybe next we’ll talk about starting a family,” Robert dead panned, tickling just under Allie’s bicep.

Nadia couldn’t help the smile that came along her lips when she noticed who it was that sat down in front of her. “Robert,” she said softly as she adjusted herself in her chair, leaning forward slightly as he read over the page. She took the paper back and looked at it, pressing her lips together. “And if I don’t have a clue what I’m applying for?”

Robert let out a soft chuckle at Nadia’s confession, “Well, I suppose that might make my suggestion a moot point hm?” Robert couldn’t remember the last time he wrote a resume himself, 20 years at least, so he wasn’t sure he was the best person for advice. He had read them enough though when he was still working in the office so maybe he could help a little bit. “What are your options? Or is the plan to just print out a bunch and hand them all over town?”

She couldn’t help but smile, watching as he took care of the dog and shared his worry. It was sweet, really, seeing how much he cared for the pup. It also helped to see how at home he clearly felt, going out to get stuff to make the pup’s bed with. They’d have to eventually go back and talk about her original proposal for him to move in here, especially now if this puppy ended up theirs. His, she corrected herself but still, it’d be nice if they could share him. Getting lost in her own thoughts, she looked over into the tub once Robert spoke, seeing how comfortable he had gotten. “Good, he deserves a warm night in and then we can figure out where he’s supposed to go or what we need to do tomorrow,” she said, moving to get off her perch so she could head back into the room. Robert had said he was tired before so they should at least get comfortable, even if she’d probably sit for a bit. “Alright, so, Mr. Sleepy, you know the drill here.”

“Is it bad if I don’t want him to leave?” Robert asked as he followed Allie back into her room to start settling down for the night. Stretching his arms up, Robert let out a long yawn and scratched at his stomach. The night routine was slowly becoming familiar. He had a red toothbrush next to Allie’s, a few of his things scattered around her room. His watch on her dresser, a pair of sunglasses on the nightstand opposite her’s. Turning down the duvet, Robert flicked the light switch of the bedside lamp on before going to turn off the bedroom light, leaving the room in glow. “Alright, I’ll just warn you now. I might end up pulling you over to cuddle. Having that dog around has got me feeling a little clingy and with Jaymes coming so soon I think my emotions are all of out whack. I mentioned it to my therapist and it’s like sympathy pains but sympathy emotions,” Robert chuckled, slipping into bed and taking off the one ring he wore daily to set on the nightstand.