For a Moment at Least (Age Gap)

Chapter 25

Audenzia came to the table with two coffees in hand. "I can't believe you don't drink coffee Alice." Audenzia stated as she sat down, handing me the warm mug.

Alice rolled her eyes "I've never been a coffee person, and I refuse to feel bad about that." She responded, sipping her ice water. I chuckled, earning a smirk from her.

"So what's up with you? Why have you been out of the office so long?" Alice asked, changing the subject. I sipped my hot drink, giving me time to make up an excuse.

"Just life, and family making things tough. I'm back though." I reassured.

Audenzia gave me a sly smirk. "You're face says it all." She spoke, raising a brow.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"A boy?" Alice questioned me, Audenzia nodded. "Most definitely a boy." She added. I blushed and tried hiding my smile behind my mug.

"Is it the cute blonde boy I saw dropping you off?" Alice asked. I shook my head vigorously.

"Oh god no, he's more like a brother to me." I almost choked on my coffee. Thinking of Lenon as anything more than a friend made me queasy.

"Then who?" Audenzia asked. I thought about lying, but what was the harm in talking about Deacon?

"There's no boy, but there is a man." I told them while fiddling with the rim of my mug. Their giggles earned some stares around the shop.

"You can't stop there, I need his name, looks, occupation, goals, aspirations." Alice joked.

"His name is Deacon, he works in construction and he is pretty handsome." This was the first time I actually talked about Deacon as if he were a normal person. It was odd explaining him to people that had no clue what he was.

"Is it serious?" Audenzia asked looking especially interested.

"Very, I never saw myself moving this quickly this fast. I can't help but feel a weight on my shoulders, and a helpless, overwhelming feeling in my chest. I wanted to be alone, go to school, not get married and have kids, I can't be a person of that kind of leadership. I was made to be alone, I was happy to be alone." I ranted, finally realizing that I must have sounded insane.

I looked up surprised to see Alice and Audenzia looking at me as if they knew exactly what I meant. Sympathy evident in their eyes as they gave each other a quick glance.

"Sorry to unload on you guys, I honestly didn't realize I was feeling that way." I tucked my hair behind my ears and stared down at my coffee. I felt a hand on my shoulder, Audenzia gave me a small smile.

"I think after an outburst like that most girls would have told you to leave him. But I'm too familiar with that feeling. When I first met Alistair, he was rich, successful, and well known. He lived a life I never even dreamed myself living. I felt overwhelmed being with him, like an imposter in my own skin." Audenzia admitted. Alice kept her jaw tight and stared down at her ice water in silence.

Audenzia played the role of a classy, perfect, successful wife. I would have never guessed that she felt so out of place with Alistair.

"It was hard at first, but I loved him too much to leave. Soon I realized that I was no less then the position I was to take next to Alistair. I deserved everything that came my way, good and bad. And after a while, I no longer felt like an imposter. And as for children, you are young, this Deacon needs to let you settle in." She scolded toward the end, bringing smiles to both mine and Alice's faces.

"Well I'm starving, and that chocolate croissant is calling my name." Alice popped up from the table. We all chuckled. The rest of the coffee date went well. We talked about my plans for school, I found out that Audenzia is trying for a baby, and Alice seemed almost different by the end of the day.