• Rose In The Dark • (GxG)

Chapter Four

Noah

The thing about aging is, your parents are right there with you. Every step of the way. The older you get, so do they, and the closer they are to their expiration date.

I knew that... I've always known that. But it doesn't make living through it any easier.

Even when it's been years since you've had an actual conversation with your father, and he's gone from your hero to a man you hardly know. Even when you wanted to feel absolutely nothing about the way his voice resembled fatal sickness, because your relationship is nearly nonexistent. And even when a small part of you still, after all these years, longs for his approval, and for his love.

Knowing that him reaching his end is probably the only reason you're receiving even a bit of it in the first place.

Refusing to meet the eyes that I knew without a doubt were burning a hole through me, I kept my attention on my chopsticks as it pinched a roll. And I bit into it as if I hadn't just revealed disheartening news. This was simply an old wound, long and buried, that I dissented ever digging back up.

"Baby..." her voice was softened and I didn't need to look up to see the expression that matched it.

"Hm?" Nodding my head as I chewed, my brow furrowed pleasurably. "How is it this amazing every time-" I took another bite, shaking my head. "I've got to get their recipe or something-"

"Noah..." Bringing my movements to a slow pause, my head finally picked up. Milan searched my eyes as I kept my face unfazed, though her head tilted like she wasn't buying it. "Tell me what happened, when did you find this out??"

"Between yesterday and today." I went back to eating, just barely shrugging. "He called yesterday before the dinner. You were in the shower and he called, acting like all was well- asking how I've been doing and how work was going. Then he says give him a call back when I had time to talk.... So, I did..." Holding back a sigh, I met her tender gaze, sensing her reading me and hearing all the things I wasn't saying. "Anyway, he didn't sound well, and wants me to visit home as soon as I get a chance."

Silence fell between us as I kept eating like this was no big deal. Because in truth, I didn't want it to be. I'd honestly rather just skip past this part and get it all over with. It wasn't like we were close or anything. Thaddeus Jackson might as well have been a distant relative that faded further in my memory as I grew older.

"When're we going?" Once she spoke, I looked at her again with raised brows. She must've mistaken it for discontent, the way she rephrased. "If you'd like for me to come with you- I understand if you prefer going alone for this..."

Despite the despair of the moment, I couldn't help my bare smile. "Baby of course I want you with me, I always do." A grin of her own tugged her lips. "I just wasn't sure if you'd prefer to stay for work or anything-"

Waving a hand, "I'll work something out-" her hand outlayed across the table for me to hold, then she squeezed. "I'm here, for whatever you need. You know that."

There was a depth to her words that contained various layers, and it had my insides warm as if the sun were in this restaurant instead of in the sky.

Gazing into her eyes with a gentle tilt to my head, I gave her hand a squeeze back, saying a special three words without saying anything at all. And the look was returned as I brought the back of her hand to my lips before letting it go, giving a wink that made her blush.

Even in the beginning of our relationship, when we could barely share a kiss outside the walls of my apartment or the doors of my car, Milan had this...way, with me. Even when she didn't know me as well, her every gaze told me just how genuinely she wanted to.