Beautiful With You (Norman Reedus)

Chapter 21

"What can I get for you?" I asked the couple sitting in front of me as I held the pen poised over the pad. I gave them a smile although I was feeling dead on my feet. I could feel the familiar ache but it didn't dampen my mood. I was happy for once and nothing had broken that. Ever since Christmas Norman and I had been talking nonstop and I felt like we were working through our problems. I was shocked, though, that he was fine with taking things as slow as he was and it was making me happy. Maybe he truly liked me, even though I still felt like he could do so much better than me. That insecurity was never going to go away, no matter how hard I tried to feel good about myself. With Norman he made me feel beautiful but it was short lived once he had left or if another girl was around him. I tried not to be like this but I couldn't help myself. I heard the bell above the door ring as my shift was nearing an end and I smiled when I saw who it was. He had his sunglasses sitting on his face and his hair was a little longer than Christmas time but it still made him adorable. I filled the coffee cups and brought refills and then went to clock out, grabbing my bag with my spare clothes in it. I headed towards the bathroom and changed into a pair of skinny jeans and one of Norman's t-shirts I had stolen. I smiled as I ran my finger along it as it was one of my favorites, although his smell was slightly worn off of it.

I headed out of the bathroom and met up with Norman, pecking his cheek and feeling the stubble under my lips. I giggled as it tickled a bit and he smiled at me. His arms going to wrap around my waist as he pulled me in for a hug. The familiar scent of him filled my nose and I couldn't help but bury my nose in his chest. I loved how he smelled and I missed it when he was gone. I could feel him chuckling as his chest rattled and his arms squeezed me gently. His muscles flexing as he did. "I see you missed me," he spoke as his lips landed on top of my head and we awkwardly walked to a booth. I guess he had decided to eat here for lunch before we did some running around New York. We had to plan for the New Year's eve party that Norman was throwing and there was still so much to do. I knew he wanted it to be intimate with all of our friends, but he had to rent a place because his apartment was too small and wouldn't hold many people.

Norm and I ordered our lunch and he had informed me that Mingus was going to be dropped off soon and I could feel myself panicking on the inside. My stomach started to roll and the nerves were beginning to eat at me. I took a deep breath and I tried to look like I was okay, and I hoped that it wasn't showing that I was actually quite scared. I really was scared. What if she didn't like me? I hadn't heard much about her but I knew that her and Norman are still friends and I commend them for it. It was hard being friends with an ex, but it all depended on how they broke up. Maybe it was amicable and they were just there for Mingus. Our food came and I looked at the chicken wrap that I had gotten, the chips sitting on the side and I felt like I wasn't hungry. I felt like my appetite had gone away. I picked up one half of the wrap and took a bite of it, although it caused my stomach to feel queasy. I sipped at my Pepsi and felt my stomach beginning to calm down. I kept talking myself down as Norman and I continued to converse and he was tell me about Helena and that she was nice. I guess I wasn't as cool as I tried to be and he was great with helping me calm down. I continued to eat and before I knew it a tall woman walked in with Mingus in tow. I gave him a soft smile and he returned it, pushing me over so that he could sit down. "Ever the gentleman," I said, not noticing how loud I said it and I could hear a chuckle come from the woman and a laugh come from Norman.

"I'm Helena," the woman spoke and held out her hand and I told her my name, giving her a hand shake and I could tell that she seemed to be a cool woman. She and I continued to get to know each other before she excused herself and said she had to be somewhere. "It was nice to meet you," she told me before she turned around and left the diner.