Stuck in the in-between.

Keeping Secrets

A few weeks had past and I still hadn't heard anything from A.J. I was being to think that he wasn't going to text me. Non the less I continued my normal daily activities. My wedding was only a couple of weeks away and I still felt like I had so much stuff to do. I sat at my office desk and played with my engagement ring staring into space thinking about what A.J said that night at his house. Was it all true? Did he still care about me in that way?

"I'm gonna head out, Do you need anything else from me?" My assistant nurse Anthony said peeping just his head around the doorway into my office. I jerked out of my daydream and stared at him.

"Mmmm?...." I paused "Oh sorry no, I don't, thank you for everything today Anthony."

"Are you sure you're alright?" He said looking at me with concerning eyes.

"No, I'm fine, seriously, thank you," I said smiling at him.

"Say hi to Nick and the kids for me," I said smiling in his direction. He smiled and walked away, "Will do."

I started to pack up my stuff to head out for the night, suddenly my phone buzzed.

"Hey, I'm sorry it took so long, I got busy with school, wanna do drinks tonight? On me, the bride-to-be."-A.J."

I smiled looking down at his message, I tucked my hair behind my ear and thought about what I would say back.

"Mmmmm I suppose I can squeeze you in, Joe's at 8?"

"Can't wait! Jelly bean, see you then!"

~

When I got home, Noah was sitting in the living room watching football, and the oven was warming up.

"Hi babe," Noah said from the living room as I took off my shoes at the door. "How was work?"

"Busy as usual, flu season is upon us," I said walking into the kitchen and washing my hands. "What do you have cooking here?"

"I stopped by my mom's house after work and she had pre-made some baked ziti for us, I figured we could just have that for dinner" I dried off my hands with the towel next to the sink.

"Actually babe, some old friends from college called me on my way home from work and wanted to know if I wanted to get drinks with them, and I said yes, I know its last minute but I felt bad for saying no considering I haven't seen them in a while"

"No problem at all, can you just turn off the oven then?" He said pulling the blanket over him. I shut off the oven and walked into the living room while taking off my apple watch.

"Is that alright?" I said sitting down next to him on the couch

"Of course It is, we can have the ziti tomorrow night." He said looking over at me. I leaned in and kissed him softly.

"Thank you" I got up from the couch and walked into our bedroom. I threw on a pair of jeans and switched out my purse for a smaller over the shoulder body bag.

"I'll be back in about an hour or two, it's just a few drinks," I said heading for the front door. "I love you," I said walking out the door.

"Love you too, have fun tonight" his voiced echoed from the living room as the door shut behind me.

~

8:15 my car clock read as I pulled into Joe's bar parking lot. I got out of the car and walked into a half-empty bar. At the end of the bar was A.J. with a drink in front of him. We made eye contact and he waved at me. I smiled and walked over to him.