Chapter 5


.

"Can we get brunch?" Noah said from the back seat of Olivia's suv. She had just picked him up from Kellan's and they were in the process of going home.

"You wanna eat again Olivia laughed as she drove.

"Uh huh, it's Sunday, remember? We always get brunch on Sundays. It's our thing."

He was always so observant. "It is our thing huh?" She asked as she looked at him through the rearview mirror.

"Yes, so can we go?" He asked, his eyes lighting up.

"We can go."

"Yay!"

A bit later, they were in the restaurant, sitting down with menus when outside, Peter was walking down the street, his earbuds in and enjoying his music when Noah saw him approaching, and from the looks of it, hadn't seen him or his mom and was prepared to walk right past them. Not about to allow his friend to walk away without seeing them, he got up on his knees and began to beat the window.

"Peter…" He yelled, to which Olivia was thoroughly embarrassed with the whole restaurant now looking in their direction. She suddenly regretted taking a seat by the window as she gently tugged Noah's sleeve.

"Noah…"

"Mom it's Peter!" He said, ignoring her and absolutely giddy as Peter noticed and stopped in front of the large window. He was genuinely happy to see Noah and waving. "Come inside..." Noah said, his hands in supplication. Peter didn't want to disappoint him, but he also didn't want to intrude and looked to Olivia. She gave the signal that it was okay and Peter, happy as a clam, turned around and walked back in the opposite direction to come inside.

Noah, excitedly ran to greet him, almost running into a waiter as Olivia got up to go after him but he was already in Peter's arms as Peter carried him over to the table. Flustered, she offered an apology.

"I'm so sorry. Noah gets a little ahead of himself!" She smiled.

"It's okay."

"Peter, guess what? I got an A on my spelling test!"

"Good job dude!" Peter said and high-fived Noah who was still in his arms, looking so comfortable.

"Mom, can Peter eat with us?"

Before Olivia could speak, Peter beat her to it, not wanting to intrude on her talking to Noah about the two of them.

"Uh, you know, that probably not the best-"

"Pleeeaaase? Mom…"

"Honey, maybe Peter has somewhere to be. We don't wanna disturb him." She said, trying to discourage Noah without doing it outright.

"Do you, Peter?"

"Uhhh, I was just…well no actually." Obviously he was caught off guard as he looked at Olivia with an "I'm sorry."

"See?" Noah said happily. "So can he?" He smiled.

...

"You know, you didn't have to pay for brunch." Olivia said to Peter as they walked along the lake at the park, Noah a few feet ahead of them eating his ice cream cone, and in his own world.

"Well, you supplied the company, it's only fair." He smiled. "By the way, I'm sorry for earlier. I had no idea that you and Noah were there,"

She laughed. "it's fine." They stopped and sat down on a bench, watching Noah who was now playing with three other kids. "I just have to tell him another time...Noah, stay in sight!" She called.

"Okay mom!" He called back to her, running with a football with his new friends. Olivia turned to Peter.

"...or we could tell him together." He said suddenly as she sipped her coffee and he ran his finger lightly down her arm. She put her coffee down and giggled. God this feeling he gave her!

"Maybe that's not the worst idea." She said as she watched Noah out of the corner of her eye. "Maybe he'll be more receptive...I saw you two together this morning; he loves you,"

"And I love him," he said, gently taking her hand in his.

"I know." She smiled, then looked around before she curled her fingers together with his. They sat watching Noah for a moment, both smiling proudly. Peter turned and looked at her. There was so much love in her eyes when she looked at Noah, he could see it all over her face.

"You ever think about having more kids?" He asked.

"Think about? All the time. I wish sometimes that I could give Noah a sibling but…"

"But?"

"...I'm past that time in my life." She said with a sadness in her voice. "which is another reason we shouldn't be together."

"I don't follow,"

"I've seen how you are with my son. You want that someday, to be a dad."

"To be actual, it's not something I've really thought about if we're being honest."

"But you do want it,"

"I want what makes me happy, and right now and for the foreseeable future, that's you and Noah. Liv, I'm not just in this for the fun of it. I'm not saying that I'm in love yet…"

"Yet?"

"Yet. I'm not there yet, but I could easily see myself falling wonderfully, hopelessly and head first in love with you...to be honest, I think I'm already on my way there."

"Peter…"

"I know we agreed that we would keep us under wraps for the time being, but I would love to kiss you right now," He whispered, rubbing her thigh with his thumb.

"With my coffee breath? You really are falling in love." She smiled as they both looked back at Noah, and seeing that he and the kids he was playing with were paying them no attention. She leaned into him and he claimed her lips in a sweet kiss that grew in passion, lingering there for a long moment. They broke apart just in time to hear Noah calling.

"Peter!" He called happily as he waved Peter over. Peter looked, waving back to see the other kids getting their dads. "come play!"

"You mind?" Peter asked Olivia, ready to go. She smiled, assuring him she didn't and he was off, running over to the field to join Noah and his friends. Olivia sat back and watched them. The fathers shaking hands as they greeted one another and Noah looking proudly at Peter. Maybe he would do both their lives some good.

"Hey, we need another. You in?" Peter yelled to her from the field.

"Why don't I keep score?" She shouted back, smiling and leaned back on the bench, watching the game from her seat.

...

More to come. Please leave a review.

.