Biking Around The Neighborhood (Part 10 of 12) (A Friends to Lovers Sweet Romance)
“Coffee?” he said. He placed one of the cups on the bedside table. “We used to drink it black in high school, but I stashed a couple packets of sugar and creamer in my pocket just in case.”
Olivia scooted the uncomfortable plastic chair closer to her mother’s bedside. She picked up her mother’s hand and kissed it.
“Anything?”
She turned and noticed Josh enter the room. He carried a paper cup in each hand.
“Coffee?” he said. He placed one of the cups on the bedside table. “We used to drink it black in high school, but I stashed a couple packets of sugar and creamer in my pocket just in case.”
“Black is fine,” she replied.
“How’s she doing? Any changes?”
“Nothing,” she replied. “Listen, I want to thank you for coming with me yesterday. I was at a loss for words, but… Thank you. Seeing her like this. It tears me apart.”
“I was in here just about every other week with my old man,” said Josh.
“Is he okay?”
Josh shook his head.
“I had no idea,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”
“I was there for him. That’s what matters. After my mother got sick, he was never the same. He stopped taking care of himself when she passed away.” Josh smiled. “It’s funny, looking back on it now. He spent those years after my mother passed giving me every ounce of himself. I never felt as though I’d lost someone. He’d lost the love of his life, and yet he was always there for me. Until he wasn’t.”
“Josh, I didn’t know any of this.”
“A lot has changed since you left town, V.” He raised his coffee. “I take two sugars in mine now.”
Olivia rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out.
“You’re something else Josh Radson. You’re really something else.”
“Olivia Bradstone,” he said. “Still drinking it black.”
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