Chapter 14

       "You do know that you don't a discount just because I work here, right?" Holden asked as he placed my food in front of me. "Because you're coming here way too often."

       "I know," I said. "I like the food here. Is that a crime?"

       "No crime," Holden said. "So, I heard Cassidy's back."

       I sighed. "Yeah. And she's actually living in Spruceworth now. Before, she was just living beside it."

       "Do you want to get back together with her?" Holden asked.

       I sighed. "I don't know. For once, I was actually liking how things were going in life, but then she just shows up out of nowhere and ruins it."

       "Holden!" Shaw suddenly called from the kitchen, so my brother looked over. "I know he's family, but you need to get back to work."

       "In a minute, I'm getting medical advice," Holden said before looking back at me.

       I raised an eyebrow. "You're not getting medical advice, so you actually should get back to work."

       "I actually do need medical advice," Holden said. "Just kidding, I don't. Fine, I'll get back to work but...." He suddenly stopped and looked at the door. "Well, I've got to wish you good luck."

       "What?" I asked. "Why?"

       Holden doesn't reply as he walked away, right as Cassidy walked up to the table. 

       I didn't even look at her as I asked, "What do you want?"

       "You haven't been answering my calls," Cassidy said. "I've been calling you at least once per day."

       "I wonder why," I said.

       "Josh, come on, I just want to talk," she said.

       "Kind of hard to do when I'm trying my best to ignore you after you left me thinking you were dead for five years."

       "I told you, I'm sorry."

       "Sorry doesn't cut it."

       "Can't you just look at me? Or our daughter?"

       Hearing Cassidy say that actually made me look over, only to see a little girl standing beside her.

       I actually had a kid.

       Cassidy knelt down in front of the little girl to talk to her. "Guinevere, this is your daddy," Cassidy said.

       Guinevere was definitely not a shy girl, because she immediately wrapped her arms around me with a huge smile on her face. "Hi!"

       I was in a bit of a shock before I finally hugged her back. "Hi," I said, looking at Cassidy. "How old is she, exactly?"

       "She'll be turning four soon," Cassidy said. "Do you think you'll be able to watch her for a bit? I need to go grocery shopping, but she constantly grabs things we don't need and cries when I put it back."

       "Yeah, of course," I said.

       "Gwen, Mommy's going to go out for a bit," Cassidy said to Guinevere. "You're going to stay here with Daddy, okay?"

       "Okay!" Guinevere said before climbing up on the chair beside me.

       Cassidy stood up and looked at me. "Do you think we can actually talk when I get back?" she asked.

       "Maybe," I said. I really didn't want things to go back to the way they were, but with Guinevere here, who knows what will happen?

       After Cassidy left the restaurant, Holden walked over. "Alright, what's up with you watching kids for everyone?" he asked. "I thought you're a doctor, not a babysitter."

       "Uh, Holden, this is actually my daughter," I said. "Remember when the doctor told me that Cassidy was pregnant? That wasn't a lie."

       "Your....daughter?" Holden asked. "And you only found out about her now? Well, actually that I understand considering what Cassidy did." Holden then sat down across from us.

       "Again, shouldn't you be working?" I asked.

       "Yes, but I get away with a lot," Holden said. "Shaw has a soft spot for me." I raised an eyebrow. "No, not in that way. Well, unfortunately. Anyway, he goes easy on me because of my brain injury."

       "Wait, do you have a cr--" I began, but Holden cut me off by looking at Guinevere and talking to her.

       "Hi, I'm your uncle Holden," he said. "What's your name?"

       "Guinevere!" she said happily. "Hi!"

       "Aww, you're such a happy little girl," Holden said. "Even though half of you was create by a de--Never mind, I probably shouldn't say that. I'm going to be the cool uncle, okay? You have two more, but they're lame."

       "Okay!" Guinevere said.

       Shaw suddenly walked up to the table and sighed. "Holden, you can't just take breaks whenever you want. I keep telling you that, and you're lucky the boss isn't here to see you slack."

       "Alright, sorry, I was just meeting my niece for the first time," Holden said. "Long story. When's my break, again?"

       "You literally started working half an hour ago," Shaw said. "It's not for a while. Come on, back to the kitchen."

       Holden sighed and got up before following Shaw to the kitchen.

       Someone else walked up to the table, and this time it was Cleo pushing Celeste's stroller so I gave her a smile. "Hey," I said.

       "Hi," Cleo said. "Sorry to spring this on you, but can you watch Celeste? I got scheduled to work at the last minute."

       "Cleo, come on, don't apologize for springing it on me," I said. "The whole reason you moved in was so I could watch Celeste whenever you were at work. Of course I'll watch her."

       "Thank you, Josh," she said. "You're seriously the best." She was about to leave, but she then noticed Guinevere sitting at the table. "Who's this?"

       "Remember how I told you that Cassidy was pregnant?" I asked. "Yeah, that part was actually true. This is my daughter, Guinevere."

       Guinevere looked over at Cleo since I was talking to her. "Hi!" she said with a smile. "I'm Guinevere!"

       Cleo smiled back. "Hi," she said before looking at me. "Well, I should be heading off to work. Again, thank you, for everything."

       "No problem," I said. "It's what friends are for."

       That sentence stung me as I watched Cleo walk away. I wanted to be more than friends, but now with everything going on, I didn't know if it would actually happen.

__________________

I wanted to extend this a bit, but I'm tired and should head off to bed.

But first, I'll post a gif of me Shaw and Holden inspirations:

HARRY MY CHILD I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND YOU CAN COME LIVE WITH ME IF YOU WANT. <3 I'LL GIVE YOU MORE LOVE THAN EVERYONE ELSE IS RIGHT NOW. <3

Ugh he's such a cinnamon roll and I'm angry at everything going on with him. Imma seriously go to Hollyoaks and fight people (ง •̀_•́)ง (though Hollyoaks as a higher death rate than Spruceworth so I'm scared. Anyone wanna come with me)

And in other news, it's past midnight and the internet is still on, so idk what my dad was talking about with that internet blocker.