Pairing: Andy BarberxBlack Reader
Summary🪄: Andy reminisces on your relationship
⚠️: bit of angst, mention of death, fluff💕!
A/N: Based on the song “Quit You” by Cashmere Cat ft. Ariana Grande (mostly just the chorus though). Also as a heads up, this is gonna be like my River series, so basically a collection of short stories that center around this one family and I hope you guys like it☺️! Sorry it’s so long😬 I didn’t mean for that to happen lol.
A grin graces Andy’s bearded face stopping at the sliding glass door to find you asleep on the wicker couch perfectly placed so you’d be in the breezy shade. When you first arrived at your small villa, you immediately beamed the moment you stepped outside on the patio telling him how you could stay out there all day and easily fall asleep from the crashing of waves and comfortable warmth surrounding you.
Sure enough this had been the second time, so far, he’d caught you curled on the grey cushions.
Bare feet padding against the textured, square tiles, he carefully sits beside you putting a pillow in his lap before returning your head to rest on him. Even in deep sleep, it’s automatic for you to shift closer to his cologne spritzed body as if your brain itself loved the scent.
This was honestly something he’d never think he’d experience at this stage of his life. Finding love again after losing his college sweetheart and pride and joy of a son. He felt guilty at the idea of inviting someone new to step across the threshold he once carried a giggling Laurie over. Being intimate in a bed that he only ever shared with her. Or even eventually bringing another child into the room previously littered with movie posters, video games, and books belonging to Jacob, the older brother they’d never have the chance to meet. Plus with the whole town knowing about his immense loss, or glaring at him with disdain still not completely sold that his son was innocent, along with the revelation of his father being the infamous Bloody Billy Barber, even if he was interested in dating his options were slim to none.
That is until he met you.
Squeaky shopping cart rolling down the cereal aisle, a pair of black and white striped gloves in the middle of the linoleum floor catch his eye.
“Um excuse me, did you drop these?”
Deep brown eyes finally meeting his after looking down at the winter accessory in his hands, Andy felt a warmth creep through his chest and small flutters overtake his stomach. Clearly you had to have been new to town or else he definitely would’ve remembered seeing such soft, glowing features before.
“Oh, thank you!,” you smiled, and surely Andy thought he had to be dreaming from the affect that one little movement had on him already. A light dew forming on his palms, he hadn’t felt these things since the first time he saw Laurie walking across the dated carpet of the Registrar’s office hoping to get help with registering for classes.
“I thought I told someone to hold onto them for me,” you jokingly scold narrowing your eyes at the four-year-old girl in the front of the cart. Her only response is a toothy grin as her purple, furry boots lightly kick back and forth. She obviously had to be yours from the uncanny resemblance, even down to the circular frames adorably sitting on your noses (hers a mix of purple and pink while yours a more mature brown).
“I’m sure she only turned away for a quick second. Right?” Her braided pigtails wildly bounce from the quick nod she gives agreeing with the man across from her.
“Hmm..I won’t fire her just yet then.”
Both of your light chuckles dying down, Andy wanted to hear more of your sugar like voice. Even be bold enough to ask to see you again sometime. His guilt paired with the lingering, nosey gaze of an elderly woman seemingly clamp his windpipe as his hands grip the handlebar of the cart ready to continue his shopping.
“Well uh you have a good night.”
“Bye! I’m Leia!,” the little girl smiles excitedly waving bye to the new stranger she’d just met. Unknowingly succeeding in making his heart expand twice it’s size.
People always spoke about how the universe works in mysterious ways, and even his own mother said it a few times throughout his childhood. Having never really seen said universe bring about a miracle or something extraordinary out of a bleak situation, he wasn’t quite convinced on the saying then. The written confession that saved his son from 20 plus years in prison briefly changed that perception before being brought back to square one learning how said confession came about.
So from then on he didn’t give the saying a second thought as he continued on with his life.
“Hey, you found my gloves.” The all too familiar voice brings an instant smile to his face turning to see you in your business casual attire. Plain, high waisted tan slacks paired with a simple white sweater and matching tan heels Andy just grew even more smitten over the unnamed beauty.
Maybe he should reach out to the universe more often if he could expect results like this.
“And you’re Leia’s mom,” he responded making you laugh to yourself.
“No matter how many times I tell her, she still forgets about not giving her name out to strangers.”
As if second nature, his tongue set to divulge how his son used to be the same with talking to strangers, and even going as far as tapping the people they passed in the grocery store to show the food item he was holding as if it was a trophy. Luckily the shout of your order being ready saved him a journey down that road; potentially bringing a somber mood to what seemed like a pleasant day for you.
“Um I know we don’t really know each other, but do you want to share a table?,” you nervously ask holding onto your bag. “If not or you weren’t planning to stay that’s totally fine-,”
“No, that’s perfectly fine,” he smiled before momentarily separating to retrieve his own bag containing his usual: turkey and cheese on wheat.
Both of you sitting across from each other in the recently cleaned booth, Andy couldn’t help but notice the way one of the sun’s rays decided to shine through the window perfectly settling around you. You were oblivious, currently removing your food from the brown paper bag before setting your phone to the side, but to Andy it was as if a bit of the air had been sucked out his lungs from the sight.
“Was this a sign?,” he thought snapping out of his trance at you holding your hand out towards him.
Joining his hand with yours, he didn’t know where this newfound fear of messing up something so easy came from, but as crazy as it sounded he kinda missed it.
From then on you became “lunch buddies”, as you liked to call it, meeting every day, if you could, at the small diner to talk about your day so far. In addition to some of the interactions he’d have with his students, he’d tell you more about the town and things both you and Leia could do for fun. You didn’t really feel like you had much to share just being a receptionist and assistant at a nearby consulting office, but Andy saw different. Anything you had to say, whether it be an interesting call with a clearly confused client or your night watching Gully & Friends with Leia who just wouldn’t go to sleep, he clung to every word as if you were unearthing a new philosophical theory.
Each day you grew closer, sharing things about yourself and himself to you, until he built enough courage to ask if you would like to meet him outside the diner sometime. Your bright smile and “I’d love to” easily making him flustered, feeling like a teenager talking to his crush all over again.
The days leading up to your date was something like his first hearing in front of an actual judge and jury. Of course a bit nervous not wanting to mess anything up, but excited to get to see you for hopefully longer than just an hour. Grading the final few assignments remaining on his desk, your name flashing on his phone makes him smile hitting the green button.
“Hey Andy. Um there’s a bit of a problem about tonight,” you reply.
“What’s wrong?” He mentally panicked thinking you’d discovered that part of him he had yet to tell. You were probably calling to cancel and maybe even discuss not seeing each other again.
“Leia’s sitter cancelled, and since she had a family emergency she won’t be available all weekend. I’m sorry I know we’re supposed to meet in a few hours and I’ve been trying to find someone else-,”
“Hey it’s okay.” His heart regained its normal rhythm at the silent release of the breath he’d been holding preparing for your gentle let down. “What if the three of us do something tomorrow instead?”
“Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course not! It’s supposed to be warmer this weekend; we could go to the park and maybe have a picnic by the pond.”
“That sounds nice. She always talks about seeing the ducks, so I’m sure she’d love that.” Even hearing your smile over the phone had Andy’s cheeks red, thinking you were some type of wonderful that your voice alone had him weak.
“So it’s a date! Well, not really an official date but you know like a hang out sorta date as my students would say. That is if it’s something you’d want to do,” he nervously rambles making you softly giggle.
“It’s an official, unofficial date.”
The day was enjoyable on all ends, and still makes Andy smile when he thinks about it today. Leia was bashful, in typical preschooler fashion, when you first introduced her to the larger man until she remembered him from the store. She couldn’t seem to leave him alone then, having Andy roll the ball back and forth with her as well as pointing out all the ducks with him.
At times he fell silent needing to take a moment to himself with her toothy grin reminding him so much of Jacob at that age and the fact he’d never see his smile again, nor that of his children. Clearly you noticed his change of mood, but opted to save that conversation for later.
“I feel like I’m the third wheel here,” you joke tilting your head at a comfortable Leia sat right next to Andy. Head leaning into his side as she looked out towards the water crunching on her apple slices.
“Aw don’t be jealous. Next date I promise it’s all about you,” he chuckles.
“I’m holding you to that Andrew.”
Sure enough your next date he surprised you with a drive in movie, something you’d mentioned you’d love to go to in an earlier conversation about each other’s interests. It made you feel like the princess he so aimed to treat you like that he remembered something you only mentioned once and so long ago.
Dates thereafter alternated between being just the two of you and having Leia join, which made her excited every time you mentioned Mr. Andy coming along. Four months in and he was practically her best friend. Especially when he won her a stuffed purple unicorn at the carnival.
She’d talk with him about Gully & Friends and catch him up on the latest preschool drama, which always brought a grin to his face as he listened attentively. Times he’d visit your apartment for dinner, they’d sit and color at the coffee table in front of the couch while watching whatever animated movie she’d chose until you were done in the kitchen. A couple times you had to quickly wipe your tears as you watched from the kitchen, or wherever you stood, as they adorably talked to each other and Andy treating her as his own when he didn’t have to.
And to think his head nearly got in the way almost separating you for good.
He hasn’t quit kicking himself for that day at the park. Both of you sitting on the wooden table top looking out at the still pond with you bundled in his hooded jacket not expecting the breeze to be so chilly.
So far he’d ignored the passing glances as he’d walk with you hand in hand not caring about the whispers of those more than likely talking about him. When he heard your name being mentioned though, that’s when their words began to toy with him.
“You know it’s only been two years since that accident? Practically just buried poor Laurie and Jacob yet he’s moved on to someone new.”
“Girl like that immediately latching onto him, you know she’s probably only after one thing.”
“She’s only been in town a few months and he just so happens to be one of the first people she finds? Clearly something else is going on.”
“I wonder if she’s using that little girl of hers to make him feel sorry for her.”
He knew they were just gossiping and spreading lies, but it was because you were attached to him. If you hadn’t met him, your name wouldn’t be in the mouths of strangers insinuating cruel things about your intentions. He saw himself as the problem, which only meant one thing.
“Sweetheart I’m so sorry. You don’t know how hard this is for me,” he sniffed, anxiously bouncing his knee with hands wringing together. So far you’d been quiet as he explained that maybe you both should just be friends again. You simply looked at the side of his face while he told about his past and how he felt you deserved someone with much less baggage that wouldn’t have so much of an affect you or little Leia.
“Do you like me?,” you finally asked wiping the stream of tears from your cheek. Andy so desperately wanted to do it for you, but figured he’d already done enough.
“Of course I do,” he answered slightly confused at your question.
“Then why does it matter what other people think or say?”
“It doesn’t but I don’t want people mistreating you because of me.” A sigh leaves your lips cutting the momentary silence as your eyes drift to your hands being swallowed by his longer sleeves.
“I never told you this, but the real reason I moved is because of Leia’s dad,” you started, immediately meeting his concerned eyes. “Not like that. He’s a good guy he just doesn’t make the smartest decisions.”
“Back home, he worked as a bank teller but had these friends from high school that were always looking for a get rich quick scheme. So these friends somehow wormed their way into this infamous crew around town run by this mob boss masking as ‘just a guy trying to uplift the community’. Fast forward Leia’s father, Marc, gets mentioned to the boss and how he works at the bank, which gives him this grand idea to stage a robbery with his help. Apparently he told him if he’d simply look the other way, he’d make sure to take care of us so neither one of us would have to worry about another bill.”
Your cracking voice automatically has him wrapping an arm around you bringing your body into his warmth as he sweetly kisses your temple.
“He knew it was wrong, but we were struggling so he figured with the way the plan was set up it’d be a win for both sides. They were just trying to take the older bills that were being transferred anyway so he accepted,” you paused laughing your yourself. “
I should’ve known something was up with all the secret calls leading up to the day and him going out with the guys more than usual, but I just overlooked it being so caught up with Leia and my own work. Then the day of he comes home early a little jittery. I asked what was wrong and he just kept saying nothing and changing the subject, wondering about dinner and trying to play on the floor with Leia who was trying to sleep. Next thing I know, I’m getting notifications on my phone about a robbery and hostage situation so I turned on the news and I noticed it was his bank. I figured that’s why he was acting weird. The robbery started while he was there and he escaped or they let him go. Imagine the shock on my face when I’m pulled in for questioning about his, and my, possible involvement in not only the robbery but murder of another teller. That’s when he finally told me about the deal and told the cops how I didn’t know anything and it was all him. Then comes his trial and he gets 20 years, which seemed like a lot just for being an accessory but apparently the friends during their questioning pinned everything on him. And with the boss’ help, it painted the picture of him being a struggling parent driven to do anything for his family.”
“Including robbing a bank and shooting the co-worker who got in his way,” Andy finished to which you slowly nodded your head.
“The first couple months after were fine. I mean people looked at whispered but nothing I couldn’t handle. Some people got a little too comfortable with voicing their opinions assuming I had to have known, or coerced him to do it and easily got away with it. Even helping with pinning everything on him. His own family even started believing it, and threatened to take Leia away from me. So that paired with not being able to handle the words from random people coming up to me in stores and losing my job, I decided to leave,” you finish turning to meet his sea like eyes tinted red.
“Andy I’ve had people say any and everything about me already. It hurts, but I’m not afraid of it happening now. And I’m definitely not running from it anymore or letting it get in the way of my happiness.”
After hearing of your similar experiences he was sure you had to have been sent just for him. Maybe it was Laurie’s way of apologizing for taking their son with her and leaving him alone. Or it could’ve been Jacob wanting to see his dad happy. Either way, they both were giving their permission for him to continue on with his life and he’d dare not lose the best thing to happen to him since their departure.
Gently grasping your chin between his thumb and forefinger, his lips melding with yours is the best heater you could’ve asked for. Your hand creeps up feeling the soft hairs of his beard prickle your palm caressing his cheek as the other winds in his dark green shirt trying to keep him as close to you as possible. You weren’t sure if this was a kiss goodbye or something more, but you didn’t want it to stop, immediately finding his lips again when he’d slightly pull away to catch his breath only making him smile against your mouth with a low chuckle.
“W-What?,” you ask leaning back to look in his eyes. He began to worry thinking your reaction might be because he’d said it at the wrong time or much too early making you uncomfortable.
“I…I said I love you Y/N.” At that bright smile he loved and you pecking his lips a few times more, he felt himself relax as your nails lightly scratched his beard making him sigh.
Of course the whispers continued seeing the both of you around town or shopping with your daughter in tow. They definitely became louder after news of your small ceremony circulated through streets and across tables. Some even saying one or the other would come to regret your decision but you both knew that would never happen.
Feeling you stir in his lap, he sweeps some of your curls from your face as he’s met with your drowsy, angel like eyes and small smile.
“Sorry, I fell asleep again.”
“Don’t apologize, you’re on vacation and you deserve to relax.”
“Yea but I don’t want to leave you bored doing nothing,” you pout sitting up to straddle his lap, fingers dancing through the hairs at his nape.
“Sweetheart, since we’ve gotten here the last thing I’ve been is bored,” he smirks before leaning in to cover your lips with his. You two only stop at the loud rumble of your stomach making both of you laugh. “You want to order in or go somewhere?”
“Let’s go to that restaurant we passed by on our way to the beach. Then I can wear that new dress you got me,” you smile pecking his lips and giggling at the low groan vibrating his chest.
“We might need to stay in then. I don’t need another guy trying to steal you away.”
“Whatever. Like you haven’t noticed the ladies drooling over you and your half buttoned shirts showing these,” you counter tracing your finger tip down across the tattoos currently exposed to the salty evening air.
“I haven’t. I’m only focused on you,” he winks before pecking along your neck and collarbone.
“Mhmm sure.” Pulling him up to stand with you, you attempt to walk back inside the villa bringing him behind you, only to be turned to press against his broad chest. His eyes seem thoughtful with a mix of adoration as his thumbs graze your cheeks and fingers rest on the sides of your neck.
“Any regrets?,” he asks as part of your little inside joke with each other. You knew how Andy’s mind could get though. Behind his small chuckle, he actually hoped you were still happy and as much in love with him as he was with you.
“Not one. Do you have any regrets?”
“No, and never will,” he smiles needing to feel your plump lips once more.
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