Page 128

Noah:

K

She looked at the time on her phone. She had three hours before she needed to meet with him. It would give her time for a nap and to get ready. She felt sticky and gross after the drive home while feeling ill and needed a shower. Hopefully the nap would ease the discomfort in her stomach enough that she could eat.

As she entered the diner, a smiling young server approached. His brown shaggy hair curled around his ears, falling in his eyes, giving him a boyish charm. The freckles helped.

“Hey there! I’m Alex.” He tapped the sparkly green name tag attached to his suspenders. “You want a booth or the bar?”

“I’m actually meeting someone,” she said, moving her gaze over the crowded diner. When her eyes locked onto a head of wavy dark brown hair, she pointed. “Him.”

“Well, okay. If you need anything, I’ll be here. I’ll be the one running around like a chicken with my head cut off.” He winked and turned away, sauntering across the room to a table that flagged him down. His perky greeting carried across the restaurant chatter.

She crossed the diner, her corkboard platform sandals clicking on the floor. She loved the shoes even if they didn’t always love her. Her short white dress, similar to her favorite navy one with the sweetheart neckline and puff sleeves, matched the white ribbon around her ankles. The lack of color would help combat the humidity and also prevent any sweat stains from showing when, inevitably, the cold sweats from whatever made her so ill set in. She hoped it wasn’t contagious. Maybe it was a bad idea to be in public. But her mothers seemed fine, so maybe not.

“Noah?”

Twinkling blue eyes met hers as he turned in the booth and smiled at her. “Hey, I’m glad you showed up.”

“I said I would, didn’t I?”

“Well, yeah. But I dunno. Was worried you’d think this was me trying to get a date.” He paused, his gaze sliding down. “You look fantastic.”

She shrugged, trying to play it off. She hadn’t worn the outfit to impress him. It was a strategic maneuver for physical comfort. Sliding into the booth across from him, she smiled. “Thank you. So why didn’t you tell me your parents lived here when you found out I’m from here?”

His smile faltered, and he gave a light shrug. “I didn’t think it was important. Didn’t think either of us would be here at the same time. Didn’t think you were leaving.”

“Well, here we are.”

“Here we are,” he echoed with a grin.

Before he could say anything else, the fine hairs on her arms stood on end and, as if a magnet pulled her eyes, her gaze moved to the front entrance.

Her eyes met Aiden’s, and his eyebrows lifted in surprise as a smile bloomed on her face. She hadn’t contacted him since she returned. She planned to do that after her nap, but she overslept and hardly had time to shower before the walk to the diner. Her mothers were already gone, so she couldn’t get a ride from them.

She lifted her arm and waved for him to come over, excitement bubbling inside that she could finally see him again. Noah turned to see what had caught her attention.

As Aiden approached, his expression turned thunderous, making her smile fall.

She slid over to allow him to sit, and he didn’t miss a beat, scooting until their bodies pressed together. His muscular arm looped over the back of her neck, hand cuffing her shoulder in a proprietary move. She didn’t want to admit it, but she liked this new side of him.

“So you’re back in town?” he asked, never taking his eyes off Noah, who looked uncomfortable.

“I am. I got home earlier this afternoon.”

“That so.” His voice was cold, hard. She didn’t like that part of this new side, but was glad it was not directed at her.

“I didn’t let you know because when we got there, I had a…” She paused, her eyes moving to Noah and then up to the side of Aiden’s head. “A delivery.”

His gaze shifted to her, and a flicker of concern passed through his eyes. She nodded, understanding what he wanted to know. His jaw clenched, and his hand tightened on her shoulder.

“Then I took a nap because I wasn’t feeling good before I came here.”

“You’re sick? You didn’t have to come out and meet me,” Noah said, his eyes shifting from her to Aiden, as if he didn’t know who to keep his attention focused on.

Aiden leaned over and pressed his lips to her temple. “I’m not mad,” he whispered. “I missed you. Are you okay?”

Her breath caught at his words. She wanted to tell him she missed him when they texted a few nights ago, but she resisted the urge to do it. Didn’t want to seem too clingy.