Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
SIENNA
I peek out into the hallway, and when I find it empty, I suck in a breath and grasp the handle of my suitcase.
Yes, I’m hiding in my own building.
Yes, I’ll have to face Noah eventually.
Sooner than I’d like, in fact, since we’ll be on the same plane this morning and in the same hotels for the next week.
But I need just a few more minutes to put my armor in place and to remind myself of all the reasons he needs to stay firmly in my past.
And still I knew you were the only one for me. And if I couldn’t have you, then I didn’t want anyone else.
His words have played on repeat in my head since he uttered them two nights ago. I didn’t have the capacity to wrap my head around them then, and even now, I’m still lost.
He could see it that night, I’m sure. So he pressed one more kiss to my lips and offered to give me time.
I had over a year to work through this. You’ve had a few days. I can wait.
The thing is, I don’t know that I can work through this.
My emotions are all over the place, and, more importantly, I’m still angry.
Angry at myself for missing him for so long.
Angry that I suffered on my own for so long.
Angry that I wasn’t worth the risk to his friendship with my brothers until I was forced back into his life.
If not for my position with the Bolts, would he have ever come for me? I’m afraid to acknowledge that the likely answer is no. Because even the thought hurts. And it makes it impossible for me to forgive, let alone move on.
But every time I get within three feet of the man, I lose all sense. And my panties.
It’s embarrassing.
Hot too, but so, so embarrassing. I’m thirty years old. I should have the capacity to maintain at least some semblance of control.
Head down, I step into the hall with my luggage and purse and lock up quickly, then stride toward the elevator.
I’m in the elevator, almost home free, when a voice echoes down the hall.
“Can you hold that?”
My shoulders sag in response to the unfamiliar female voice. Okay, I can handle a ride in an elevator with a stranger. So with a sure, I press the button.
A beautiful woman I haven’t seen in the building before practically glides down the hallway, smiling. “Thanks,” she chirps as she steps into the stainless-steel box. “Do you mind waiting one more second? They’re coming.”
A heartbeat later, Noah’s door opens, and my fight-or-flight instinct kicks in.
I consider how she’d react if I pretended not to hear her request and let the doors shut, but before I’ve made a decision, Ollie comes running down the hall, making the choice for me.
I can’t very well let the doors close in his face.
Especially after the way his eyes light up when he sees me. “Sienna, what are you doing here?”
The woman beside me tilts her head, her dark hair falling over one shoulder, and eyes me with a look of confusion.
“I live here,” I say, looking from him to the woman on the other side of the elevator. “I met Ollie last week at a Bolts game. With Hannah.”
Lips tipping up, she holds out a hand. “I’m Jen. Ollie’s mom.”
It hits me now how obvious that should have been to me. But I’ve been too preoccupied with bracing myself to come face to face with the man who’s now appeared outside his apartment door.
Noah is dressed in a navy suit. One of those straight ones that hits his ankle, exposing bare skin in an area that shouldn’t do anything for me and yet does.
It’s irritating how good-looking the man is. How his black glasses only make him more handsome. He approaches with one bag slung over his shoulder and two rolling suitcases behind him.
That’s a lot of luggage.
My stomach flips over as realization dawns. He’s not traveling alone. Shit. Are Jen and Ollie traveling with him? Is she with him?
Jealousy burns up my throat, hot and acidic, making it impossible to focus on what any of the people around me are saying. Ollie is chattering, and Noah is watching me as he steps into the confined space, his brow furrowed, like I’m a scared animal at risk of snapping at them.
“I, um—” I point into the hall. “Forgot—” I bolt out of the confined space, away from Noah’s family, and rush toward my door.
“It’s fine. We’ll hold it,” Ollie singsongs.
“No need,” I squeal over my shoulder, fumbling for my keys.
The door next to mine swings open, and voices echo through the hall. When I recognize one, I squeeze my eyes shut and take a steadying breath. Before I can compose myself enough to get the key into the lock, that voice calls my name, killing any chance I had at escaping.
“You haven’t left yet? Yay!” Hannah says. “We can ride together.”
I fight back a wince. It’s way too early for her level of energy.
“That’s where you’re going, right?” she asks. Like everyone else I’ve encountered this morning, she gives me a confused look. Clearly, I’m not hiding how out of sorts I am. “Team plane?”
I open my mouth, then snap it shut again. It’s better than slamming my forehead against the door in defeat. With another steadying breath, I straighten my spine and nod. “Yup. Thought I forgot something, but I was wrong.” I lift the bag clutched in one hand as proof. “So I’m good to go.”
She beams at me. “Thank god. Brooks has forbidden Sara from traveling with the baby yet, and Lex is busy organizing a charity event. And Millie texted to say she’s too nauseas to fly. I was nervous I’d be alone, but I love how I can always rely on one of my girls.”
Her words soothe me. My girls. Lennox, Sara, Millie, and Liv are my people, yes, but they’re married to my brothers, so they have to be nice to me. Other than Cat, I’ve had very few friends in my life who weren’t somehow obligated or didn’t have ulterior motives.
“Baby Hall, you got the other Baby Hall and the luggage?” she calls as Daniel steps out with Mav strapped to his chest. The man rolls two suitcases out, one topped with a duffel and the other a diaper bag, bumping the doorframe as he goes.
“Does he need help?” I mumble.
She shakes her head. “He likes doing this kind of stuff for me. I used to fight it, but it’s pointless, so I let him do his thing. He gets so little time with Mav as it is, right, baby?”
He grins at her with stars in his deep brown eyes. “You know it, dream girl.”
“C’mon.” Hannah herds me toward the elevator, where three sets of eyes are fixed on us. “Hi, Jen. Hey, Ollie,” Hannah chirps, her loud voice bouncing off the metal walls. “Are you excited for our week away?”
Jen gives Hannah a polite but reserved nod. If she were with Noah, she’d be more friendly with his sister, right?
And still I knew you were the only one for me. And if I couldn’t have you, then I didn’t want anyone else.
It’s a lie. The man is good at them. He had me fooled. Had me forgetting that his son was born after our weekend together.
Daniel shoves his way in, dragging his luggage, causing the rest of us to step back and to the sides.
Jen grabs Ollie’s shoulders and pulls him to the back left corner, and Noah goes to the right.
I take a step toward the front right corner, near the panel, but I stumble back when Daniel wheels the suitcase in that direction, almost taking out my toe.
I’m still off balance when a big hand clutches my hip and pulls me back into a broad, warm chest.
In the chaos of the moment, all eyes are on Daniel, but my skin prickles at the notion that any of them could see.
Okay, that’s a lie. My traitorous skin tingles because he’s touching me.
His hold is gentle, the squeeze he gives me soft as he brings his mouth to my ear.
“Still like to be touched in a room full of people, I see.”
Knees wobbling, I suck in a surprised breath and scan the small space.
“And I still love touching you.” His words are a kiss against my ear. “Only you.”
Blessedly, the elevator dings, signaling that we’ve reached our destination and breaking the spell he cast on me.
Noah keeps one hand pressed gently to my side, and when he confirms that I’m steady, he sidesteps me, tossing a wink over his shoulder, and outstretches his arm to hold the doors open so our group can exit.
Out on the street in front of the building, I try not to stare as Ollie hugs Jen.
Or as she gives the rest of the group a friendly nod and walks away.
There’s no long goodbye to Noah. No kiss. No words at all.
Relief and excitement hit me, one after another. Maybe she’s not someone important, after all.
The moment the thought appears, I scold myself. Because it doesn’t matter. Because I shouldn’t care.
If only I could stop.