Knotting Hearts

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Jersey

" I heard something about you today," Jersey said as they drove up the mountain in Noble's sports car, the top down. The cool wind tousled his hair as he watched the road. The scent of autumn was in the air. He had already figured out their route—they were heading toward the Valleywood sign.

"Yeah? And what was that?" Noble asked, his tone light as he smoothly shifted gears, guiding the car along the winding mountain road.

"That you're famous—and that you have a kid," Jersey said, glancing over, watching for Noble’s reaction.

Noble remained silent for a few moments, and Jersey began to second-guess whether he should’ve brought it up.

"Do either of those things bother you?" Noble finally asked, his voice measured, keeping his eyes on the road ahead.

"No," Jersey replied, a soft chuckle escaping him. "But let me just say this now—I don’t want your money. I have my own. We can sign a prenup before we move forward." He smiled, trying to ease the tension.

"And my having a daughter?" Noble asked, casting Jersey a quick sidelong glance before focusing back on the winding road.

"Let me tell you a story," Jersey began, leaning back in his seat. "A few days ago, the station chief gave me a job I felt grossly unqualified for."

"Really? What kind of job?" Noble asked, his tone curious but casual.

"School tours," Jersey said with a chuckle. "I'm not bad with kids one-on-one, but I think I'm boring when it’s a group. Anyway, I had my first group. The kids were great, really. They sat through my tour and speech, asked questions I could answer—until this one little girl politely raised her hand and asked if I was single. Want to guess who she was?" He turned in his seat, eyes on Noble’s face, waiting for his reaction.

Noble was quiet for a few beats, and then his eyes widened in realization. "Please don’t tell me it was JaMari."

"Ding, ding, ding, you win today's prize," Jersey teased, grinning.

"I’m so sorry," Noble said, shaking his head, exasperated. "Lately, she’s been on a ‘find a new dad’ kick. Not even bribing her with a new dog has helped."

"She’s...quite determined," Jersey said with a laugh. "And you don’t have to apologize. Honestly, I think she knew we were going to meet before we even did. Are you sure she’s not a seer?"

Noble chuckled softly. "Dinosaurs are pretty mystical, so her being a seer is definitely a possibility."

Jersey blinked, staring at Noble in disbelief. "Did—did you just say dinosaur?" he stuttered as Noble pulled the car to a stop and turned off the engine.

"Yeah," Noble replied, looking over at Jersey, his expression calm. "Does that scare you?"

Jersey shook his head slowly, a curious gleam in his eyes. "No, I’m more curious than anything. I thought your kind was a myth."

“That is how my pack and I like it,” Noble said. “It helps to keep our secret and as the alpha it makes it easier to protect them.”

"That is a good idea," Jersey said, a playful smile spreading across his face. "It’s not every day a guy finds out his mate is a giant beast. This is pretty cool."

"You’re not a typical omega," Noble observed, his tone soft but filled with admiration. “Most would be scared out of their mind.”

“Being normal is boring.” Jersey smiled softly, glancing down at his clasped hands. "I was born with a couple of abilities. My parents are normal, but they think I dipped deep into the family gene pool and got them from some distant ancestors. I can heal myself, plus see and feel magic. But...I haven’t been able to see magic for a while."

"I don’t believe that," Noble whispered, leaning in slightly. "You knew I wasn’t an ordinary human. So, it’s still there."

Jersey lifted his head and met Noble’s gaze. "Maybe," he murmured with a smile, about to say more, when his stomach let out a loud rumble, breaking the moment. They both burst into laughter.

"Come on, let me feed you," Noble said, still chuckling as he opened the car door.

Jersey glanced around and realized they had stopped by the Valleywood sign, but there wasn’t a restaurant in sight. "Uh...did you just drive us up here for the view? Because I don’t see a restaurant anywhere."

Noble chuckled, got out of the car, and walked to the passenger side to open the door for Jersey. "Come on, trust me. I promise you won't be disappointed." He extended a hand. Jersey hesitated for just a second before confidently placing his fingers in Noble's palm, allowing himself to be pulled from the car.

Noble shut the car door and led Jersey a few steps away. To Jersey’s surprise, there was a table set for two, complete with flickering candlelight reflecting off silver domes and white roses in a vase. The table was positioned right next to the letter "V" of the Valleywood sign, giving them a perfect view of the city below.

"How?" Jersey asked, eyes wide as he turned to Noble. "How did you set all this up?"

"I called the Beta of my pack," Noble explained with a warm smile. "As soon as I told him it was for a date, he was more than happy to help set this up."

"How did he get it up here?" Jersey asked, his voice filled with awe as he gazed around.

"He’s a Quetzalcoatlus. You know, the big flying kind," Noble chuckled, amused by Jersey’s reaction.

"That’s so fascinating," Jersey said, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. "I guess those are the perks of being an Alpha, huh?"

"Yes." Noble gave a small, proud smile. "I don’t want to scare you," Noble said, his expression softening, "but once my pack finds out who you are, you won’t be left alone. They’ve been waiting for me to find another mate since Yaz died. Honestly, if it weren’t for JaMari, I’m not sure I’d still be here. She’s my link to him." A shadow of sadness flickered across his face, and Jersey’s heart ached to take it away.

"Tell me about him?" Jersey asked gently, sensing Noble’s grief.

"I...don’t think I’m ready for that just yet," Noble replied, shaking his head slightly.

"How are we supposed to get to know each other if we don’t share everything?" Jersey pressed, his voice gentle but firm.

"You sure about that?" Noble asked, a trace of hesitation in his voice.

"Yeah," Jersey nodded. "You tell me your story, and I’ll tell you mine."

"Alright," Noble agreed, "then let’s eat while we talk."

Jersey smiled as he sat down and lifted the silver dome. He was pleasantly surprised to see that the meal was simple and not overly extravagant.

"I wasn’t sure what you liked," Noble admitted, "so I had my Beta get us a couple slices of pizza and a good bottle of sparkling cider."

Jersey chuckled. "This is perfect. I’ll only judge you if the dessert’s bad."

"Is chocolate cake good enough for you?" Noble teased.

"How’d you know the way to my heart?" Jersey joked, a playful glint in his eye.

Noble shrugged with a grin. "Lucky guess—'cause it’s also mine."

They laughed together, the moment light and easy. Jersey found himself liking Noble more and more. Despite being an alpha, Noble had a relaxed, easygoing way about him that made Jersey want to keep listening.

"Dig in," Noble encouraged, gesturing to the food.

Jersey didn’t need to be told twice. He eagerly dug into his pizza. As they ate, Noble shared the story of his first mate, how they met in college, and how he eventually lost him. He had loved playing basketball but knew it was time to hang it up—not for himself, but for JaMari.

Being away for so much of the year, Noble felt like he was missing too much of JaMari’s childhood, and he couldn’t always rely on his parents to watch her. He loved being a dad and didn’t want to miss out on the important moments in her life. As Jersey listened, he realized just how good a man Noble truly was—so much better than the jerk he had once thought he was in love with.

"Now that you’ve heard my sad tale, how about yours?" Noble asked, looking at Jersey expectantly.

"Your tale wasn't so sad," Jersey said softly. "It was actually a bit romantic. You loved Yaz, and I don't want to replace his part in your heart. I wish I had met you before I met the guy who tore my heart to pieces."

Jersey’s eyes widened in surprise when Noble let out a low growl. "Who was it? Who hurt my mate?" Noble’s voice was filled with protectiveness.

Goosebumps prickled along Jersey’s skin, and he almost wanted to purr like a kitten at Noble’s protective growl. He wasn’t ready to mate with him yet, but the thought of Noble going full alpha on his behalf made him feel giddy.

"It was my ex-lover, who I thought was my husband," Jersey explained, a faint chuckle escaping as he noticed Noble's confused expression.

"You need to give me more details," Noble insisted. Jersey nodded and began recounting everything, from when he met Daniel to the proposal and the marriage.

He nearly skipped over the incident with the fire, but he knew that if their relationship became intimate, Noble would see his scars. As Jersey told his story, he studied every flicker of emotion on Noble's face, wondering if his new mate thought him a fool for trusting so easily.

"That's one reason why I came back to Valleywood," Jersey explained, his voice softening. "I needed a place to heal—mentally, emotionally, magically, and physically. I can honestly say I’m over Daniel, but hearing how much love you and Yaz had...I almost wish I had met you first."

Noble reached across the table, gently taking Jersey's hand. "Don’t think like that. We were meant to meet when the time was right," he reassured, his tone shifting darker. "I want to find your ex and rip his head off, but I know you wouldn’t let me."

"How do you already know me so well?" Jersey asked with a soft smile.

Noble chuckled. "I don’t know... I just get the sense that despite everything, you wouldn’t want to hurt his wife and kids."

They shared a quiet moment, smiling at each other.

"I want to date you, Jersey," Noble said earnestly. "I know we’re mates, and the natural thing would be to jump into bed, but I want to take my time—get to know you. When you’re ready, I’ll officially introduce you to JaMari. I can’t promise our relationship will be perfect, like it was with Yaz, but I want to take my time falling in love with you."

"I’d like that," Jersey replied, a smile forming. "I don’t need perfection. I just want honesty and love. Though, I have a feeling your daughter will drop by my job whenever she feels like it."

"If that happens, just call me," Noble said with a grin.

"No," Jersey shook his head. "Now that I know she’s your daughter, I’d like to get to know her. Would you mind?"

Noble shook his head. "If she becomes a bother, let me know, and I'll talk to her."

"I will," Jersey promised. "By the way, who’s watching her while we’re out on this date?"

"My folks," Noble answered. "She’s spending the night with them."

"Did you tell them you were meeting me? I’m sure your mother won’t mind. After all, she did think we’d make a good pair," Jersey teased.

Noble groaned, covering his face with his hands, which made Jersey laugh. "Please don’t tell me you’ve met my mother too?"

"I did—thanks to JaMari," Jersey said, smirking.

"Alright," Noble chuckled. "Now I need to hear how that happened."

Once again, Jersey recounted the story, explaining how JaMari had shown up at the firehouse, causing her grandmother to search for her frantically.

"I’m so sorry," Noble apologized, shaking his head. "My mother and JaMari are thick as thieves. It’s like they share the same mind. It’s kind of scary."

"Don’t worry about it," Jersey said, smiling.

For the next several days, weeks, and almost two months, Jersey and Noble "dated" — if that’s what it could be called. The furthest they went was holding hands, which Jersey found sweet at first. They hadn’t even shared a peck on the cheek after a date. He understood they were both healing from past hurts, but the more he got to know Noble, the more his attraction for him grew.

Jersey often thought about making the first move and kissing Noble, but he wasn’t the type to jump first. Daniel had always been the one to initiate intimacy between them. Yet, with Noble, Jersey sensed things would be different. He realized he was ready to move forward, to take the next step. The only question was how to let Noble know.

Noble wasn’t the only one Jersey was growing fond of. Though JaMari didn’t know how close he was getting to her father, the little girl often dropped by the station and got to know the crew on his shift. She brought a spark of joy to the firehouse, and Jersey found her to be one of the smartest and most charming kids he’d ever met.

“Are you going somewhere?” JaMari asked as she approached him.

“I’m heading out to pick up lunch for the crew,” Jersey replied.

“Can I come?” she asked, flashing a smile.

It was a Saturday, and JaMari’s grandmother had invited him over for dinner for what felt like the hundredth time. Unlike the previous times, Jersey told her he’d think about it. He wanted to talk to Noble first.

“Please? Can I?” JaMari pleaded adorably, making it impossible for Jersey to say no.

She was dressed in the little fire station uniform that Captain Z had made for her, something she wore every time she visited. Jersey wasn’t sure when it happened, but JaMari had stopped trying to set him up with her father. Recently, she came by just to help wash the fire truck or tidy up the station.

“Sure. Go grab your jacket,” he said with a smile. JaMari nodded and dashed off, returning moments later, jacket in hand.

Jersey held out his hand for her to take, and the two walked out of the station. The air was chilly but not too cold. He zipped up her jacket, and they headed toward Dom’s Subs, home to what Jersey swore was the best meatball sub known to man.

Before they reached Dom’s Sub Shop, JaMari let out an excited squeal, releasing his hand, and dashed across the street—right as a car came barreling down the road.

“JaMari!” Jersey shouted, his heart leaping into his throat.

Jersey’s heart stuttered in his chest, but his feet weren’t frozen. With quick reflexes, he sprinted after JaMari, scooped her into his arms, and darted out of the way just as the car clipped his shin. He ignored the pain, focusing solely on getting them to safety.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his heart still racing as he set her down and quickly checked her over. Jersey didn’t even think about the car who hadn’t stopped and focused on JaMari.

“I’m fine,” she replied softly, her voice timid.

“That was a very dangerous thing you did, young lady,” Jersey scolded, though he kept his tone gentle so as not to frighten her.

“I’m sorry,” JaMari whispered, her lips trembling.

Jersey pulled her into a comforting embrace. “It’s okay. You’re fine now, and that’s what matters. But tell me, what made you run across the street like that?” He leaned back to meet her eyes.

“I saw my daddy,” she said, pointing toward the direction of Noble’s custom bike shop. Jersey was surprised to realize how close Noble’s shop was to the station.

Jersey followed her finger but didn’t see anything unusual. Noble wasn’t anywhere in sight, which didn’t surprise him. It had been a shock to both him and Noble that they’d worked and lived in the same district without noticing each other until they started dating.

“Do you want to see your dad?” Jersey asked. JaMari nodded eagerly. Jersey couldn’t help but think back to when JaMari tried to play matchmaker between him and Noble. “Alright, let’s go.”

JaMari grabbed his hand and tugged him along. Jersey winced, remembering the car’s impact on his shin, causing a slight limp. He focused on the pain, trying to will the injury to heal. JaMari dashed inside the shop in search of her father while Jersey stayed outside, waiting.

“What are you doing here?” a familiar voice asked.

Jersey turned quickly and winced in pain, losing his balance. His shin throbbed, and he couldn’t stop himself from falling. Resigned to his fate, he closed his eyes and braced for impact. When his cheek hit the pavement, he groaned—but oddly enough, there was no sharp pain. Instead, he was struck by how good the ground smelled. He couldn’t help but moan softly and rub his face against it.

"Are you okay?" Noble’s deep voice whispered close to his ear, making Jersey open his eyes. Their gazes locked, Jersey meeting Noble’s warm, almond-brown eyes. His attention quickly dropped to Noble’s full lips, and the desire to kiss him grew stronger. He licked his lips, hoping and wishing to feel Noble's against his own.

Jersey gasped as Noble slipped a hand around his waist, pulling him closer. Jersey’s hands instinctively rested against Noble’s chest. He looked up into Noble’s eyes, silently praying that his desire was clear in his gaze.

Kiss me, Noble , Jersey mentally chanted. Take the first step.

Jersey stood on his toes as Noble’s face inched closer. He could feel Noble’s minty breath brushing against his lips and the tip of his nose. Jersey’s breathing quickened, his heart racing in a way it never had, not even when fighting the most dangerous fires.

Jersey’s eyes fluttered, and the second he was about to close them, and as their lips were about to touch, Noble abruptly pulled away, releasing him, but didn't step away. Jersey was about to say something when JaMari called out to Noble.

“Daddy, there you are!” JaMari called as she ran toward them. Noble bent down and lifted her into his arms.

“What are you doing here, lil bit?” Noble asked, smiling warmly at her.

Jersey tried not to pout at the interruption, but seeing Noble with JaMari softened his mood.

At least he didn’t reject me , Jersey thought, feeling a hint of relief.

“Jersey and I are going to pick up lunch for the crew,” JaMari said, wrapping her arms around Noble’s neck.

“Jersey?” Noble repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” JaMari said, pointing at him. “Daddy, this is Jersey.”

Noble looked over at Jersey and smiled. “We’ve met.”

“Yes, we have,” Jersey replied, nervously licking his lips. His heart fluttered again at Noble’s smile.

“I hope she hasn’t been a bother?” Noble asked, his tone light but genuinely curious.

“No, not at all. The crew loves having her around. She’s really well-behaved. Your mom and I even had a nice chat when she dropped her off this morning,” Jersey explained.

“Really?” Noble asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Yeah, she invited me over for dinner tonight.”

“Ah, I can guess what her plan is,” Noble said, leaning in close, his breath warm against Jersey’s ear. “Maybe it’s time we tell them we’re dating... and then maybe I’ll finally get to kiss you like I’ve been dying to.”

Jersey gasped as Noble leaned back with a playful wink. A flush of heat crept up Jersey’s face, and he couldn’t do anything to hide it.

“Put me down, Daddy. Jersey and I have to go,” JaMari said, wiggling in Noble’s arms.

Noble set JaMari down and ruffled her hair affectionately. “Mind if I tag along?” he asked.

“Aren’t you busy?” Jersey asked, admiring how good Noble looked in his work uniform, thinking he somehow looked even sexier than he did in his basketball gear.

Noble smiled and shrugged. “I can spare a few minutes.”

“Okay,” Jersey agreed. As they started walking, Jersey hissed in pain and stumbled, but Noble caught him just in time.

"Are you okay?" he asked with a chuckle. "If you're trying to get my attention, just tell me. You don't have to fall into my arms."

Jersey lightly swatted Noble’s chest, leaning against him for support. “I hurt my leg,” he explained, noticing Noble’s frown as he glanced down.

“When? How?” Noble asked, concerned.

Jersey smiled at Noble’s concern. “It happened when I bumped into something. I didn’t think to get it checked out,” he explained. He noticed JaMari fidgeting out of the corner of his eye and quickly spoke before she could.

“But don’t worry about me. I’m fine; it’s just taking a little longer to heal,” Jersey reassured him. He wasn’t lying, though he couldn’t quite explain why it was taking so long for a small injury to heal.

“You sure?” Noble asked, studying Jersey’s face closely.

“Yeah,” Jersey said with a reassuring smile. “Come on, let’s go. I’m sure everyone’s wondering where the food is.”

"Okay, but if you're hurting, tell me," Noble told him.

"I will, but you don't have to worry," Jersey replied, his voice soft but strained. They started walking again, and Jersey bit his lip, suppressing a hiss of pain.

What the hell is going on with my magic?

They arrived at Dom's Sub, and while Noble was ordering lunch, he received a call and excused himself. Jersey's attention was drawn downward when he felt a tug on his pants.

"What's up?" Jersey asked JaMari, bending down slightly to meet her gaze.

"You got hurt when you saved me from the car, didn’t you?" JaMari asked, her small voice filled with concern. Jersey nodded, and her expression turned sorrowful. "Why didn’t you tell Daddy I was the reason you got hurt?"

Jersey knelt fully in front of her, gently cupping her soft, chubby cheeks. "Because nothing bad really happened, sweetie," he reassured her.

"I'm sorry," JaMari whispered, her lower lip trembling as her eyes welled with tears.

"Oh, baby, there's nothing to be sorry about. I'm fine, really." He smiled warmly at her, trying to lift her spirits. "Now, cheer up. We don’t want your dad worrying, do we?" He lightly pinched her cheeks, but it didn’t seem to shake her sadness.

"How about I tell you a secret?" he added with a mischievous chuckle, his smile widening as JaMari's eyes brightened with curiosity. He leaned in close, his voice a playful whisper meant only for her. "You were right... your daddy is very handsome."

"You like my daddy, don’t you?" she asked, finally grinning.

"Maybe," Jersey teased, placing a finger over his lips. "But remember, you can't tell him." JaMari mimicked him, giggling as her eyes sparkled with the shared secret. Just then, Jersey's name was called for their order, and Noble walked back into the shop.

Noble glanced between them, suspicion in his eyes. "Okay, why are my daughter’s eyes sparkling like that?"

"Who knows? She’s a kid," Jersey replied, shrugging casually before winking at JaMari. With that, he turned and went to pick up their order.

"You should accept my mom’s dinner invitation," Noble said as they returned to the station house. JaMari, who was walking a few steps ahead, seemed blissfully unaware of their conversation.

"Are you sure?" Jersey asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

"Yes, I’m sure. I want to introduce you as my mate... unless you’re not ready," Noble said, watching him closely.

Jersey’s heart skipped a beat, but he smiled. "I’m ready."

"Good," Noble said softly, his gaze steady and reassuring. "I won’t hurt you, Jersey. I’ll make mistakes, but I’m nothing like your ex."

"I knew you weren’t," Jersey replied, his voice calm but sincere, "from the very first time we met."

"How’s your leg doing?" Noble asked, concern flickering in his eyes.

"It’s better," Jersey said, giving a small nod. Then he glanced toward the station and raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to join us for lunch? You’ve got a bunch of fans in there."

"It’s all good," Noble reassured him with a casual wave. "People around here know me."

"I’ve always wondered," Jersey began, curiosity creeping into his tone, "why you’re never bombarded by fans whenever we go out."

"My earrings," Noble explained, tapping the diamond studs in his ears. "They’re charmed and blessed by one of the strongest witches in Valleywood. It hides my identity from my fans. People who don’t know me can’t recognize me." He paused and pointed toward JaMari. "I’m not the only one wearing charms. You might not have noticed, but JaMari’s necklace is charmed too."

Jersey studied the earrings, frustrated that he could not sense the magic in the jewelry. Am I losing my abilities? he wondered. Maybe that’s why his healing had been so slow. He had thought moving back to Valleywood would help him recover from his heartbreak and his loss of powers.

"Oh," was all Jersey could manage in response, his mind still preoccupied with doubts.

"I know that look," Noble said knowingly.

"What look?" Jersey asked, playing innocent.

"Your abilities will return when you least expect it," Noble reassured him, stepping before Jersey. "Stop worrying about it for now. Just enjoy the moment. Let Valleywood’s magic heal you."

Jersey heard every word Noble said, and though he nodded in agreement, deep down, he knew he would still seek someone out about his powers.