Chapter Eleven #2
I quietly make my way outside, and it feels like I’m gulping in the fresh air.
It could be because I’ve been holding my breath since the moment he arrived.
It takes me two trips to bring it all in.
I take a moment to notice how muscular and fit he is as he arranges his area.
When the pump stops, I clear my throat to get his attention.
“That’s all you have to eat?” I blurt when I notice his bag of snacks.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Alright well…I have a lot to do today, so I’m gonna get started,” I tell him as I bounce between my feet.
“Anything I can help you with?” He cocks a brow.
I inhale sharply, not wanting to snap again. “As I said before, I don’t want your help.”
“Well, you just said you had a lot to do, and I’m basically doing nothing, so…”
His arrogant smirk makes my blood boil. Yeah, he’s gonna stay out of my way, my ass.
“How about a quick house tour then?” he asks when I don’t respond.
I let out a sigh. “Fine, as long as you don’t make any more negative comments.”
“Deal.”
He follows me out of the bedroom, and I swear I can feel his eyes burning through me.
After I show him the guest bathroom, dining room, and living room, we make our way to the second floor, which is awkward as hell. Silence lingers other than the hum of a small space heater.
“This is a lot of house,” Noah finally says once we’re back downstairs. “But I see why you bought it. Has a lot of potential.”
“It really does,” I agree. “I envision myself growing old here and hopefully playing with my grandkids someday, but anyway, I really only get the weekends to work on it.”
“So no time to date then, I assume?” He crosses his arms as he moves closer.
My heart drops into my stomach, and I take a step back.
Whether it’s due to shock or anger is yet to be determined.
“Do you honestly think that’s an appropriate thing to ask me?” I snap. “We’re not having this conversation. You aren’t here to chat, got it? This is a favor to Gemma and your dad. Not for you.” My cheeks heat, and I somewhat feel bad for blowing up, but I have a decade of pent-up anger inside me.
Instead of being insulted or walking away with his tail between his legs, the motherfucker smirks. “You haven’t changed a damn bit, Katie Walker.”
My last name is Reid, which he knows.
Noah chuckles. “It was always so damn easy to rile you up.”
I want to be so angry with him for pushing me away, but I also still miss him more than I want to admit. Having him here is a reminder of everything I lost.
After six hours of working, my back aches, and my stomach growls.
Before I left this morning, I put a roast and potatoes in the slow cooker so I wouldn’t have to cook dinner.
Though I’m not happy Noah’s here invading my space and head, I won’t let him go hungry.
He stayed out of my way for most of the day.
Later, I find him reading a book on his bed.
“I’ll be right back. I’m gonna grab dinner and bring it here.”
When he looks at me, it’s almost as if time stands still and we’re teenagers again. It’s the same look he used to give me that melted my heart every damn time I saw him.
“Okay.”
I only live ten minutes away, so it takes me no time to round up everything. I freshen up in the bathroom before I grab a few drinks and the slow cooker, then bring it out to my car.
Shortly after I return, my mother shows up with Owen. I hurry and meet them outside, not giving her the opportunity to find Noah bunkered inside. She grabs Owen’s bag from the trunk and hands it to him.
“How was your day?” I ask.
“It was good. We had milkshakes after practice.” Owen grins.
“Lovely, nice and sugared up for dinner.” I chuckle.
“What’re grandmas for?” My mom smirks.
“I’ll see you later this week. Thanks for taking him to practice and hanging out with him so I could work.”
“No problem. You know I love doing it, even if he can be exhausting at times.” She smiles at Owen before engulfing him into a hug. Once she’s in her car, we both wave goodbye, then head back toward the house.
“Is Noah still here?”
I place my hand on his shoulder as we go inside. “Yes. He’ll probably be here for at least a week.”
His lips tilt up. “I didn’t say anything to anyone.”
“That’s good.”
The aromas from the roast and potatoes float through the air as we walk to the kitchen. Owen sets up the small card table and folding chairs I keep in the closet for when we eat dinner here. I put the food on three plates as Owen sets out the forks.
“Can I help with anything?” Noah asks as he watches.
“You can grab the roll of paper towels from under the sink.”
Once we all sit, we dig in. Owen asks Noah a million questions, and I let him because it fills the silence.
“So, what’s your last name?” Owen asks.
Noah looks at me as if he’s asking permission, and I nod.
“It’s Reid, like yours.”
Owens scrunches his nose in confusion, then glances at me. “We have the same last name? Does that mean we’re related?”
I clear my throat. “Yes, he’s your daddy’s cousin, which makes him your second cousin. Jerry is his dad, and my friend Gemma is his sister.”
Owen frowns, looking at Noah. “I never met my dad. I’ve only seen him in pictures, but I wonder what he was like.
If he played basketball like me or if he was good at video games.
” Owen’s eyes lower to his lap, and I reach over and squeeze his hand.
Before I can say anything, Noah clears his throat and grabs my attention.
He gives me a look as if he’s asking for permission to talk about him.
I offer a quick nod and pray it won’t make Owen feel worse.
“Your dad loved basketball,” he says, and it grabs Owen’s attention back to him. “And you look so much like him when he was your age. I’m certain he’d be incredibly proud of you.”
Seeing Owen’s mouth tilt up into a sad smile breaks my heart. “He’s right. I know Daddy would be amazed by your good grades and by how nice you are to everyone and how you always help me. He’d be so proud because I know I am.”
Owen’s smile grows bigger, but I notice how hard Noah swallows. I’ve talked about Gabe since he was a baby, so this is nothing new, but it’s a first for Noah. I know how much it hurts Owen that his friends have a dad, and he doesn’t.
We finish eating as Owen talks about his day and tells Noah about his school and friends. It’s sweet how open he’s being, but it also reminds me how desperate he is for male companionship. Though he has his grandfathers, Tyler, and even Jerry in his life, it’s not the same as having a father.
Once everything is cleaned up and packed to leave, I tell Owen to wait for me in the car.
“We’re gonna go. Do you need anything?” I ask Noah as he stands against the wall with his arms crossed.
He looks at me with sad eyes. “I’m good, Katie. You’ve done enough.” I can hear the pain in his voice, but I don’t ask him what’s wrong because I know it has something to do with the conversation he had with Owen about Gabe.
I nod and when I start to walk away, he stops me. “Wait, there is one thing.”
Turning around, I meet his gaze.
“Can I get your number in case I need it?”
“Yeah, sure,” I say. After we exchange them, I realize how chilly it’s gotten. Since half the house still needs new insulation, the cool night air sneaks in. “One more thing. There’s an extra space heater in the hall closet if you need it.”
“Thanks. Good night.”
Meeting his dark brown eyes once again, I think of all the things I want to say but don’t. “Good night, Noah.”
I turn off the living room lights before I lock the front door.
As I drive home, I feel guilty for leaving Noah in my big, empty house.
Though I wasn’t happy about him coming in the first place, it’s the best I can do for him, yet I hate that he’s alone.
I also hate to think how prison has probably made him used to it.
After I get Owen in bed for the night, I close my eyes and fall asleep with Noah on my mind.