Chapter Noah
Noah
“Ithink someone is here,” Chance says as he rinses the last dish I handed to him. We just had dinner and have been cleaning up. I look out the window and see a rusty old truck I recognize immediately.
“I can’t believe that old thing is still running,” I say absently as I dry my hands. “It’s an old player. Oakley Easton.”
“Ah. The one with the boyfriend?”
I nod. “One of the ones with a boyfriend.” I smile to myself and kiss his nose. “I’ll be right back.”
“You know we could really use a dog or two. Out here in the country when unexpected visitors show up.”
I chuckle to myself because he so wants a dog and we’re so going to get one soon. But still, it’s fun to tease him. “Oakley is far from dangerous. We don’t need a damn dog.”
I hear him grumble something along the lines of, “We’re getting a damn dog,” as I walk out of the kitchen and to the front door, chuckling to myself.
I open the door and walk onto the porch just as Oakley makes it to the top step of the porch. He looks as happy as ever. I think he’s wearing that same brown coat he used to wear in high school. “Oakley.”
“Hey, Coach!” His grin is wide, and I realize I probably should have grabbed a coat before coming out here. It’s March, but it’s still pretty damn chilly, especially this evening.
“What can I do for you?”
He looks around at the porch and then back at me. “Well, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’ve started my own business. We mostly redo decks and porches, along with landscaping.”
“I heard.” I smile at him proudly. I always had a soft spot for this big goofball.
“Yeah. Well, um . . .” he starts, looking around again. “I’ve always had my eye on your porch. I’d love to fix it up for you.”
I smile. “Sure. I’d like that.”
“Yeah?” He looks so excited about redoing the old porch, I have to laugh.
“Yeah. Of course. That would be great.”
“Okay, cool. I can bring my crew over this weekend and get started.”
“Sure. Can you give me an estimate?” I have plenty saved up, but the way the kid is looking around with excitement, I’m not exactly sure what he has planned.
He waves that off. “Oh, no way. I’m not going to charge you, Coach. That would be crazy, after everything you did for me.”
I cock an eyebrow at him before my brows turn into a full-on furrow. “I was your coach. I did my job. And yes, you’re charging me. You’re doing a damn job. You charge for it.”
He huffs. “You did more than your job, Coach. More than you’ll ever know. You were there for us.”
“I was usually kicking your ass.” Metaphorically, but still.
He grins. “We needed it.”
“You did.” I look at the sun setting in the sky and then back at Oakley. “But you all did just as much for me. I love being a coach.”
His eyes shine at that. “Well, I’m at least going to give you a discount.”
I shake my head with a chuckle, but then nod because I highly doubt there’s any way he won’t give me a discount. “Fine. Thank you.”
“No problem. It’s cold as balls tonight, so maybe I’ll just come back with the crew and some plans and an estimate this weekend.”
“I’ll be here.” He nods and starts to turn when I call his name, “Oakley.” He turns back around to look at me. “Your father told you about Chance and me.” It’s not a question, but he nods his head anyway.
“He did.” He’s grinning wide. “And my dentist. I probably should get a dentist in Hayes, but you know I really like the one here, even if she’s a gossip.”
I chuckle, not surprised at all. “It’s not a secret. Chance lives here with me, and we’re happy.”
“That’s great, Coach.” But he looks slightly disappointed.
“What?” I ask when I see his face.
“A Bear? Really? You have to be in a relationship with a damn Big Bend Bear?” He shakes his head at me, feigning disappointment before it turns into a wide grin.
I laugh. “Don’t worry. He’s fully Panther now. He converted.”
He chuckles. “If you say so.” He waves. “See ya this weekend, Coach.”
“Looking forward to it, Oakley.”
I watch as he starts up his old, rumbling truck and somehow makes it out of the drive before I go inside. Chance is on the couch, looking at his phone when I join him, pulling his legs into my lap.
“So, what was that about?”
“Oakley is going to redo the porch. Hope that’s okay.” Doesn’t matter that the house is technically in my name, it’s his too.
“Sounds good to me.” He holds up his phone, and I see a picture of several puppies on an adoption website. “Should we go tomorrow?”
I laugh, shaking my head and pulling him into a deep kiss before nodding. “Yup.”
He’s grinning as he drops the phone and climbs into my lap. “You have this whole town fooled, you know?” I cup his ass in my hands as he grasps my face to finish his point. “They all think you’re this great big ole grump.”
“I am.” I try to say it in my most serious tone, but it doesn’t really work. I’m way too happy with Chance on my lap.
He just laughs. “Nope. You’re just a big ole softy.” He kisses me, and I can’t argue.
I’ve never been this damn happy in my entire life.
There’s no reason to be a grump anymore.