13. Noah - July
THIRTEEN
Noah - July
LITTLE BIT BETTER - CALEB HEARN AND ROSIE
Walker sat at my feet, his eyes following me in the mirror. He lifted his head with a small whine, the kind he made when he knew I was about to head out. It was as if he understood that the quiet evening we’d shared was about to end, and he wasn’t too thrilled about it. I fidgeted with my hair, trying to coax it into a low bun that wouldn’t unravel halfway through the evening.
Tonight was my first dinner with the James family. Dotty’s stories about the unshakable commitment to Sunday dinners, no matter how crazy the week got, left me feeling both honored and a little nervous about being included. A family so dedicated to spending time together? That was a bit odd to me—nothing like my family’s dynamic.
My mother was a force to be reckoned with. A top lawyer in Washington State, she commanded respect and had an unyielding drive for success. But her high expectations were relentless. While I admired her strength and determination, it often felt like I was constantly falling short, unable to measure up to the bar she set. Her approval seemed out of reach, and that was a tough pill to swallow at times. And my father was the glue that kept our family together, always stepping in to mediate our conflicts and smooth over the tension.
That’s why I was looking forward to tonight—hoping for a glimpse of what it might feel like to be part of a family that truly enjoys each other’s company.
Dotty insisted I come tonight even though I hesitated; I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. After months of being apart from my best friend, it was the least I could do.
As I walked up to the front door of the ranch house, I took a breath, trying to push past the nerves. I could hear faint laughter from inside. Before I could reach for the doorbell, Dotty swung it open, greeting me with a wide smile.
“Noah! Come in, come in!” she said, pulling me into a hug. I sighed in relief.
Stepping inside, the ranch house felt how Dotty always made me feel—comfortable, accepted, and at peace.
She led me toward the dining room, and my eyes immediately landed on a little girl with blonde hair and bright, curious eyes, chatting with Colt. Dotty noticed my gaze and flashed me a grin.
“You’ve met everyone else, but that’s Gracie,” she said. “She’s going into first grade, so she’ll be in your class.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that.”
“Don’t worry. She’ll love you,” Dotty reassured me.
As I approached, Gracie looked up, beaming at me. “Hi! I’m Gracie. My Aunt Dotty told me that you are her best friend, so that means we will be best friends too,” she said with a confident nod.
I smiled, crouching down to her level. “Hi, Gracie. I’m Noah—or I guess Miss Reid, since it looks like you are going to be in my class.”
“Really? That’s awesome!” Gracie exclaimed, bouncing slightly on her feet. “Do you think I can call you Noah, though?”
“How about if we aren’t at school, you can call me Noah.” I smiled at her.
“Yay! I love school. My favorite book is about a unicorn that travels through time, and I’m really good at drawing them!”
“That sounds amazing!” I replied. “I’d love to see one of your drawings sometime.”
“Maybe I can draw us as animals!” She eyed me, squinting. “I think we’d definitely be unicorns,” she giggled, clearly thrilled with her idea.
“I’d be honored to be a unicorn with you,” I said, charmed by her enthusiasm and creativity.
“Do you like any other animals?” I asked.
“Oh, yes! I love elephants and horses. They’re so smart and very beautiful,” she said, her eyes wide with excitement. “Do you have a favorite animal?”
“I think I’d have to say dogs,” I replied. “They’re smart and love a good cuddle. My dog, Walker, is a silly guy and always cheers me up.” I pulled out my phone and showed her a photo of Walker curled up next to me.
“He’s so cute!” Gracie said, turning to her dad across the room. “Daddy, can I meet Walker sometime?”
Dorian looked away from his conversation with Colt and Trent and chuckled. “I’m sure we could arrange that, as long as it’s okay with Miss Reid,” he said, and I glared at him.
I looked at Gracie, ignoring Dorian’s intense stare. “I’d be happy to introduce you to Walker. Your dad was the one who helped when I found him.”
“My daddy is a vet and helps animals!” Gracie said proudly.
“He did?” Dotty asked, her confusion evident as she chimed in from across the room.
I didn’t usually keep things from her, but with her new life in Woodstone, her job, and happy bliss with Trent, I didn’t want to overwhelm her with every little detail of my life. I guess that was one of the things I left out.
I winced. “Yeah, I called Dorian, and he helped me get in touch with a vet in Seattle.”
Dorian glanced at me. “Noah did a great job and got him the help he needed quickly,” he said, attempting to ease the awkwardness of the moment.
Dotty offered a faint smile, her expression saying more than her words.
I went back to my conversation with Gracie, her excitement impossible to ignore. She began telling me all about her favorite movies and songs, her bright eyes and animated gestures making it clear she was full of energy.
As we chatted, I couldn’t help but notice Dorian watching us from across the room. His thoughtful expression, combined with his dark, slightly curly hair and sharp jawline, made him stand out. He was tall, only a few inches shorter than Trent, but his broad shoulders gave him a lumberjack-like appearance.
Damn it, why couldn’t I have moved to a small town where people were just… friendly, and not full of rugged, five o’clock-shadowed men who rescued animals for a living?
I tried to keep my focus on Gracie, but I could still feel his gaze.
Dinner with the James family surpassed everything Dotty described and then some. It was in the way they truly saw each other, how they leaned into their relationships without hesitation. It was the kind of connection I wasn’t used to. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real. Sitting at their table tonight, I’d felt a rare sense of peace, like maybe I could fit into a picture like that one day.
Just for tonight, that small sense of belonging gave me a glimmer of hope.
I was ready to step into the cool night air and head back to Walker when footsteps sounded behind me. Dorian filled the space, those brown eyes of his zeroing in on me. For a moment, I forgot to breathe. There was something about the way he looked at me—like he could see right through me.
“Did you have a good time?” he asked.
“Yeah, it was really nice. Gracie’s a character.”
“She really seems to like you,” Dorian said, his dark eyes catching mine again briefly before moving away.
“She’s great. Super smart too,” I replied.
He shifted his weight, hesitating for a beat before speaking again. “Yeah, she’s… creative, curious, amazing…” He trailed off for a moment, like he was deciding how to continue. Then, as if it was hard to say, he added, “But she’s been struggling a little with reading. Nothing too serious, but enough that I think she could use some help. I was wondering if you’d maybe tutor her this summer. Just to give her a bit of a boost.”
“Of course,” I said, meeting his eyes with a reassuring smile. “I’d love to help.”
His posture relaxed, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “She really likes you. I try to help her, but… well, she only tolerates me for so long before she starts digging her heels in. Stubborn little thing.”
“I wonder where she gets that from?” I smirked.
He let out a low laugh, his gaze holding mine. “Careful, Miss Reid. You’re starting to sound like you’ve figured me out.”
“I swear to God, Dorian,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. “If you call me Miss Reid again…”
“You’ll what?” He leaned in closer with that teasing glint of his.
I crossed my arms, trying to look serious, but I could feel my cheeks warm. My brain kind of froze, and all that came out was, “You’ll find out.” I blinked.
Fantastic comeback, Noah. Very witty of you.
Dorian smirked, stepping a fraction closer. “I’m dying to know.” His tone was light, but there was an edge to it that made my heart stutter.
I swallowed, trying to steady myself.
Is he… flirting with me?
“Miss Reid sounds so formal coming from you.” I gestured to his plaid button-up and worn jeans. “You damn lumberjack,” I said. “I mean, look at you.”
He gave a low chuckle, his eyes narrowing. “You know, I’m starting to think you like damn lumberjacks .”
“Funny.” I let out a laugh that was clearly forced.
“Ah, I’ve been waiting to hear that laugh,” he replied, his voice dropping to a smooth, almost predatory tone. “But I think I’ll have to keep working at it until I get the real thing.”
“I have definitely laughed in front of you before.” Haven’t I?
“Nope. I’ve been waiting.” His eyes gleamed with a challenge in them.
“You have not been waiting for that.” I rolled my eyes, unable to help the exasperated sigh that slipped out.
Dorian’s lips curved into a grin that sent a rush of heat to my face. “Shit, do that again. I liked it.”
“Do what again?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Roll your eyes,” he said, leaning a fraction closer. The teasing glint in his gaze only deepened.
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me, then internally scolded myself for it.
“Worth the wait.”
I scoffed. “I’m going to leave now. Goodbye , Dorian.”
I turned around to grab my sandals, but before I could take another step, his hand reached out, halting me. I turned to find him closer than I expected, his gaze softer now, searching mine.
“Thanks for coming,” he said.
He pulled me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me hesitantly, like he wasn’t sure if I’d pull away, but the embrace lasted just long enough to make my chest tighten.
I wanted to leave, to move, but instead I stayed there content in the safety of his arms.