43. Zoey
ZOEY
T he shrill ring of my phone jolted me awake. I fumbled for it on the nightstand.
“Hello?” I said groggily.
“Zoey, it’s Mom. I’m at Heathrow, about to board my flight. Weather permitting, we should land in Detroit in about nine hours. I’ll call again once we land.”
“Oh, right. Okay, speak to you soon.” I hung up and let out a long breath. With everything going on lately, I’d completely forgotten she was coming to visit. Nerves coiled in my stomach. I had no idea how this visit would go. Our relationship had always been strained, to put it mildly.
Shit, I hadn’t even told Sam she was coming.
Did Heather mention it to him? I doubted it.
My sister avoided talking to and about Mom as much as possible.
Not that I could blame her, considering how unreliable and self-absorbed our mother tended to be.
Whenever she did grace us with her presence, it usually ended in hurt feelings and reopened wounds.
I got out of bed with a sigh. Might as well get up and face the day. I padded to the kitchen and started the coffee maker, savoring the rich aroma of brewing coffee as it filled the air.
My mind raced as I waited for it to finish. Should I give Sam a heads-up that she was on her way? Part of me wanted to, but another part wanted to avoid that awkward conversation.
Hey, Sam, Mom’s coming to town. You know, the woman who walked out on us and broke your heart. Surprise!
I poured myself a mug of coffee, hoping the caffeine would clear my mind. I needed to talk to Heather. She would know what to do. I picked up my phone and typed out a text.
Me: Did you know Mom’s flying in today? I just got a call from her. Not sure if we should tell Sam...
I hit send and took a sip of my coffee, waiting for her response.
“Mom, can I go play with the other kids?” Ro asked, tugging on my shirt and pointing outside where some children from the pack were running in the clearing behind the backyard.
Noah came up beside me and put a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Hey, you okay?” He lowered his voice. “That wasn’t George again, was it?”
I shook my head. “No, my mom. She called to let me know her flight was boarding.” I sighed. “I’ve been so caught up in everything that I haven’t told Sam. Their relationship is… complicated.”
Noah started kneading the tension out of my shoulders. “He knows.”
“How...? What...?” I stammered out in confusion.
“How do you think I got a hold of her?”
My eyes widened. “I thought you’d spoken with my sister.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, turning me to face him. His hands moved down to my waist, and his chin rested on top of my head. “I should have told you I arranged it through Sam. Why don’t you go see him? I’ve got Ro. We’ll be fine here.”
I glanced at Ro and bit my lip. “Are you sure? I don’t want to just leave him with you.”
Noah smiled reassuringly. “It’s no trouble at all. Go on, talk to Sam. It’ll be good for you.”
Ro looked up at me with pleading eyes. “Please, Mom, I’ll be good for Noah. I can do some boxing and ask him about shifting and stuff.”
Reluctantly, I relented. “Okay, thanks, Noah. I appreciate it.” I gave Ro a quick hug. “Be good for Noah, okay, sweetie? I’ll be back soon.”
Ro grinned and ran off to join the other kids outside. I watched him for a moment, my heart full. Noah really was amazing with him.
Mike appeared at my side as I headed to my car. “I’ll come with you, just to be safe.”
I shot him a grateful look as we got in, and I started the short drive to Sam’s house. My stomach was in knots the whole way there.
While Mike waited in the car, Sam opened the front door with a warm smile that faded slightly when he saw the look on my face. “What’s wrong, honey?”
“Mom called me this morning,” I said as I stepped inside. “She’s flying in today. I wanted to give you a heads up.”
Sam was quiet for a long moment, his face unreadable. Finally, he let out a slow breath. “Well, I knew Noah was arranging her flight, but I wasn’t expecting her today.”
“Tell me about it.” I sank down onto the couch.
“Honestly, though, I’m glad you’re going to see her.” Sam sat beside me. “I think talking to your mother will be good for you. Help you heal.”
I glanced over at him in surprise. “You do? Even after everything?”
Sam squeezed my hand. “Even after everything. You deserve that closure so you can move forward.” He smiled sadly. “Don’t let old wounds and fears hold you back from living your life. You have so much ahead of you.”
Even now, after all the pain, he still wanted what was best for me, for Heather, for our family. I hugged him tightly, beyond grateful to have him as my stepfather.
I took a shaky breath. “Are you really okay with Mom coming to town, though? I mean, considering your history...”
Sam stared at a spot on the wall. “I made my peace with our separation a long time ago. I know I did everything I could to love your mother, and you girls.” He smiled softly.
“Having a relationship with you and being Ro’s grandfather is what matters most to me now.
” He sighed. “But your mother... she had her own issues, her own pain she needed to face. No matter how much I loved her, it would never have been enough until she confronted those demons.”
I remembered the haunted look that used to fill Mom’s eyes and how she’d retreat into herself. “I think I understand that better now, after everything with George.”
“Exactly. That’s why I encouraged you to go to therapy.” Sam’s gaze was earnest as he held my face. “You deserve love. Real, healthy love. But you need to be in a place where you can accept it fully.”
My throat tightened. Noah’s face flashed through my mind—his gentle smile, his steadfast support. “I... I think I might be falling for Noah. But it scares me, Sam. Letting myself be that vulnerable again.”
“It’s normal to be scared, honey. Putting your heart out there is always a risk.” Sam wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “But don’t let fear keep you from something that could be really good. Not all men are like George. Not even most are.”
Fresh tears slid down my cheeks as I let his words sink in. I wanted to believe them, wanted to trust in the feelings growing between Noah and me. But it was so hard to let go of the pain and the terror.
Sam held me as I cried. His solid presence reminded me that I wasn’t alone. That I had people who loved me and would catch me if I fell.
Once I was calm, Mike and I went over to Heather’s place to get some more of my and Ro’s things.
I hurried into the house, Mike waiting in the car again.
After grabbing my laptop bag, I started shoving clothes into a duffel bag.
How long would Ro and I be staying at Noah’s place?
He’d invited us for the weekend, but it was already Sunday and he hadn’t mentioned us leaving.
“Hey.” Heather breezed through the front door, quirking an eyebrow at my packing. “Heading back to the hunky bodyguard’s den?”
I rolled my eyes. “His name is Noah. And yes, for now. I have assignments due tomorrow that I need to finish.”
“Mm-hmm. I’m sure the homework is the only reason you’re eager to get back.” Heather smirked knowingly.
Heat flooded my cheeks. “It’s complicated. Noah and I...” I sighed. “There’s a lot going on right now.”
“No kidding. Police detail, shifter bodyguards...” Heather plopped down on my bed dramatically. “I don’t suppose you could put in a word with Noah to assign some cuter guards to babysit me? The ones I have now have zero sense of humor.”
An incredulous laugh burst out of me. “Seriously, Heather? You’re complaining about the attractiveness of the people keeping you safe?”
“What?” She batted her eyelashes innocently. “If I have to have a security detail cramping my style, it would help if I had some man candy to look at.” She batted her lashes innocently.
“You’re ridiculous.” Laughing, I shook my head, zipping up my bag.
Heather’s teasing grin softened. “For real, though, how are things with you and Noah? You like him, don’t you?”
Sucking my lower lip in between my teeth, I sighed. “I do. A lot. More than I thought I could feel again after George. But that’s what makes it so scary.”
“I get that. I do.” Heather sat up, her green eyes full of sympathy. “But Noah seems like one of the good ones. Don’t sabotage something that could be amazing just because our mother set a shitty example by not getting the help she needed to move on from her past.”
Sam had said something similar. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. “You’re right. I’m trying. I just... I don’t know how to turn off the fear.”
“That’s what the therapy is for.” Heather squeezed my shoulders. “And leaning on the people who love you when it gets hard. Like me. I’m here for you, Zo. No matter what.”
“I know.” Wrapping my arms around her tiny frame, I hugged her tight. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.” She pushed to her feet. “Now, go get your man. And seriously, I expect hottie guards outside my door tomorrow.”
Snorting, I grabbed my bags and headed out with Mike. The drive back to Noah’s seemed to take forever. Anticipation hummed through my veins. Were Heather and Sam right? Could I really do this? Could I open myself up completely, trust Noah with all the bruised and broken pieces of my heart?
God, I hoped so. Because despite the fear, I knew one soul-deep truth: what I felt for Noah was worth fighting for.
After saying goodbye to Mike, I stepped inside Noah’s house. A delicious aroma of tomato sauce and garlic filled my nostrils. Curious, I followed the scent to the kitchen, only to stop short at the adorable scene before me.
Noah stood at the stove, stirring a pot of something that smelled divine. And there was Ro beside him, a streak of red sauce across one cherubic cheek, carefully layering lasagna noodles in a casserole dish.
“We’re making lasagna, Mommy!” he announced, beaming at me with a gap-toothed grin. “Noah, let me help!”