25. Noah
NOAH
NOVEMBER PRESENT DAY
“When you said we were going to a plant store, I thought you meant plants for her office. Not to buy a whole flower shop worth of fucking flowers,” Jeremy grunts as he helps me move the conference table out of this room and into the office across the hall from my door.
It’s getting turned into the new conference room.
I was up all night trying to find a greenhouse that sold those fucking flowers.
I’d never forget her favorite flower. I have a bunch of them scattered around my property since the soil is so damp in this area, but seeing as it’s winter, I had to do the next best thing and get them from a greenhouse.
There was only one that sold them within one hundred miles of me, and that’s where I was at six a.m. as soon as they opened. Jeremy was only slightly pissed off when I dragged him out of bed at four thirty.
“Are you even listening?” he snaps.
“Yeah. What?”
“So you weren’t listening. I asked if you’ve heard anything from her yet.”
I quickly pull out my phone and see zero missed calls or texts.
“Nothing.”
“This better not be for nothing, dude. I missed out on precious beauty sleep hours.”
“Go sleep on my couch in the office if you need to. I can finish this up.”
“Eww. I know what you do on that couch,” he smirks.
“Sleep? Drink? Maybe kick back and watch a fucking TikTok or two before dealing with the next idiot’s case?”
“Oh. That’s not what I do on my couch,” he laughs and walks out of the new conference room only to return a few seconds later with another chair. “So. Why so many flowers? I saw them loading up the entire back of the truck.”
“Fifteen bouquets of her favorite flower.”
“Okay, Cuz. You’re giving off creepy stalker vibes.”
“What the fuck do you mean?” I snap.
“Fifteen is such a weird number. Don’t you think she’s going to make the connection that you somehow know about her past since it’s been fifteen years? Also, I looked into your woman. Are you one hundred percent sure it’s her?”
“Number one, don’t look into my woman. Number two, yes, I’m fucking sure.
Her last name was changed, and her info was scrubbed.
She was young enough that when everything happened, they just created a new person.
But they kept her first name, probably so she’d have an easier time with the transition. ”
“Whatever happened to her dad?” he asks as he sits down in the chair he brought in.
“He ran that night, and no one’s seen him since.”
“Do you think he’s still out there? Or do you think he’s dead?”
“No, he’s unfortunately still alive,” I say nonchalantly as I flip through Instagram looking for anything new on either Willow or Jenna’s profiles.
“How do you know?”
Fuck. I should have worded that differently.
“Cockroaches like him don’t die so easily. He probably changed his name, maybe even his face. He’s alive somewhere.”
“Aren’t you worried about her safety?” he asks as he sits forward and rests his elbow on the table.
“No. She’s strong. She’s been on her own up here for a few years now. She can handle herself.”
I return my attention to my phone and refresh the feed one more time. Bingo. Five minutes ago, Jenna posted a photo of the flowers with a fun little caption.
When your bestie's Prince Charming turns our front room into a garden. #Jealous
“You know something, don’t you?” he asks, interrupting my train of thought.
“What?”
“You know something about her dad. You wouldn’t be this chill unless you did.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I told you she’s a tough woman. I’m confident she could handle herself.”
“Mhm…You forget that I know you better than anyone, and I can tell when you’re lying. Come on. Just tell me.”
“There’s nothing to tell,” I shrug. Well, more like nothing I can tell him.
“Fine. Whatever. Are we going to get her a new desk, or is there one from another office you want her to use?”
“If you keep being a snippy asshole, she can have your desk.”
“I just don’t like that you’re still lying to me. You’ve hidden the truth from me for all these years and honestly I’m still a little pissed over it.”
“Why do you think I’m lying?”
I put my phone away and lean forward in my chair, waiting for him to answer.
“You threatened your dad’s life for simply looking at her. You’ve been obsessed with her since you were a child. And I’m sorry, but if there was even a chance that the woman I loved could be hurt by someone, that certain someone would no longer be walking around. If you catch my drift.”
“Loud and clear, Cuz. No longer walking around. Is there anything else?”
“Please tell me. Is he locked up somewhere?”
“Sure.”
“He is?”
“Maybe,” I tease.
I can tell this is annoying him, and it’s fun.
“Where?”
“What?” I ask.
“What? What do you mean, what?” he growls.
“You asked where. So I asked what. We know the who, but what’s the why?” I laugh as I pull back out my phone.
“You’re fucking irritating. When you decide to act your age and just tell me the truth, come find me. Otherwise, you’re on your own.”
He stands to walk out of the office, and I can tell he’s pissed.
“Jeremy.”
“What?”
“Close the door.”
He slowly turns back around toward me and shuts the door before sitting in the chair in front of me and scooting it closer.
“What?” he asks.
“What I’m about to tell you needs to stay between us.”
“Of course. When has it ever not stayed between us?”
“It’s kind of illegal.”
“What other way do we like to do things?” he jokes.
“I’m serious, Jeremy. If this got out, it would destroy me.”
“Cross my heart and hope to die…Or do you want to do a blood pact?”
“Neither. Just give me your word you won’t freak out or repeat this…ever.”
He brings his fingers to his lips and makes a zip noise, then tosses the imaginary key behind his head.
I know I can trust him not to betray me…
but can I trust him not to look at me differently after I tell him the truth of everything that’s happened over the last fifteen years… and I mean everything.