71. Noah
NOAH
NOVEMBER PRESENT DAY
As we pull into my driveway, I can already see Jeremy’s car. I forgot to call him back after we got into the truck. Then everything else happened, and the rest of the world didn’t matter.
“Can you find my phone, Willow?”
“I think it’s in the back seat.”
“Never mind. I’ll grab it before we get out. Um…”
I glance down at her bare legs. The length of my jacket barely covers past her ass. There’s no way in hell I’m letting her bend over the back seat. If Jeremy sees her like this, I’ll lose it.
“When we get out of the car, let me walk in first,” I say, trying to hide my smirk.
“What? Why?”
“Because if Jeremy sees you like this, I’ll kill him.”
“Oh…”
She glances down at the jacket as if she’s just remembering that her clothes are torn to shreds underneath. I can see her cheeks turning red and that beautiful blush spreading down her neck and onto her chest. She tugs the zipper up almost to her throat before crossing her arms.
“Just let me go in and tell him to go to the other room so I can carry you in.”
“Why do you need to carry me in? I can walk.”
“It’s not that I need to, Little Rabbit. I want to. You had a long day. It was very emotional, and you also haven’t slept. I want to take care of you.”
“Fine,” she huffs as she turns her attention out the passenger window.
She can’t hide the small smile on her lips. She loves me caring for her no matter how much she tries to hide it.
When my truck comes to a stop next to Jeremy’s car, the front door flies open. Jeremy steps out onto the porch wearing nothing but sweatpants and socks with a scowl on his face. He looks like a housewife who’s been waiting up for her husband all night.
“What the fuck? You leave me that fucking voicemail then go completely silent? Where the hell is your phone?” he shouts as he steps off the porch and onto the snow-covered sidewalk.
“Get inside,” I huff.
“No. I’ve been freaking the fuck out. We both have.”
Both?
Suddenly Jenna appears next to him wearing nothing but one of his baggy T-shirts and slippers. He brought her here? What the fuck?
“God Damnit, Willow! We’ve been up the whole fucking night. Where’s your phone?”
I glance back at Willow, who is frantically looking around for her phone with no luck either. Where the hell did they…Oh.
“They were in the cup holders of the center console when we flipped it…” I say quietly, and she blushes again from the memory of what happened after.
“Well?” Jenna says, stepping up to my open door.
Her eyes widen as she takes in Willow’s appearance then at the bloodied rags and the makeshift wrap around my hand.
“What the fuck happened?” she snaps.
Jenna nearly climbs into the truck over me, so I quickly get out and let her climb in with Willow.
“What the fuck did you do to her, Noah?”
“He didn’t do anything, Jenna. It’s okay.”
“Okay? You’re a mess. There’s blood all over this car, and…is that more blood on you? What the fuck happened?”
Jenna looks like she’s close to having her own panic attack from the sight of Willow. I mean, sure, there’s still quite a bit of blood, but Willow’s completely unharmed.
“Can everyone just chill for a moment?” Jeremy finally says.
Jenna at least had the common sense to put slippers on. This idiot is standing out here only wearing socks in the snow.
“No. I will not chill,” she huffs before turning those daggers back toward me.
“He didn’t do anything to hurt me, Jenna. Maybe we should go inside and talk. There’s something I need to tell you,” Willow says quietly as she takes Jenna’s hand.
“You swear you’re okay?” Jenna whispers as if I’m not standing right here.
“I swear to you, I’m perfectly fine.”
She brushes Willow’s hair off her face and tries to open the jacket, but Willow clutches onto it for dear life and it’s only then that Jenna seems to calm down.
Willow pulls her in for a hug, and I can see Jenna’s shoulders start to relax before she grabs a fistful of Willow’s hair and sniffs it.
“Woman? Why the fuck does your hair smell like smoke?” she snaps before glancing back at me with a death glare then turning her attention back to Willow.
“It’s a long story. Let us get washed up, then I’ll tell you everything,” Willow says before looking at me and smiling.
“Everything?” Jenna asks.
“Yes. Everything.”
“Fine,” she huffs. She jumps down from my truck and slugs me in the shoulder. “That’s for not keeping her safe. Fire and blood are not safe. Come on, Jeremy.”
She loops her arm in his and drags him back to the house.
“But Noah?” Jeremy groans.
“I’ll be inside in a minute. Just go to a different room so I can carry her in.”
“Why a different…Oh my God, Willow. Are you naked under that?” Jenna huffs and rolls her eyes. She finally realizes that Willow isn’t wearing pants either.
“Uhm…not entirely.”
“Jesus Christ. Okay. You, come on. You two get your asses inside and get a shower. I’ll make us all some breakfast, then we can talk,” Jenna says, pulling Jeremy closer to the house.
“That sounds perfect. I’m starving,” Willow says as she slides closer to me across the front seat.
“What are you guys hungry for? Waffles?” Jenna asks.
Willow and I look at each other, then start laughing.
“Waffles would be great,” Willow says as she pulls me closer to her.
“Waffles would be perfect,” I say, pressing my lips gently to hers.
“Ugh, get a room,” Jeremy groans before I hear the sound of him being yanked away by Jenna and the door slamming shut.
“Let’s go.” I try to pull away, but she doesn’t let me.
“I love you,” she whispers before kissing me again.
“I love you too, Little Rabbit.”