TYLER
Gemma changes out of another dress and rummages through her closet yet again. She’s a nervous wreck, and nothing I say has been able to calm her. Walking up behind her, I squeeze her shoulders, trying to release the tension.
“Sweetheart,” I say calmly. “If we don’t go soon, we’re gonna be late picking him up.”
“Babe, I know,” she snaps. “Nothing fits me!”
I hold back from saying anything that might upset her. Her hormones are out of control—some days are better than others—but with the added nerves, she’s been a tad moodier.
“You could wear sweatpants and a ratted T-shirt for all Noah cares,” I remind her.
“I don’t wanna look like a fat, tired pregnant woman in our pictures. He promised we’d take some as soon as we got home, so I need to look nice.”
“Okay, how about this…you put that dress back on, and we’ll buy some maternity clothes tomorrow. Everleigh’s boutique has some cute new ones.”
As soon as my sister found out we were expecting, she expanded her inventory to include maternity as a surprise for Gemma. She messaged me this morning that it’s all arrived, and she’s ecstatic and impatient for Gemma to see.
“Wait, what?” She turns around, blinking.
I tell her the news, and her whole face lights up.
“Seriously?”
“Yep. She wanted to surprise you tomorrow, so can you pretend you didn’t know?” I smirk. “I tried to wait, but seeing you freak out like this, I didn’t know what else to do.”
Gemma wraps her arms around me, and I hold her to my chest. “Sorry, I’m a mess.”
“You’re perfectly fine, baby. But we really do need to leave.”
“Okay, gimme five minutes.” I lean down and collide my lips with hers. “Thanks for telling me the secret.”
Twenty-five minutes later, we’re finally on the road, and Gemma’s knee is shaking next to me. Jerry’s in the back seat of the SUV with Belinda. I don’t even know if there’s gonna be room for Noah at this point, but we’ll make it work.
“Oh my God, I’m so nervous!” Gemma squeals as I pull into the parking lot. There’s a process for when an inmate is released, and we’ll have to wait out here until he comes out the door.
“I’m so relieved we’ll never have to be here again,” Jerry says. “Can’t wait to hug my baby boy.”
Gemma snorts. “He’s hardly a baby, Dad.”
“He’ll always be mine and you too. I don’t care how old you two are. You’ll always be my babies.”
I shoot Gemma a wink. She’s lucky to have such a loving and caring father.
“There he is! Noah!” Gemma opens the car door, and the three of us follow suit.
He’s carrying one small bag and wearing the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. Jerry stands next to Gemma as Belinda and I stay behind. The moment he’s close enough, he wraps his arms around the both of them, and soon, I hear sniffling.
Moments later, he releases them, and I hug him next. “Good to see you, man.”
Noah wipes his cheeks. “You too. I was just about to say you have no idea, but…” He chuckles, and so do I.
Walking out of the gates six years ago is still fresh in my memory. Seeing Maddie and Liam for the first time outside was something I couldn’t actually prepare for, no matter how much I envisioned it. I imagine it’s the same for Noah.
“Well, let’s get out of here and get ya settled at the house.” Jerry beams.
“And eat,” Gemma adds. “Belinda made her famous fried chicken, and we bought pie.”
“I can’t wait.” Noah grins. “But before we go home, I need to make a stop.”
“Sure, wherever you wanna go,” I tell him as we pile back into the SUV. “Just tell me where.”
“I don’t know the address, but I’m sure you do.”
I look at him through the rearview mirror and see the guilt written on his face. Gemma’s not going to like this.
“Wait, where?” Gemma asks, looking over her shoulder.
Starting the engine, I put my foot on the gas and exit the parking lot. I know exactly where he wants to go.
“Katie’s,” Noah finally answers. “I need to see her before we go home.”
“Noah!” Gemma scolds. “No. She specifically said she didn’t want to see you, and I’m not gonna be the one who forces her.”
“You aren’t,” he argues. “Tyler’s drivin’.”
I snort at the way he just threw me under the bus, though I kinda agree with him. If he doesn’t at least try, he might not ever get the opportunity, especially if it were up to Katie.
“Babe, just let him,” I try to calm her. “What’s the worst that can happen? She slams the door in his face?”
“Exactly!” Gemma shouts. “And never talks to me again.”
“Maybe she won’t,” Noah counters. “I just want to see her. Please. It’s been so long,” Noah pleads, and Gemma instantly melts.
“Alright, fine. But if she pushes you off the porch or slaps you, don’t say I didn’t warn ya.”
Knowing Katie, she’ll probably do one of those, but I won’t deny Noah the chance to at least try.
Less than an hour later, I’m turning into Katie’s driveway, then park. “Well, this is it.”
Noah crouches down and looks out the front window. “This is where she lives?”
“It needs a little TLC.” I chuckle. “She’s planning to fix it up.”
“She hasn’t moved in yet, but she comes here every evening and weekend to work on it.”
Noah inhales a sharp breath. “Okay, wish me luck. Here goes nothin’.” He pulls the door handle, then steps out.
“You gotta give him credit,” Belinda says. “He wants to mend their relationship.”
“It’s gonna take a lot more than just showing up ten years later with an apology,” Gemma mutters.
We watch as he nervously climbs the steps and knocks on the cracked wood.
“Fifty bucks she slams the door in his face before he gets a word out,” I say with amusement. Katie’s not gonna take his shit, and if I’ve learned anything about her since I’ve been here, she’s fiercely independent and literally depends on no one.
“I’ll take that bet,” Jerry chimes in. “Fifty bucks she tells him off.”
“Fifty bucks she slaps him,” Belinda adds.
“You guys!” Gemma scolds. “Fine. Fifty bucks she lets him inside!”
We wait in anticipation until she finally opens the door.
As soon as Katie sees Noah, she immediately steps back and slams the door in his face.
“Told ya.” I smirk, holding out my hand.
Noah’s head drops, and I feel bad for the guy. He looks so defeated.
“Dammit, Katie,” Gemma mutters. “I was hoping she’d change her mind when she actually saw him.”
“She’s too stubborn,” I remind her. “Y’all are.”
“That’s true,” Gemma agrees. “But still.”
Noah hangs his head as he walks back and slides inside. “Yeah, she hates me.”
I face him. “Give her time.”
He scrunches his nose. “More time? How much more time should I give her?”
“Give her space,” Gemma clarifies as we leave. “She’ll come around.”
“Or here’s an idea…” I arch a brow as I pull onto the street. “She needs help on the new house, and Noah just so happens to be pretty good at fixing shit.”
“Katie will never hire me,” he retorts.
“She works during the day. She can’t say no if she doesn’t know…”
“Noooo…” Gemma shakes her head. “She’ll kill you for sure.”
“Actually, that’s not a horrible idea,” Jerry blurts.
“She might think it’s romantic,” Belinda adds.
“Absolutely not. She wants to do it all herself.” Gemma shakes her head, crossing her arms.
“Well, if she won’t give me a chance to talk, then I’ll show her how sorry I am instead,” Noah decides. “Start fixin’ things little by little until she notices. She won’t be able to slam the door when I’m already inside the house.”
“This is seriously a bad idea. How are you guys agreeing with this?” Gemma glances over her shoulder, furrowing her brows.
“I’ve pushed her away long enough, Gem. Let me do this,” Noah begs. “I have to win her friendship back.”
Gemma’s shoulders slump as she blows out a breath. “Alright, but on one condition…” She pauses. “She must never know I knew about this plan. Got it?”
Noah smiles victoriously. “Deal.”
I can’t help but grin because it’s about to get a lot more interesting in Lawton Ridge.
Find Noah and Katie’s story next in Let Me Show You