CHAPTER 15
BELLA
The sound of my alarm blaring next to me causes me to groan as I roll over in bed and swat at my phone screen. Through squinted eyes I check the time and drop my head back onto my pillow when I see it’s only five-thirty a.m.
I have at least thirty minutes until I absolutely have to drag my ass from this bed and I plan to use every single second of it to my advantage.
Pulling the comforter up to my chin, I relax back into the mattress that basically resembles a cloud, with every intention of falling back into the blissful slumber I was rudely dragged from but just as I close my eyes, there’s a soft knock at my door.
With a sigh, I lift my head. “Go away, Noah.”
He doesn’t go away. Instead, he pushes the door open and pokes his head inside, his face far too happy for this time in the morning. “Wakey wakey, babybell.”
I groan. “What do you want?”
“I made breakfast,” he says proudly and it’s then that I’m hit with the smell of coffee and… syrup?
“Did you burn it again?” I ask through a yawn as I pull myself into a sitting position, resigning to the fact that I’m not going to get that extra half an hour.
“Nope.” He pops the p. “I made pancakes this time.” Noah pushes the door open fully and enters the room, somehow balancing a plate and a coffee mug in the same hand.
He holds the steaming liquid out to me and I take it gratefully, placing it quickly on the nightstand. Once my hands are free, Noah sets the plate down in my lap and to my surprise, three perfectly cooked pancakes are piled on top of each other with a healthy dose of syrup covering them.
“Wow. These actually look good,” I say, cutting into one straight away.
“Hey now. I’m not completely useless in the kitchen.” He clutches his chest like he’s wounded and I roll my eyes at him.
I do a quick scan of his body, noting that he’s dressed for the day, his face is bright with no evidence of sleep anywhere to be seen and I frown. “How long have you been awake?”
Noah checks his watch. “About an hour.”
I almost choke on my pancake. “You got up at four-thirty?”
He nods. “Sure did.”
“Why?” I ask in disbelief.
Shrugging his shoulders, he says, “My body clock is naturally programmed to wake up at that time. In the summer I like to get out there and get my shit done before the peak heat.”
“And in the winter?” I ask.
Noah shrugs again. “Sometimes I’ll sleep a little later but rarely. I’ll just sit out on the porch with a coffee and watch the sunrise.”
A surprised laugh escapes me. “You are full of surprises.”
He takes a seat in the corner of the room and smirks. “You know me, Bells. I like to keep things interesting.”
I frown at him. “What’re you doing?”
“Sitting down. What does it look like I’m doing?” He asks, confused.
I stare at him. “Don’t you have work?”
“Sure. But I thought I’d have breakfast with you first.” His tone is casual as he makes himself comfortable in the chair and I almost get the urge to pinch myself to double check that I’m awake.
“You don’t have any food,” I say dumbly.
Noah waves me off. “I already ate.”
This is hands down the most confusing conversation I’ve ever had at such an ungodly hour, and I just shake my head, not entirely convinced that this is really happening.
Noah merely watches me silently, his company strange yet oddly comforting as I finish my breakfast in bed and wonder how much life could have possibly taken such a turn in so little time.
***
The bell above the door chimes and I push a stray strand of hair off my face as I spin round, coming face to face with a smiling Liv.
“You coming back to work already?” I ask with a joking smile as I round the counter to get a peek at Rueben as he sleeps in his stroller.
“And give up precious time with my little man? Not a chance,” she replies, pushing the hood of the stroller down. I peer inside, running a gentle finger over the soft curls on the top of his head before standing up straight again.
“Is this your first time out of the house?” I return to my spot behind the counter and begin fixing Liv an iced coffee.
“Other than going up to the big house, yeah,” she responds, moving across to the glass cabinet that houses all the freshly baked goods. “I’ve been dreaming about your homemade banana bread for days.”
I chuckle and open the cabinet, picking her a slice of banana bread and placing it on a plate. I quickly finish making her coffee, place the lid on the clear plastic cup, add a straw and deposit it next to the plate on the counter.
“Ugh,” Liv half groans, half moans, her eyes laser-focused on her food as she pulls her purse out of her diaper bag. “How much do I owe you?”
I roll my eyes. “Girl, put that shit away right now.”
Liv pulls out a twenty-dollar bill, opening her mouth with what I’m assuming will be an argument when I level her with a look. “I am not taking your money. Put it away.”
“Fine,” she huffs, shoving the money back into her purse. “But have a coffee with me. We’ve got some catching up to do.”
Oh God.
I know exactly what she wants to catch up on and I’m not sure if I’m ready to have that conversation yet. I mean, I know I went to her with my suspicions about Justin cheating, but now that it has actually been confirmed, I feel embarrassed.
It’s not the fact that he cheated on me that I’m embarrassed about.
That has nothing to do with me as a person, and everything to do with him.
What I’m embarrassed about is the fact that he did it so publicly.
Like he didn’t even give my finding out a second thought.
Or worse, he thought about it, he just didn’t give a fuck.
He took his secretary into the bar that I frequent, where my brother and his buddies drink, without a shame or worry in the world.
And I have no doubt that Grayson has filled Liv in on every little detail about it.
I do a quick scan of the café. It’s quiet today, with only a few customers scattered around. Everyone’s coffee mugs are full and steaming and all of the empty tables are wiped clean. Unfortunately for me, this gives me no excuse to get out of this catch up.
I sigh. “Okay. Give me just a minute,” I say as I finish stocking the fridge behind me and begin preparing myself a coffee.
Liv sits at the table closest to the door but farthest from the other customers and I’m grateful that this conversation is going to be had with some semblance of privacy.
The second I sit down, a sympathetic smile crosses her face, and my shoulders drop on a long sigh. “Grayson told you?”
Her brows pinch, the smile dropping off her face as she sits up straighter. “Told me what?”
Ah, fuck.
So, he didn’t tell her. But now I have to. Wonderful.
“That he saw Justin with his secretary?”
“He what?!” She shrieks, and I wince, glancing around the café to make sure she hasn’t drawn attention to us.
Thankfully Mrs Stirling and her natter-circle aren’t here today, otherwise this conversation would be town news in minutes.
“Gray, Noah and Hunter saw Justin with his secretary in The Boot,” I explain, my tone a lot quieter than Livs. I take in her confused yet slightly pissed off face and sit back. “I’m surprised he didn’t tell you. I thought that’s what you wanted to catch up on.”
“No, he didn’t tell me. And I’m pissed but also slightly grateful because I would’ve marched my postpartum arse down there and given that wanker a piece of my mind.” Her British accent grows thicker with every word, and I can’t hold back the snort of laughter that escapes me at her chosen insult.
“So, what happened next?” Liv asks as I pick up my coffee and take a sip.
“Noah kept trying to call me, obviously to tell me, but I ignored his calls. I had already found the condom wrapper at this point, so I didn’t need to hear it from anyone else.”
Her eyes grow wide. “What condom wrapper? What the hell happened after you left my house?”
With a deep breath, I slump backward in my chair and rehash every little detail from the moment I left her house to the moment I left for work this morning. By the time I’m finished, her coffee is gone and her plate is empty and she stares at me dumbfounded.
“So, you’re living with Noah now?”
I shrug. “I guess. Until I find somewhere else to live.”
Liv reaches across the table and takes my hand in hers. “You can come and stay at our house. I can set up the guest bedroom for you.”
I shake my head with a smile. “As much as I appreciate that, I don’t want to interfere. You have a new baby and the both of you are navigating life as new parents. I would just get in the way.”
“You wouldn’t get in the way. You’re always welcome in our home. You’re family, Bells.”
My eyes sting at her words but I blink it away quickly. “Thank you, Liv. But seriously, I’m fine at Noah’s for the time being.”
She eyes me curiously. “You’re sure?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“You know where I am if you change your mind, yeah?”
I nod again. “I do.”
“Good,” she replies, standing from her seat.
I follow suit as she rounds the table and pulls me into a fierce hug. “Missed you, Bells.”
There go my eyes again. “Missed you, too.”
“Want me to keep this between us?” She asks and it’s only at that moment that I realise that no one else knows about this.
Sure, Hunter and Grayson know what they saw, but they know nothing more than that. And Noah already told me he won’t tell anyone anything until I’m ready. I have no idea how my brother will react when he finds out that not only was I cheated on, but I’m practically living with his best friend.
A small pang of guilt hits me. I haven’t even told Daisy, my best friend, about what’s been going on in my life. And as much as I want to, I know she won’t keep it from Killian and I’m not ready for him to find out anything yet.
With one last deep breath, I pull back from Liv and nod. “Yes, please.”