2. Noah - September
TWO
Noah - September
EXILE (FEAT. BON IVERS) - TAYLOR SWIFT
It was official. My life was a mess.
After a week of broken-down buses and too many takeout dinners, my life without Dotty was a slow unraveling of chaos. Not to mention how oddly distant—and frankly, off—my boyfriend, John, was lately.
My best friend had only been in Woodstone Falls for a few weeks, yet it felt like my world imploded without her.
Okay, that might be a little dramatic.
Dotty and I couldn’t have been more different, but somehow, it worked. She had a way of commanding attention just by walking into a room, while I was content to stay in the background, quietly observing. While her blonde hair cascaded in loose waves, mine tumbled in curls that framed my brown skin. She towered nearly six inches above me, while I barely reached five feet. Despite all our differences, we fit together in a way that simply made sense.
Those contrasts weren’t a wedge between us. They made us closer—the yin to my yang, the sugar to my spice.
And now there was a big piece of me that missed the easy friendship that Dotty and I had. There was something about having someone to confide in, especially now. With Dotty’s physical absence and John’s emotional one, I felt trapped in a pit of emptiness.
Adding to the upheaval, I wouldn’t be able to visit her next week as planned, since John needed me for a work event.
The only reason he was taking me was to play the part of the rich, handsome career man, with the doting teacher on his arm as his charity case.
And I hated feeling like this—questioning every interaction, wondering if I was being unfair or if my instincts were screaming at me for a reason. His distance was more deliberate lately, like a wall I wasn’t allowed to climb.
I stared at the sagging leaves of Dotty’s last surviving plant on the windowsill.
“It’s okay, sweet baby. You’ve got this. You can survive anything,” I said, though I knew this one was as far gone as the rest.
But as I said it, the words felt more of a reassurance meant for myself.
Talking to someone, or I guess something , was nice, though.
Lately, my main interactions were with the mailman and sporadic lunches with fellow teachers. Occasionally Dotty when I could catch her at a good time. Most of my conversations lately were with my six-and seven-year-old students. And as much as I loved my job, I was desperately in need of real adult interactions.
A knock interrupted my thoughts, and I hurried to the door.
Shit, that’s right. Dotty’s brother is coming for the weekend.
“Coming!” I called out, hastily clearing away last night’s takeout.
Another knock, louder this time, just before I opened the door.
And there he stood—a man unknowingly competing in my mind for the title of the most attractive person I’d ever laid eyes on.
Over a foot taller than me, with broad shoulders and the kind of physique that made a worn T-shirt look like it was tailored just for him.
His dark, wavy hair fell over his forehead, effortlessly tousled. A shadow of stubble dusted his strong jawline, softening the sharp, chiseled angles of his face and giving him a rugged, almost mesmerizing appeal. And then there was his mouth—the curve of a smile tugging at his lips, sending my stomach into a flutter I really didn’t want to acknowledge.
His calm yet intense demeanor made me simply forget how to speak.
Snap out of it. You have a boyfriend.
He eyed the apartment number at the row of doors marking each unit.
His eyes, a rich deep brown, absorbed everything as they locked onto me, like he was reading me without saying a word.
I managed a hesitant greeting. “Um… hi.” It was as if every thought escaped my brain, leaving nothing but complete emptiness.
“Noah, right?” He peered down the hall. “Apartment thirteen?” he asked.
“Yup, that’s me,” I replied.
He arched a brow and cleared his throat. “You okay?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe, his gaze briefly dropping down my face.
A flush of warmth spread across my cheeks. “Uh, yeah. Sorry, long day. You must be Dotty’s brother?”
“Yes, ma’am. Dorian James. Pleasure to meet you.” He extended a hand, and as I took it, the warmth of his touch sent a jolt through me.
“Yes, it’s nice to meet you,” I smiled, trying to focus, but it was hard with him standing there, so… present.
“Well…” He let out a rich chuckle. “Can I come in?” he asked politely, and a heat crept up my neck.
“Yes, yes… sorry.” I stepped aside. He nodded in thanks and walked through the threshold.
I suddenly became self-conscious of the small apartment I shared with his sister. It wasn’t the most extravagant place in Seattle, but it was ours. Soft light spilled from various lamps, casting a gentle glow on the worn wooden floors. I walked toward the kitchen to the right. It was small, complete with that stupid, slowly dying herb garden on the windowsill.
Dorian cleared his throat, glancing around the space, and he seemed even more imposing up close with a confidence that made me both nervous and strangely drawn to him.
“The conference I’m attending ends Sunday, so I will be out of your hair by Monday morning at the latest.”
I tried to remember a single thing Dotty told me about her brothers. He didn’t give off sports vibes, so I doubt this was the brother in the NFL. That left the detective or…
Wait, what did the other one do?
“Are you the cop?” The words spilled out, and I immediately regretted every single one.
Dorian laughed softly, the sound easing the tension.
“Wrong brother. I’m the vet.”
“Right,” I said, trying to shake off my embarrassment. “So, you like puppies then?”
Another wonderful fucking question, Noah. Not weird at all.
He chuckled again, and the sound vibrated my spine, sending flutters through me.
“Sure, I do. Though, my daughter might disagree. She’s still mad I won’t let her get one.”
Okay, so he’s the one with the daughter.
“Gracie, right?” While Dotty mentioned her brothers occasionally, she bragged about Gracie constantly and how much she loved her niece.
Dorian’s smile was a little lopsided, tugging at his right cheek and revealing a dimple. “Yeah, Gracie. She’s a spitfire.”
“I’ve heard a few stories that would definitely back that up.” I paused for a moment and moved to lean against the kitchen island, letting the cool granite cool my forearms.
“You can stay as long as you need. I’ll be around most of the time, but my boyfriend’s taking me out tomorrow, so you’ll be on your own then.”
“Well, thanks for letting me crash here.”
I gave him a small smile. “No worries. Feel free to help yourself to anything.”
“Thanks, Noah. I’ll get out of your way.” He pointed down the hall. “Dotty’s room is…” His tone trailed off in a question.
“First door on the left. Second door is the bathroom. My room is on the right,” I said.
He nodded and walked across the living room, his steps purposeful as he approached the sofa and wooden coffee table, stacked with magazines and my laptop. He paused in front of a photo on the wall, one of Dotty and me from our freshman year of college.
His eyes met mine. “Thank you.”
I scrunched my nose in confusion, tilting my head.
He peered back at the picture. “For being there for her. She needed someone then,” he said, his eyes not meeting mine again.
“I did too.” I smiled as images of our friendship crept through my mind.
He glanced back to me and that damned dimple slowly made its appearance. He nodded and then pointed to the room. “I’m going to get settled in.”
“Yeah, of course.”
He made his way to Dotty’s room, closing the door behind him with a small click.
I shook my head, still trying to make sense of that exchange. Rounding the couch, I sank into the cushions, pulling my phone from my pocket. A new notification lit up the screen, and I saw John responded to my text.
John
Hopping on a red-eye home now. See you tomorrow.
A knot formed in my stomach as I stared at his message. John and I met during our senior year at a private boarding school. He’d been there since elementary, while I was transferred from a public school to the city’s most prestigious institution. My mom hoped it would steer me toward becoming a lawyer, like her, instead of a teacher, which was my true aspiration.
Despite my skepticism about changing schools at fifteen, it did lead me to meet John.
From the first day, I was drawn to him. It wasn’t just the effortless way he commanded attention; it was something deeper. John didn’t see people through the lens of status or image. He was genuinely interested in everyone, asking questions and listening as if the details of a person’s life truly mattered.
Even as a teenager, he was charming and confident, though a bit arrogant at times. I liked how he listened when I spoke, how he remembered the small things. He wasn’t trying to impress me or win me over—he simply appreciated who I was, not what I could offer him. That’s what drew me in. The attention he gave me was unlike anyone else’s—it was real. For the first time, I didn’t feel like another face in the crowd. I felt seen.
Growing up, I sometimes felt torn between two worlds. My mom, a strong woman of color, instilled pride in my heritage and constantly reminded me of my worth. But my biological father, from whom I inherited some of my lighter features, was never a part of my life. That mix of identities often left me uncertain of where I belonged.
But with John, none of that mattered. He never seemed to care about any of it. He never treated me like I was a puzzle to be figured out, or like I didn’t belong. After a few months of friendship, he surprised me by asking me to prom. It wasn’t just about the gesture. It was the fact that he saw me, and in that moment, he saw all of me—my complexities, my insecurities, and the parts of me I hadn’t always been sure about.
And of course, I said yes—who could refuse the John Cunningham?
We faced our share of challenges over the years—dating on and off through separate colleges and our careers. But when John moved back to Seattle a little over a year ago, everything changed. My dad helped John secure a position at the same tech company where he worked in the city, and we finally decided to commit to a relationship.
I hoped a new chapter would bring stability. I loved seeing how much my father and John respected each other. After he took him under his wing, their bond grew even stronger, both professionally and personally. It seemed like everything was falling into place.
Our relationship hadn’t been perfect. Our demanding schedules often left little room for us—his filled with constant travel and long hours, mine consumed by the grind of being an overworked, underpaid public school teacher. Yet, somehow, we made it work.
Lately, though, it felt different—like we weren’t even in the same universe anymore. He’d go an entire day with only a text or two when he was out of town. When he came back, he was distant, short with me, unwilling to talk about anything, and insisted he made every plan, unwilling to compromise on the smallest of details.
I tried to attribute it to his heightened work stress, which is why I’d let it go and was eagerly anticipating our date. I hoped it would give us a chance to reconnect and enjoy some quality time together.
Needing a distraction from my thoughts, I decided to grade a stack of homework, answer a few emails from parents, and sort through other school-related tasks. But when that was done, I still couldn’t escape my mind. I turned on the TV and settled in to start a new show, hoping it would help me unwind.
The light of the screen filled the living room. As the first few minutes played, the sound of Dorian emerging from the room drew my attention. He walked out in gray sweatpants, and I resisted the urge to give him a once-over, focusing instead on the unfolding scenes of the dystopian drama.
I’m taken. I don’t need to be eyeing my best friend’s brother.
“Oh, is this that new show based on the post-apocalyptic video game?” he asked.
“Yup,” I said, attempting to sound casual.
He moved into the kitchen to fill his water bottle, the faded dark green T-shirt hinting at the strength beneath. The dim light highlighted the sharp angles of his face, giving him a strong, masculine look that was striking yet unmistakably reminiscent of Dotty.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked, nodding toward the couch.
“Sure.” My voice cracked, but he either didn’t notice or chose to ignore it.
He sat on the other end of the couch, leaving a cushion between us.
Oh, thank God.
“Have you played the game before?” he asked, as he leaned back, making himself comfortable.
“No, but the show has been all over social media lately, so I thought I’d give it a try.”
“I’ve been meaning to watch this but haven’t found the time,” he said, adjusting the pillows. He rested his head along the back of the couch, exposing the strong column of his throat.
“You used to play?” I asked.
The muscles in his face softened as he gave me a wide smirk. “Yeah. Trent and I did growing up.” His brown gaze drifted to the pictures against the wall. “We would play for hours while Dotty would read.”
“That must have been nice, having siblings and friends to grow up with.”
“Yeah…” His voice trailed off as he seemed to delve deeper into his thoughts. “I guess I never really thought about it, but it was nice to have them around.” He glanced over at me, his smirk turning into something more genuine. “Do you have any siblings?” he asked. I managed a weak smile in return, appreciating the sentiment.
“Nope, only child.” I shrugged, trying not to focus on how intently his eyes seemed to study me.
“Really?” He tilted his head, a small smile playing on his lips.
I wasn’t ready to go into my family dynamics with him, so I instead nodded. We turned back to the show, the storyline captivating me immediately. We ended up watching a few episodes in a row, drawn into the unfolding story until the late hours of the night. The air was filled with a comfortable silence, only broken by our occasional comments about what was playing out on screen.
Eventually, fatigue began to catch up with me, my eyelids growing heavier as the credits rolled for the third time.
“I think that’s the last one I can handle for tonight,” I said, standing from the couch.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
He stood too, but the coffee table took up most of the space, forcing us closer. In an instant, he was only inches away, towering over me. I immediately pushed back, but his presence still loomed over me, bringing a strange awareness to the space between us.
“Sorry. Guess being a little sleepy throws off my balance,” he added, a playful edge to his tone.
“No worries.” I waved him off and walked into the kitchen and grabbed a glass to fill with water.
“How about tomorrow night? We could watch another one?” he suggested.
I paused for a second, then moved to grab my keys from the counter. “I won’t be around. Date night.”
“Right.”
I separated a spare key from the ring and held it out to him. Our gazes met, and the space between us suddenly became charged as he reached to grab the key. “Just in case I’m not here.”
For a moment, his expression shifted—something unreadable glimmered in his eyes before he masked it with a soft smile.
My heart skipped, and I immediately cursed myself.
What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I even feeling like this?
But the way Dorian looked at me… it was different.
“Thanks, Noah,” he said softly.
The silence hung between us, heavier now, as I turned to head to my room.
After slipping into my matching pajamas and finishing my skincare routine, I slipped on a bonnet before plugging in my phone. Scrolling through my notifications, I let out a sigh.
Dotty
How’s it going?
I sent a quick reply, a frown pulling at my lips as I thought about how much I missed her.
Me
My life’s a mess without you, but I’m good.
Dotty
How are things going with Dorian?
Me
Good, he’s actually pretty nice. We talked for a bit and then watched some tv.
Dotty
Wait, my brother? Talked to you? Tall, dark hair, lopsided smile Dorian? Are you sure you have the right guy?
Me
I sure hope so. That sounds like him though lol.
Dotty
Interesting. He’s usually pretty quiet and short around people he doesn’t know well.
Me
Well, we practically know each other via you so… How are you?
Dotty
I’m good. I miss you.
Me
I miss you more. I’m going to bed though. Talk tomorrow?
Dotty
Yes, please.
The thoughts running through my mind finally quieted as I rested my head on the pillow. Giving me at least a few hours of sleep.