34. Noah - October
THIRTY-FOUR
Noah - October
BETTING ON US - MYLES SMITH
I adjusted the hem of Dotty’s dress and stepped back to take it all in. The soft ivory gown hugged her figure, the intricate lace trailing elegantly to the floor. Her blonde waves of hair were loosely curled, framing her face in a way that highlighted the glow of her blue eyes. A subtle touch of makeup—the perfect hint of blush, rosy lips, and a shimmer around her eyes—enhanced her natural beauty without overwhelming it.
She was a vision of grace, but what stood out the most was the excitement in her expression, her emotions barely concealed beneath her radiant smile.
“You look beautiful, Dotty,” I said, giving her a soft smile. “I don’t think there will be a dry eye in the house.”
Dotty smiled back, but there was something thoughtful in her expression. “Thanks, I’m feeling… everything right now. But I know it’s right. Trent and I—it’s always been more with him. I’m excited to call him my hot cowboy husband.” She giggled then paused, letting her gaze drift toward the window where the guests were beginning to gather. “Enough about me. Tell me… how’s it going with a certain brother of mine?”
I fumbled with the fabric of her veil, pretending to fix an imaginary crease. “It’s—complicated.”
Dotty raised a brow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “Oh, come on. I know you better than that. What’s really going on? Is Dorian just someone to pass the time or… is it more?”
My pulse quickened at her question.
Was he just a distraction?
Or was there something more?
I glanced at Dotty, knowing I couldn’t hide from her forever.
“I—I don’t know,” I muttered, though my voice betrayed me. It wasn’t the truth, not really.
I knew.
And that sat heavily in my chest. Dotty wasn’t one to let me off the hook.
She reached out, her hand gentle but firm on my arm. “Noah. You do know. I can see it. Not just with you, but him too.” She sighed. “The last couple of weeks… I thought this was just you guys fucking around at first, but the more I see him around you, it’s clearly more.”
More.
I swallowed hard, feeling my defenses crack under her gaze. “It feels like… more.” I admitted, the words slipping out reluctantly, like I’d been holding them in for too long.
Dotty’s face softened, a knowing smile playing on her lips. She didn’t say anything though, just nodded.
I exhaled, my heart pounding now that the truth was out there between us. “But it scares me, Dotty. Everything with John… it changed me. I’m not the same person I was before all that happened. And Dorian, he’s been through so much. I don’t want to be another complication in his life.”
Dotty shook her head. “Noah, you’re not a complication. You’re part of his life already, and from where I’m standing, it seems like he wants you to be even more than that, though neither of you will admit it.”
I forced myself to meet her eyes. “It just feels so… overwhelming. Like if I let myself fall for him, there’s no going back. And I don’t know if I can survive another heartbreak. How can I trust anyone? How can I trust myself ?”
“Noah…” She paused, searching my eyes carefully. “I love you more than anything, and you know that. But with John… it was different, and deep down, you know that too. I don’t doubt that you cared about him, maybe even loved him in your own way. But while you were together, it didn’t really feel like you were together. You were probably with him because it’s what your parents wanted, or it was more comfortable than leaving.”
I let her words sink in. It wasn’t easy to hear, but she wasn’t wrong. Memories flashed through my mind—how John and had I drifted, the way our relationship felt more like two people coexisting rather than truly being together. I thought about all the times we barely spoke during our dinners, the awkward silences that stretched between us, the way we lived like two parallel lines, always close but never truly meeting. I ignored the signs, convincing myself that we were okay, that it was just the way things were.
But deep down, I always knew. And now, hearing it from her, it was like the truth I buried was finally surfacing, and there was no more pretending.
She continued. “He was always busy with work—and, apparently, other things,” she added with a sad smile. “You were wrapped up in your own life. You spent time together occasionally, but it was always surface level. I could tell your feelings weren’t as deep as they should have been for a real relationship. You used to push me to get out there and find my person, but Noah… deep down, every time we had those talks, you knew John wasn’t yours. Neither of us said it out loud, and I wasn’t exactly in a position to criticize when I was still hung up on Trent after a decade, but we both knew.”
Dotty squeezed my hand, her eyes full of understanding. “I get it, but you can’t spend your life running from what might hurt. You deserve the very best, and while I might argue that isn’t my brother, I want you to do what is best for you. If Dorian is that person, you owe it to yourself to see where it goes.”
A lump formed in my throat as everything crashed down on me. “It just feels so scary.”
It was hard to let go of the fear. To trust myself, to trust someone else. I was afraid of everything after John wrecked my life. But here I was, letting the echoes of his threats and violence dictate my future, but I didn’t want to anymore.
“That’s because it is,” Dotty said with a weak smile. “But scary doesn’t mean bad. Sometimes the things that scare us the most are the things worth holding onto.”
I nodded. “It feels like more,” I whispered again, almost to myself. “Like he’s already more than I ever expected.”
Dotty grinned, her eyes sparkling with that playful, knowing look again. “Well then, that’s something definitely worth fighting for.”
We both fell quiet, her words lingering in the silence. My mind swirling around everything I hadn’t quite admitted to myself until now. But as heavy as the day was, it wasn’t about me—it was about Dotty. I took a breath, deciding to tuck all those feelings away.
“Okay, little miss cupid. Enough of that. How about we focus on getting you married?” I laughed, wiping at my eyes.
“If we must.” Dotty chuckled, her excitement returning as she adjusted her veil.
I sighed. Maybe it was time to stop hiding from what I knew deep down. Maybe it was time to stop letting fear hold me back.
The wedding ceremony took place indoors, framed by a grand floor-to-ceiling window that perfectly showcased the snow-capped mountains beyond. The venue was breathtaking, with its high, timber-beamed ceilings and large stone fireplace, radiating rustic elegance.
It was perfectly Dotty and Trent.
My heart squeezed as they began exchanging their vows, every word filled with love, hope, and a sense of renewal. I swallowed hard, feeling the familiar sting in my eyes. I’d watched Dotty navigate heartbreak, loss, and the uncertainty of trusting again.
And yet, here she was—standing before the man who’d shown her that love could heal.
It felt surreal, like watching everything come full circle, standing at the altar with Dotty and Trent. As I glanced across the room, my gaze naturally found Dorian, standing next to Trent. He looked so composed, yet there was something in the way he stood.
My breath caught as he gave me a small wink from across the altar. My heart raced as a thousand thoughts rushed through my mind. All the moments we’d shared—the kisses, the stolen glances, the undeniable connection—they all seemed to culminate in this one look.