Chapter 28 Audrey
Twenty-Eight: Audrey
my home - AWIN
He bought the style of house I used to picture us living in, right down to the color and wraparound porch. I’m speechless. He knew what my dream house was, I spent half of my life talking about where I’d want to live, but I didn’t expect him to actually buy it.
Noah gives me a boyish smile as if he can read my thoughts. “You like it?”
I look at him with wide eyes. “I love it.”
I love you.
Connor and a few other guys from the team help Noah unload the boxes into the house, but as I step through the front door, it feels like they’re also moving me into my future home.
“Where do you want me?” I ask Noah as everyone else moves around.
“In the kitchen,” Noah replies quickly.
“Jesus, Noah. Are you implying my sister belongs in the kitchen?” Connor teases, earning a laugh from a bunch of the guys.
Noah shoves Connor. “No, because she’ll organize the kitchen stuff better than any of you dummies ever could. You’re here to carry the boxes and furniture in. She’s here to make the house a home.”
Aw.
They don’t argue with that and start moving boxes into the house.
He kisses my forehead, leading me in front of the oversized kitchen sink. “You okay here?”
I don’t know if he’s asking if I’m okay in the kitchen or if I’d be okay to live here someday, but the answer is an easy yes to both of the questions. The kitchen has a west-facing window that overlooks the large deck and pool. Perfect for sunsets.
“Will you stay the night tonight?” Noah asks.
“Of course. Why do you think I packed such a large bag today?” I reply with a playful smile.
“Okay. In that case, I’ll prioritize getting the bed all set up first.”
He gives me a devilish smile before heading out to help the guys.
I open a box of light-blue dishes, humming under my breath, arranging the kitchen one piece at a time.
“Hello!” a voice I’ve come to dislike calls out.
What is she doing here?
I catch Adam out of the corner of my eye. I know Adam gets along with the guys well but Kristen is more trouble than she’s worth.
It may be the jealousy of seeing her throw herself at Noah numerous times, or the fact she often comes off over-eager that rubs me the wrong way but a lot of people don’t mesh well with her.
“Oh. Audrey is here!” Kristen squeals as she crosses the room. “Hi, babes! So nice to see you again. Isn’t Noah’s house just the cutest thing?” She hugs me before I can process anything, her perfume overpowering the space.
“Hi, Kristen. Nice of you to come help.” I offer her a fake smile.
“That’s what friends are for! Noah and I have spent sooo much time together since the start of spring training. I’m so lucky to know him! I was thrilled when he showed me this place.”
Her words catch me off guard.
They’ve hung out?
He showed her the house before me?
Why hasn’t he said anything to me? Why hasn’t Connor said anything to me either?
I try not to panic, reminding myself that he isn’t Paul, and I can trust him.
“Adam, thanks for coming, man!” Connor’s voice draws my attention to the front door, where Noah and the other guys are all greeting him.
“And he brought the party with him!” Kristen giggles from beside me, moving towards the guys with a sway in her hips that not even I could master.
My jaw tightens as she hugs the guys. She lingers on Noah, her hands drifting down his back.
Play nice, Audrey. She’s just here to help.
I turn my back on them, focusing on placing more plates and bowls into the cupboards behind me.
Laughter fills the space as I try to calm my breathing.
Don’t freak out. He’s not Paul. This is different.
“Anyone want a beer?” Connor asks before a few mumbles of agreement echo around the group.
“Do you have Smirnoff Ice, Noah? That’s my favorite!” Kristen exclaims.
“Nope,” Noah says with a tone that is borderline annoyed.
Or maybe I’m just reading into things right now.
“You’ll have to stock the fridge! I feel like we’ll have all sorts of pool parties here this summer. I’m so excited!” Kristen laughs.
“Yeah man, when are we having a housewarming party?” Sam asks.
“Let the guy move in first, jeez guys!” Connor quips as he reaches into the fridge. He meets my eyes with a teasing smirk and whispers, “Need a cooler, Auds? Something sugary?”
“Not since I was nineteen, Connor,” I reply quietly but we both let out a laugh, remembering how he “iced” me at least fifteen times in one weekend when he came to visit me in college.
The sugar hangover I felt was unbearable after that.
Wine, beer or liquor are my drink choices now.
But at least I got back at him the following Christmas.
My eyes flick towards Kristen, who has her hand on Noah’s arm again, until he removes it and takes a step back from her.
Connor shifts closer to me. “He didn’t know she was coming … and fair warning, I wouldn’t trust her for a second.”
“She told me her and Noah are good friends,” I tell him, pouting slightly.
Connor sighs, reading into my insecurity after what Paul did. I trust Noah, but I don’t trust Kristen, and I worry she could try and get between us. “Don’t worry. Cupid Connor is here to clear the air,” he gives me a salute.
“Cupid Connor?” I whisper, letting out a snort.
He just pats my shoulder before calling out, “Hey, Noah! Come here for a second!”
Noah jogs towards us with a happy expression. “What’s up? Not enough beer in the fridge?”
“Someone is spreading lies.” Connor directs his gaze over to where Kristen is shimmying around the living room, talking a mile a minute about how it would be a great dance floor for parties.
Noah looks back at me in a panic. “Hey. What did she say?”
A blush creeps across my cheeks. “It’s nothing, I’m just overthinking things.”
“Audrey …”
I exhale, throwing my hands up in the air. “That the two of you have spent a lot of time together.” My voice catches.
“Connor, can you bring the beers to the guys and give us a second?” Noah asks softly before turning to look at me. “What else did she say?”
I swallow. “That she saw the house already.”
Noah tilts his head back, letting out a frustrated sigh. “She only saw the listing online. The only reason she even saw that was because I was showing Adam and Daisy and she walked into the room. She basically pulled my phone out of my hand.”
I lean back against the countertop with a frown. I don’t like how assertive she is, it sits weird with me.
“Auddie, baby. I’ve been trying to avoid her like the plague. She's going to be around her brother all season, so I don’t want to be rude to her, but no matter what she says or does, you and I are all that matters. Okay?”
I nod my head, looking down at the white marble tile between us. “Okay.”
“Good girl.”
My eyes snap up to Noah’s, who looks conflicted for half a second before smirking. “Adding that to the list.”
My laughter is loud, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
“What’s so funny over there?” Kristen asks as everyone moves towards us.
Noah turns to face the others, and without missing a beat he replies, “Just giving my girl trouble, now let’s get to work!”
And just like that Kristen’s eyes shoot daggers at me.
I wasn't planning to mark my territory like a possessive girlfriend, but knowing Noah is so quick to make it known gives me hope that maybe she’ll back off a bit.
Or not.
“Your girl?” She basically scoffs.
“Kristen, good grief. Back off,” Adam interjects in annoyance.
“She’s your girlfriend?”
Noah places a protective arm around my shoulder. “Yeah.”
I see the anger rising in both Noah and Connor so I interject, “Kristen, can we chat for a moment? Outside?”
She lets out a huff before going out the back door.
Connor wrangles the other guys away to grab more boxes while Noah gives me a nervous look.
“I’ll be okay. Don’t worry, No.”
“Shout if you need me. I’m not afraid to break down the door.”
I kiss his cheek, laughing. “I would expect nothing less from you.”
I head out to the deck, crossing my arms as Kristen glares at me.
“If there’s something you want to say to me, say it here,” I say calmly.
“I don’t think you and Noah are a good fit,” she scoffs with a flick of her wrist.
I keep my composure. “And you think that because?”
“He wants fun and you’re not fun.”
A sharp laugh escapes me. “He seems to think I’m more than enough fun for him.
And considering I’ve known him since I was three, I’d say I have a good handle on what he likes.
You don’t know me, Kristen. I don’t know you past your insistent need to dig your claws into a guy who doesn’t see you that way.
I assume you’re more than that … at least I hope you are. ”
Kristen narrows her eyes at me.
“I was in a relationship with a guy for seven years. He cheated on me the entire time, even getting someone pregnant. Noah isn’t that guy and you sure as heck shouldn't be that girl. I think you’re better than this whole act.”
She doesn’t say anything for a moment before snapping, “I’ll keep fighting.”
I let out a long exhale, trying to keep my composure. “I don’t know you well enough to hate you, but if you stay on this path, you’re going to hurt more than just me. You’d be hurting Noah and your brother too.”
I move towards her.
“We can move past it and pretend it never happened, or you can tire yourself out, trying to get the attention of a guy who will never look at you that way. You’re fighting a battle that you’ll never win and you’ll just isolate yourself in doing so.”
Kristen looks down at her feet. “I guess I’m being a bit childish, aren’t I?”
I nod my head. “I get the whole ‘go after what you want’ idea, but you’d be hurting a lot of people for nothing.”
Kristen looks up at me, with an embarrassed expression on her face. “I didn’t stop to think about all that. I’m sorry. I was in a shit relationship before, and now I’m here with my brother because I got fired. I guess I was trying to overcompensate.”
“I accept your apology. I don’t expect us to be best friends, but I do expect that, as a woman, you respect me and my relationship.”
“I can do that. I guess I better apologize to Noah.”
I shrug. “I won’t tell you what to do, but I’d appreciate that.”
“Is Connor single?”
“Kristen!” I groan.
She lets out a nervous laugh. “Sorry, sorry, too early for jokes, huh?”
“Just a bit.”
“But for real … is he?”
Good Lord.