Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
NOAH BARRETT
I stop myself from letting out a curse. Why did I ever make that up? It’s going to bite me. “They’re not getting married,” I blurt out.
Ellie steps back. “They’re not?”
I shake my head so hard I’m afraid nuts and bolts are going to come loose. “No. That’s a mistake. A false rumor. Please don’t tell anyone they’re getting married.”
Ellie cocks her head to the side. “But Alice said she saw Tobias ring shopping.”
Sweat beads up on my brow. How has this rumor grown so fast? Tobias is going to murder me. “They’re not getting married. But they’re happy dating. Just dating.” I point to Savannah and myself, taking another opportunity to spread our lie. “Like we are.”
Ellie smiles at us and takes a step down. “So glad for you two. I’ll get going. You don’t need me butting in.”
“Thank you, Ellie,” Savannah calls as Ellie scurries to her car.
I let out a deep breath as we walk back inside Savannah’s house. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. Ring shopping? How did that rumor even get started?”
Savannah hugs her arms to herself. “I’m so sorry. I’m sure this is all my fault. I’ll talk to Josephine and Alice. I’ll tell them it was a mistake and not to repeat it to anyone.”
“What if it’s spread beyond them?” I wonder if it’s even containable now. Is the whole island talking about them getting married? In my mind’s eye, I see feathers blowing in the wind, as my Sunday School teacher once used that as an object lesson to explain how gossip can spread quickly.
“Is it better just to convince Tobias to propose?” Savannah gives me a cheeky grin, and I swat her on the arm.
“Not funny.”
“I mean, it would solve this whole issue. Maybe you should nudge your brother in that direction.” She flashes a smile at me before heading back to her studio.
I laugh and grab a paint roller. “Cool your jets. You’re just as bad as Ellie and Josephine.”
“They are amazing together. And Kiki adores Skyler. It’s like they were meant to be together.” Savannah places her roller back in the tray of primer to get more paint. “It’s magical watching them.”
“Kiki is Skyler’s biological mother.” I suck in a breath at the same time Savannah does. I had no idea I was going to blurt that out. Why did I say it?
Savannah’s paint roller stops mid-roll. “No way. Are you serious? How?”
I work my mouth, nothing coming out. I’m shocked that I would tell Savannah something so private. Maybe it’s my subconscious trying to get closer to her. Like I don’t want any secrets between us. I scrub a hand over my jaw. “I’ll explain, if you promise not to say anything.”
“Of course.”
I tell Savannah how Kiki actually came to be on Willow Shade Island, looking for her daughter, but falling in love with Tobias as she spent time with him.
She covers the last of the wall with primer. “Wow. What a romantic story. What if they really do get married? That’s a fairy tale ending.”
Savannah gets a wistful look. I nudge her arm. “So, you’re not against marriage and all that. But you’re not wanting to date right now. What’s that story?”
Her back stiffens and her whole demeanor changes. Her lips tighten, and I know I said the wrong thing.
“I’m just not looking for that right now.” She dips her roller back into the paint, even though the wall is sufficiently covered. She rolls over the same spot.
I know I shouldn’t be hurt by this, but I can’t help it. We’ve been getting along great. I’ve been doing everything I can to get closer to her. She’s even the one who suggested we “fake date”. But it’s like she’s rejecting me all over again.
“Noted,” I say, trying not to let the sting of it into my voice.
I take my roller to the paint bucket and use a scraper to get off the extra paint, taking far too long with it. I’m embarrassed and I don’t want to look at her right now.
Things are awkward between us as we clean up all the primer and start working on the grey paint. I pull out my phone and motion. “Do you want some music?”
“Sure.”
I know Savannah loves the 80’s music, so I put on an oldies playlist that includes hits by Duran Duran, Hall and Oats, and Bon Jovi. By the time we’re done painting, she’s singing along, and the awkwardness has passed.
I check my watch. “We should clean up so we’re not late for Kiki’s dinner. I still have to change.”
“Okay. So do I.”
I help rinse out the paint rollers and we gather up the drop cloth. “I can come over next Saturday and finish up patching the ceiling. Then your studio will be done.”
She touches my arm. “Thank you. And then I can help you knock out your wall.”
I trip over my own feet. What is wrong with me today? I can’t walk straight. “Uh, yeah.”
I still don’t know which wall to knock down. I’m trying to decide if I want an open kitchen or if I’d rather have a larger bedroom with no closet. Or maybe I should confess that I don’t want to knock down any of my walls.
I go to my house and change into my uniform. When I get back, Savannah’s wearing a blue sundress with white flowers. I forget myself and put my hand on her lower back as we walk to my car. It’s an old habit and I do it without thinking.
She doesn’t say anything, but she stiffens under my touch, so I remove my hand. “Are we telling my family we’re dating? Or are they in on the deception?”
Savannah bites her lower lip as she slides into my car. “I don’t know. What’s the best thing here? I’ve never done this before.”
I shift. “They might think we’re strange if we tell them we’re fake dating.”
Actually, my brothers would think I’m super lame. Levi, especially, would tease me to no end for not having the courage to ask her out. I don’t tell Savannah this, although she knows my brothers, so I suspect she can see right through me.
“Okay. Let’s not tell anyone the truth. This whole thing is between you and me.”
I start my car and drive to my childhood home. It’s one of the largest houses on Willow Shade, and where my older brother raised me and my two younger brothers when our parents died in a car crash. I was fifteen when they died, and I did not handle it well. Blamed myself for their deaths. I rebelled big time and found a rough crowd to hang out with.
I did all the things. Started smoking. We stole beer from the convenience store and vandalized public property. We got in street fights. I had a lot of anger to get out, and that felt good. I became the dangerous kid. Skipped a lot of school.
Then I got caught stealing a car with my friends. I was only 16. If it wasn’t for my brother sending me to a juvenile intervention program, I’d probably be in jail right now instead of law enforcement.
I walk into my childhood home with Savanah. Skyler runs up to me, her lips covered in chocolate. She grabs my arm and climbs up my side. “Uncle Noah! You’re here.”
“Hey, Little Pup.” I scoop her up in my arms.
Savannah grins. “What have you been eating, Skyler?”
“Uncle Levi made chocolate muffins.”
“Looks like they’re more chocolate than muffin.” Savannah boops Skyler’s nose and grabs a tissue from a nearby box. She cleans Skyler’s mouth.
Kiki comes into the room, wiping her hands on a towel. “Hey, you made it.” Her smile widens. “So glad you came, Savannah.”
Skyler drops from me and grabs Savannah’s hand. “Come taste a muffin.”
Savannah seems delighted to be included by Skyler, and we all go into the kitchen. Levi’s at the stove, a tray of muffins cooling on the counter. He turns and grins at us. “Hey.”
Skyler runs up to the muffin tray and grabs one.
Levi grabs it away from her. “Hey, no more for you until after dinner.”
Skyler frowns. “It’s for Savannah.”
Levi looks at me, and I nod. Levi hands it back to Skyler. “All right. You can give one to Savannah.”
Skyler grins and hands one to her. “Here you go. Eat it. It’s yummy.”
Savannah ruffles her hair. “Thanks.”
Kiki nudges Savannah’s arm. “You two looked quite cozy at church. Is there something we should know?”