Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“Did you turn on the grill?”
“I did.” He gives my waist a squeeze and then lets me go when the doorbell rings. “I’ll get it.”
“Okay.” I accept a quick kiss, then watch him walk around the corner and out of sight before I go back to putting the finishing touches on the cake for dessert.
Since Conner signed the divorce papers two months ago, life has been a whirlwind of many ups, with a few downs tossed in.
A week after my lawyer pushed the divorce papers through, a judge signed them, finalizing my divorce and ending that chapter of my life.
Then, a couple of days after, Noah took my brother out for a beer and told him that the two of us were together. I was honestly torn about him telling Aiden; not because I worried that Aiden wouldn’t like his best friend being with his little sister, but because I was worried Aiden wouldn’t want me with Noah.
I fretted the entire time Noah was out that evening, scared that he would come home and say that he’d changed his mind about me after talking to Aiden.
I shouldn’t have worried.
Aiden had concerns, most of them having to do with how quickly things had progressed between Noah and me. But he told Noah that if he was happy, then he was happy for him. And I know deep in my gut that even if Aiden had told Noah that he didn’t think it was smart for him to be with me, my guy wouldn’t have listened.
Noah has made it clear that his feelings for me are genuine and that he’s in this for the long haul. He’s accepted me as I am and is patient with me as I figure out who I’m becoming.
“It smells delicious in here,” May says by way of greeting, coming around the corner into the kitchen, carrying a bottle of wine in one hand and a bouquet in the other. Aiden and Noah follow behind her.
“It’s Noah’s twice-baked potatoes.” I give her a one-arm hug, then smile at my brother as he walks around the counter to kiss my cheek.
“No, it’s the cake. The frosting on that thing is killer,” Noah tells them with his gaze locked on mine. I feel heat rising to my cheeks at the memory of what he said he wanted to do with the frosting he swiped from the bowl earlier.
“Don’t gross me out before we eat,” Aiden grumbles, looking between the two of us. May giggles while I duck my head.
“So…” May bumps her hip into mine, and I look at her. “How’s the new job?”
“Good. Busy.” I shake my head. “There’s lots to learn, but I really love it.”
“She’s already outselling Manny, and he’s been at that location for three years. Everyone is seriously impressed with how well she’s done in such a short time,” Noah tells her, and the pride I hear in his voice makes my chest warm.
Honestly, it feels good knowing that people are taking notice of how hard I’m working. And I’m doing it all on my own. I mean, yes, I have someone showing me the ropes, but I could have gotten this job even without my dad’s help.
“So, what’s your plan now that your dad’s back in the office?” Noah asks Aiden, and I hold my breath because I know that working for our dad has always been a sticky subject for him. But it’s a good question, especially since my dad started coming to work daily last week.
He’s improved tremendously in the last couple of months and is almost back to one hundred percent. He also seems happier now than he ever has. I don’t know if that has to do with divorcing my mom or what, but it’s been good seeing him as he has been.
On the other hand, my mom is still as angry as ever. But I haven’t spoken to her since our last run-in, which had to do with me being with Noah—whom she doesn’t think is worth my time. When she told me to dump him, I told her that she wasn’t welcome to be a part of my life in any capacity unless she made some significant personality changes. And since I doubt she’ll change, I’m not sure I will ever see her again. And that makes me sad for her because, at the end of the day, she will be missing out on being a part of her grandchildren’s lives one day. My dad, however, is thrilled that I’m with Noah, which only makes me feel surer about the man I’ve fallen in love with.
“I’m staying.” My brother’s statement brings me out of my thoughts, and I find him looking at May, who now sports a huge rock on her ring finger. “Dad’s back, but he doesn’t want to work the hours he was before. So, I’ll fill in for him when he needs time off and still deal with clients like I have been.”