Noah came into the kitchen as I hung up with the doctor’s office. I smiled as I put my phone on the counter, even if my body still felt like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“That was the doctor,” I told him. “They said to call back if we saw any issues, but since Ads appears to be fine and doesn’t even have a scratch on her, there was no need to come in.”
He nodded, moving to pull out a chair at my kitchen table. Nodding at one across from him, he said, “Want to sit for a minute?”
I crossed and sank into the seat gratefully. My legs were practically trembly. I felt like I’d been holding everything together and the slightest of breezes would blow it apart. “How’s Chief?”
Noah watched me for a moment, then nodded like he was confirming something. “Not sure. The vet and vet tech met us when we arrived and took him back for X-rays immediately. He was still alert, so I’m thinking that’s good, but honestly, I have no idea.”
I nodded, glancing down at my phone even though I knew Jake hadn’t texted. I’d sent Drew to him, but I wished I’d gone in his place.
Shaking my head, I moved to stand. “Let me go check on Addie,” I said.
Noah waved a hand. “She’s good. She’s watching some cartoon and said she’d like a snack soon. I told her we’d bring her one. But before that, I want to talk to you.”
I looked at him, puzzled. What did we have to talk about?
“Jake’s the guy. Correct?” he asked.
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “The guy?”
“Theguy,” Noah said gently. “The one who I need to get to know because we’ll all be co-parenting that amazing little girl in there together. Right?”
With a shaky breath, I nodded. “If he’ll have me, yes.”
Noah’s face grew even more serious. “He seems great, Ivy, but he sure as hell better realize how amazing you are. I know I didn’t—”
“Noah,” I interrupted. “You know we were better as friends.”
“Doesn’t mean I wasn’t a fool. I’m just saying he better work his ass off to deserve you.” He leaned over, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
Tears hit me so suddenly they threatened to take my breath away. Through the waterworks, I could see the alarm on Noah’s face.
“I’m sorry, Ivy.” He placed a hand on my arm. “I wasn’t trying to make you cry.”
“No, it’s just…” I tried to get it out. “I mean, I hope he’s the guy. I think he’s the guy. But I might be too late. I don’t know.”
Noah squeezed my arm and got up to grab some tissues from a box on the counter. Handing them to me, he said, “Take a breath and I’ll get Addie a snack, then we can talk. What does she like?”
The tears increased because it made me think of Jake and the fact that he knew Addie, knew what she liked, and now he might be gone. Somehow, I got it together enough to list out a few snacks to Noah, and he brought them to her, then came back and settled in so that I could spill to him.
What the heck? At this point, it couldn’t hurt.
After trying to explain all that had been Jake and me over the past month, but really going back to April, I wrapped it up. “…and then he wanted to pick up Ads at school today, and I let him know you were going to be there. And now he probably thinks I’m dropping him like a hot potato like Rachel, and his dog is at the vet, and it’s just a lot.” I dropped my head onto my arms on the table.
A beat or two went by, then I felt Noah’s hand on my head. I left my head down. I was about out of any energy to deal with my life, and this was comfortable. “I can honestly say giving you advice on a guy was not how I saw today going.” I heard Noah’s chuckle, and my heart gave a hopeful beat. “But Ivy, I think it’s going to be okay.”
I chanced a look up at Noah. “Really?”
He nodded. “Sounds like this Rachel put him through the wringer. My guess is if you can show him you’re not exchanging him for another guy”—he gave me a wry smile—“including me, well, I think you’ll be on the path to happily-ever-afters and all.”
I felt lighter. I could do that. I could.
“Does he know you love him?” he asked.
My gaze found Noah’s as my eyes welled up once again. Super. “Um, no. Honestly, I just figured that out in the past day or so.”
Noah squeezed my hand. “Well, it’s not like either of us had excellent parental role models of healthy relationships.”
