Eli smiled. “Yeah, I’m staying.”
Noah exhaled, relief and happiness mixing in a warm rush.
“Good.” He clasped Eli’s hand in his, and led him toward the bedroom. Snow fell in drifting patterns outside the window, but inside, Noah’s world was warm.
Tonight, he was wanted.
Chapter Fifteen
Noah had only beenout for a walk because his nerves needed somewhere to go besides pacing laps around his workshop. He’d already ruined one piece of wood, and he needed to clear his thoughts before he went anywhere near another.
My brain is trying to trip me up, that’s what it is.
Why can’t I just accept this is working out fine, and leave it at that?
Except he knew it wasn’t going to be that simple. The emotional baggage he carried still weighed heavy on him, and some things were not easily forgotten.
Not people, but the damage they’d wrought.
The marks they left behind.
Snow drifted quietly along Mapleford’s sidewalks. Lights glowed in windows. And suddenly he was standing in front of Mark and Liam’s house.
Yeah, that figured. Noah’s autopilot was in full operation.
Mark opened the door before he could knock. He called back over his shoulder, “Liam, our son is here.”
“I’mnotyour son. Can I point out that you’re a year younger than I am?”
“You are when you show up with that face,” Mark said, waving him in. “Do you want cocoa or do you want the emotional support blanket? Because we can do both.”
Liam peeked around the kitchen doorway, wiping his hands on a towel.
“Cocoa’s coming. Blanket’s on standby.” He retreated into the kitchen.
Noah groaned. “Why do you always assume something’s wrong?”
“Because you only arrive unannounced when something’s wrong,” Mark said, leading Noah to the couch.
“And because we know you,” Liam called out.
Noah sank into the cushions, and Mark draped the blanket over him with dramatic precision. Liam handed him a mug, then sat beside him.
Noah accepted it, warmth spreading through his hands. Mark and Liam’s living room was warm, cluttered, and homier than Noah’s place had ever been.
“Okay.” Mark sat facing him. “Who broke you? Was it the dog that chases you? Did Elsie yell at you again? Did you electrocute yourself?”
“No, none of those,” Noah muttered.
“Then it’s Eli,” Liam said matter-of-factly.
Noah choked on his cocoa. “What—why would you say that?”
“Because we’re not idiots,” Mark said. “And because every time you say the name ‘Eli,’ your voice gets soft like a marshmallow.”
“My voice does not?—”
“Marshmallow,” Liam repeated.
