Noah nods and ducks his head, suddenly shy around me.
“Do you need other gear?”
“No. The skates are too much as it is,” Aria insists.
I ignore her and keep my attention on Noah. He’s staring into my eyes with hope, and I’m oddly choked up. This kid will have all the stuff the other kids have. I’ll see to it.
“What do you say? I have time to kill. Let’s get you outfitted.”
“I’d really like that.” Noah manages a smile.
“Thank you, but—” Aria shakes her head. “I can’t let you do this.”
“Sure you can. Besides, I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for Noah.”
“Aunt Aria, please?—”
Noah’s begging wears her down, and she reluctantly nods. “Okay, but don’t go overboard.”
“This way, buddy.” I put a hand on his back and steer him toward the youth section. We pick out pads, pants, socks, everything I can think of. Aria follows closely behind as if I can’t be trusted alone with her nephew. I’m insulted, but I let it pass. Not worth the effort.
Aria hangs back as Noah and I select his gear. Gone is his sad smile. We’re joking and laughing together. When I glance back at his aunt, her expression is a mixture of terror and sadness, which is curious. Anger I can understand, or even joy at seeing Noah happy, but what’s she afraid of? It doesn’t make sense. After all, she trusted me enough to fuck my brains out in a public place. Okay, I shake off that image, because this isn’t the time or place to get a hard-on. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want an encore. I want one in the worst way.
Maybe I can convince her after my act of goodwill. I’m a pretty convincing guy. Or maybe I should leave her alone, but I can’t.
Chapter 18
Heartrending and Terrifying
~~Aria~~
Watching Drakos with Noah is both heartrending and terrifying. I hate to admit it, but they have a bond that’s unexplainable unless you know what I know. There’s something to be said about genetic memory. My big fear is that Noah will become attached, and Drakos won’t return his affection, not that I want him to. I’d prefer this man is out of both of our lives.
Is Drakos doing this for Noah or because he thinks he can get me horizontal again? Not that we were horizontal before, but same outcome. An orgasm of all orgasms.
Damn. I must stop thinking about him this way, especially when I’m with Noah. It doesn’t seem right. Seems like a betrayal.
Gardenia chooses this moment to enter with the twins. Soon, the three boys are excitedly picking out Noah’s gear with Drakos’s help. He’s so good with kids. I don’t understand why he gave up his rights to Noah. The more I see, the less it makes sense, yet I want it to make sense because the alternative is scary. I can’t ask him what his intentions are because that’ll open an entirely different can of worms. What if he wants Noah back? Legally he gave up rights, but that may not stop him. He has unlimited resources to take me to court, and I have nothing.
Watching the two of them together is hard. It’s alarming how much Noah looks like Drakos. Do other people notice? I’m sure not as they wouldn’t have any reason to be looking for a resemblance. All anyone else sees are two blond-haired, blue-eyed guys, one a child and one an adult.
I worry too much. Or do I?
Gardenia’s brow furrows, and she studies first Noah and then Drakos. My stomach sinks to the floor. Maybe I’m not being paranoid. She senses something. I can tell by her expression, along with the way she’s analyzing the two of them. Noah gestures like Drakos. He stands like him. He has his smile.
I approach to distract her. “Hi, how are you?”
Our eyes meet. She knows something, but I don’t think she fully understands what yet. I can tell she’s attempting to figure out what it is that’s bothering her. I won’t give her a hint.
“I’m good. Any luck on the job front?”
“No, not so far.”
“I might have something. Let me talk to Carla first before I make a proposal.”
Carla? What does Carla have to do with my getting a job? She’s a PI, and I’m a journalist—make that was a journalist. Reporters with way more experience than me struggle to find decent-paying jobs. My unserious work with All Hockey News doesn’t look great on a résumé, considering the content we published.
I don’t ask questions, and I don’t see this going anywhere, but I do the polite thing and thank her.
