Her head whipped toward him, surprised at his choice of words. “Do youfeelworse?”
“Yeah, I do, but I’m not sure why. The first few sessions seemed to help. But now I feel like every part of me rebels against the advice he gives me.”
“What advice does he give you?”
Noah’s jaw clenched before he pulled up in front of a house. “Come on. We don’t want to be late.”
He wasn’t going to tell her. Why not? Because she wouldn’t like the answer? Because at least part of that advice involved her?
She climbed out to find Noah already by her side. After grabbing the potato salad from the back, they headed toward the house, but she couldn’t just leave it like this.
“Noah, if this is going to work between us, we have to be honest with each other.” When they reached the door, she stepped closer to him. “Trust me with the truth, even if you think I won’t like it.”
“The truth is, I’m falling in love with you, Addie.”
Her jaw dropped, her heart taking off in a gallop. Love…he was falling in love with her. She’d known she was in love with him for weeks, but to know the feelings were reciprocated made a million emotions ripple through her body.
He inched closer and gripped her hip. “But as much as that makes me happy, it also scares me.”
“Why does it scare you?”
“Because I want to do this right. I don’t want to mess everything up.”
“How would you mess it up?”
“By rushing it. By not giving you the best version of me to love.”
She could have laughed. “Noah, I’d choose the worst version of you over the best version of anyone else, every day.”
His eyes darkened, and he lowered his head and kissed her. The kiss wasn’t desire or need—it was filled with emotion, and it consumed her.
When he lifted his head, he didn’t step back, instead touching his temple to hers. “This is why I need you, Addie. You make me feel like my flaws aren’t things I need to hide.”
“They’re just a part of you,” she whispered, still breathless. Then she smiled. “Like how my chocolate addiction is a part of me.”
He chuckled, and God, the sound was good to hear.
A car pulled up on the street, and Addie turned to see her parents climbing out. Her mother smiled, while her dad watched them closely.
She wouldn’t say her father disliked Noah, he just wasn’t overly warm or affectionate. In fact, she would say her father seemed to like Noah more than any of her previous boyfriends. But then, that shouldn’t be a surprise. None of them had meant anything to her.
“Hi.” When they reached the door, she hugged them both. Noah shook their hands, then opened the front door for everyone. He led them straight through the house and into the backyard, where they found the rest of the party.
Noah slipped an arm around her waist, and they walked around to say hi and introduce her parents. When they reached an older woman with graying hair and a wide smile, she pulledNoah right into a hug. “Noah, sweetheart, it’s so good to see you.”
“Hey, Aunt Pam.”
When she pulled back, it almost looked like there were tears in the older woman’s eyes. She might only be an aunt, but it was clear she loved Noah like a son.
Noah turned to Addie and her parents. “Aunt Pam, this is Addie, and her parents Mark and Diana.”
Pam held out a hand to her mother and father. “Welcome to my home. It’s nice to meet you both.” Then she turned to her. “Addie.” She tugged her into an embrace. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
Her brows rose. “You have?”
“Of course.” She pulled back, still smiling. “I make it my mission to learn everything I can about the partnersallmy children have their eye on.”
“Pam…” Noah started.
