“Hey.” I stepped closer. “Whatcha making?”
“Lasagna. It’s in the oven. I’m getting the cheesy bread ready to stick in there too. Should be done in about ten minutes.” He lifted the pan and scraped the sautéed garlic into a cup of melted butter. “Just gotta spread this on the bread and cover it with cheese.”
“Wow. Pasta, red meat, cheese, and bread. Death by heart attack?”
He gestured with his chin toward the opposite counter. “Got cupcakes too. Two more apiece. Ron and Andy about went nuts when I came in; they knew what’s in there for them. Harper never left the bedroom.”
“She’s a good girl.” I nuzzled her head and peered back at Noah. “Comfort food, huh?”
“Yeah. Figured you’ve earned it.”
A sound broke out of my throat. No idea what it was. Part groan, part cry, part something. The last thing I deserved was comfort. I needed to be beaten the fuck up.
Noah put down the brush he was using to spread the mixture over the bread and turned, reaching toward me. “Hey, it’s okay. You’ll see.”
I took a step back, and he paused.
“Sorry. If you hug me right now, I’ll start sobbing. And I don’t want to cry again for the rest of my life.”
He let his arms drop but didn’t look like his feelings were hurt. “Is it all right if I get a couple of questions out of the way? That way we don’t have to hash through it again. And, my brain is kinda going crazy. I think I know what happened, but I need to be sure.”
The last thing I wanted to do was go through anything, but I nodded.
“Okay.” Noah flailed his hands for a second, seemingly unsure what to do with them, and then returned to the bread. “I’m assuming your family cut you out completely. Said you can’t see Bailey.”
I nodded again and forced myself to speak. “Not in so many words, but yes.”
He looked like he was going to try to hug me again but stopped himself, this time picking up the bag of shredded cheese. “I’m sorry, babe.”
“Yeah.” I sniffed, then bit into my lower lip to keep from crying.
“I know this next question is selfish, but I’ve got to know.” He paused, giving me a cautious look, then continued. “How in danger am I of losing you? Are you thinking about doing whatever it was they asked?”
“No.” Even that word hurt, but Noah obviously needed more, so I tried again. “No. I’m not going back. Dad’s decision is final. It’s done.”
He nodded slowly. I could tell he wanted to ask the details. Probably ask if I had to choose between him and Bailey. He didn’t. He just shut his mouth, opened the oven door, and slipped in the cookie sheet of cheesy bread. And I loved him for it.
Noah turned back to me then. “It won’t last, Randall. There’s no way Kayla will keep Bailey from you. Not for long.”
“She won’t have a choice.” I realized I’d been stroking Harper’s head so long it was probably starting to hurt, so I shifted my hand to her back. “It’s done. I’ve lost her.”
“No way.”
I looked up at him, a flash of anger shooting through me. “Noah, please. You don’t know my family. My dad. It’s over.”
Noah shook his head. “Nope. This isn’t how this is going to go. It isn’t. I don’t know how it will happen or how long it will take, but this isn’t how this will end. I promise.”
I knew he meant well, that he was trying to make me feel better, but it only made it worse. “Okay. Thanks.”
“I mean it, Randall.”
“I know you do, Noah.” I let out a sigh, trying to release my frustration at him. He didn’t deserve that. “I know you do. Thanks for loving me and for making dinner.”
He opened his mouth to say more, but didn’t, thankfully.
After giving Harper another kiss, I bent and placed her on the floor, then headed to the sink to wash my hands. “I’ll set the table.”
Chapter Nineteen
