“Awesome job, kid. Hey, we want to run something by you.”
She hops onto the couch near Oakley, careful not to bump her foot. “What’s up?”
“Once we get back from this road series and Oakley has her surgery, how would you feel about her staying with us?”
Her eyes widen. “Does that mean I can sleep in?”
I laugh as Oakley smothers a grin. “Yeah, kid. You can sleep in instead of leaving before sunrise.”
“Then I’m so in, brother.” She turns to Oakley. “When are you moving in?”
Oakley glances at me then back at her. “Probably next week, if that works for you.”
Aubrey throws her arms around Oakley’s neck and squeezes tight.
“How about we go grab lunch at Stumps?” Oakley says once Aubrey releases her. “Noah’s probably getting grumpy without food.”
That gets a giggle out of Aubs as she bounces to the door.
“I’ll ride with Noah,” Oakley says after a beat.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
I watch her go, and for the first time in a long while, it doesn’t feel like she’s walking away.
Chapter 23
Oakley Kate
I’d hoped the ride to Stumps would be quiet, but I should’ve known better with my brother behind the wheel. We don’t even make it out of the rink parking lot before he’s asking how my talk with Silas went. Instead of giving him an answer, I ask a question that’s been bugging me instead.
“If you knew what was happening, why didn’t you say something?”
“Because he asked me not to,” he says as he pulls onto the highway.
“Since when has that ever stopped you from butting into people’s lives?”
“Since it had the possibility of upending yours. Although, I guess I didn’t need to worry too much about that,” he says with a pointed look.
I wince. He’s still salty that no one told him about me quitting. I think I’ll keep the full reasoning to myself a little longer. Maybe forever.
“I could’ve hinted that something was up with him,” Noah continues, “but he really didn’t want you to know. And Mom had to swear to secrecy when she started watching Aubrey for him.”
The truth settles heavy in my chest. Maybe he didn’t want me to know, but I do now. And I can’t just sit back and watch him fall apart.
“I’m going to do it,” I say finally. “I’ll be homebound for a little while, but it sounds like that’ll work out fine.”
“I knew you would. How do you feel about it?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. I’d never not help Silas, you know?”
He nods slowly, licking his lips like he’s weighing his words. “I do know. I also know you and he have history. I guess what I’m asking is, are you sure you can handle sharing the same space day in and day out?”
I’m shaking my head before he even finishes. “I walked away, Noah. And as much as I still love him—and I will only admit that to myself—I walked away because it was the right thing to do. I refuse to let my issues hold him back from being exactly who he is.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but I lift my hand to stop him.
