“Goodnight, Noah.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Noah
Downgraded
We don’t have practice on Sunday, but I coach Izzie’s team, and somehow use the promise of writing in the stands to convince Savannah to come with me.
The kids arrive and we skate laps to warm up, but every time I look over, Savannah’s eyes are on us. Or on me, but she follows Izzie too. It’s…nice. Really nice.
* * *
I have to wait around until all the kids are claimed, but by the time I find Sav and Izzie, my sister is explaining how she watched LaLa Land over the holidays and thinks she might want to be a pianist when she grows up.
“You can do anything you set your mind to,” Sav encourages her.
“Noah says that too. I just need to find somewhere with a piano so I can try it out.”
“You’ve never played?”
“We’ve just used recorders so far.” Izzie gets a fearful look on her face. “Do you think I’m too late?”
“Not if you love it and that’s what you want to do,” Sav assures her, biting her bottom lip.
“Ready to head out?” I make my presence known and give Savannah an Are you okay? look.
“Are we still going to eat? We had Mama Joy’s last night, but I can go again if that’s what you want,” Izzie tells Savannah. “Unless there’s one of those fancy restaurants with a piano we can go to?”
“Not that I know of.”
Sav is still gnawing on her bottom lip, and while my first instinct is to kiss her to set it free, I can tell something is on her mind.
“What’s up?”
“I know a place with a piano. And knowing her, she made more than enough food.”
“Can we go? Please?” Izzie asks me.
“Your cousin’s?” I ask, remembering the recital I thought she was making up.
“Stevie lives too far away, but my mom was the one who taught her. We do Sunday night dinner, and she cooks as if she thinks everyone is bringing their five closest friends and leaving with leftovers,” she shares.
“Do you play?” Izzie’s eyes are wide.
“I like to press on the keys and pretend I know what I’m doing, but one of my brothers learned a few songs to impress a girl, so it can’t be that hard.”
“Please, Noah, please?”
“If Savannah’s parents say it’s okay.”
Sav’s clearly wrestling with herself, which would make me turn her down, even if she insisted, which she would for Izzie’s sake, but I think her reluctance is entirely rooted in not wanting us to find out who her brothers are, and not only do I already know, I really don’t care. Rather, I care more about what they’ll do to me for what I do to their sister than what they do for a living. Because I’d kill anyone who touched Izzie, and I’m not sure that’ll change much over the next decade. Especially if he’s a fucking asshole who won’t even date her. Fuck.
Savannah and Izzie are both looking at me like I should be answering a question, but I was spaced out.
“Are you good with fried chicken?” Savannah repeats.
“Yeah, that’s perfect,” I assure her.
