My heart pounds. “Matt and I… we’re together. For real.”
There’s a half second of stunned silence. Then?—
“Oh my God,” Birdie squeals.
“I knew it!” Paulina shouts.
J.D. knocks his knuckles against the table, a grin on his face.
Sutton tears up.
Dad chews on his lip.
Witt says nothing.
Parker grabs my hand and says, “Since the dinner, we’ve all known.”
“Well, it wasn’t official then. Now it is.”
Dad finally weighs in. It’s his opinion that matters the most. Dad’s, then Greyson’s. It won’t change my mind if they don’t approve, but I’m afraid it might change Matt’s. He’s loyal like the O’Ryan clan. So, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
“As long as you’re happy, and I can see that Matt makes you happy.” He stands, comes around the table, kisses me on the head, and shakes Matt’s hand.
Greyson just stares at us. “What about the baby?” he asks, his voice calm but heavy.
The room stills again.
Matt clears his throat. “I have an idea. Noelle and I haven’t talked about it yet.”
My pulse jumps.
“I want Brooks to sign away his parental rights and a non-disclosure agreement,” Matt says. “That way he can’t use the baby or Noelle for publicity. Ever. It protects them. And if… if we ever got married, there’s no risk of legal issues.”
Married? He’s thinking about marriage?
Silence spreads like ripples on the water. Calmly.
Sutton’s hand flies to her mouth.
Birdie’s eyes go wide.
Paulina whispers, “Oh, wow.”
Even Dad looks shaken.
I feel all of it—the love, the fear, the weight of being seen too clearly.
“Okay,” I say too fast. “Let’s go.”
Matt looks at me, startled. “Noelle?—”
“I need air,” I say. “Now.”
He stands immediately, because he always does. As we walk out, the noise and warmth fade behind us, but I know one thing with startling clarity.
Whatever this is between us…
It’s not pretend anymore.
