“Don’t I always?”
I wrap her in an embrace when I notice Noelle over her shoulder in the distance. The wind is knocked from my chest—she’s wearing a white, strapless short dress. Her hair is half up, flowing down her back, and the hem of her dress hits mid-thigh. My eyes travel down her legs, and I mentally scold myself for even thinking about her in this way.
Why is my dick twitching?
“Hey, thanks for picking up Noelle last weekend,” Sutton whispers in my ear.
“Anytime. I’m here for the O’Ryans.”
We break the hug, and Greyson says, “You never really told me what Noelle said that night. All she told me was that she got drunk.”
“She passed out. Her roommates weren’t home, so I put her in bed and put some water by her bed. Did she tell you why she was drunk?” I ask, looking between them.
“Nope. She holds things close to the vest when she doesn’t want people to know.” Greyson sighs. “Noelle wants people to believe she’s this badass, but our mom’s death affected us all in different ways. She wants to be like Mom instead of being herself.”
“Are Brooks and her still broken up?” I inquire casually.
J.D. and Birdie join us, with their baby girl Henley on J.D.'s chest, swaying from side to side. “Broken up? Really? When?”
“That’s what I was getting ready to say. When I was dog-sitting, Noelle came by. It was obvious she had been crying. We played some video games, and finally, she told me that Brooks was cheating on her and she broke up with him. Maybe that’s what spurred the drinking binge.”
Greyson listens without interrupting. It’s his gift. He understands why Noelle would come to him with her problems, but he realizes she never told him anything about it.
He twists his lips and finally opens his mouth, only to close it again. He gives us a head nod to look behind me.
“Guess they’re back together,” Sutton says, her tone full of disappointment. “But she must make her own mistakes, Greyson O’Ryan. If you demand that she does one thing, she’ll do another.”
Greyson marches in their direction, and I follow to keep him from ruining his sister’s graduation party. He loves Noelle with all his heart, which is why I’m ashamed of kissing her. When they are within earshot, I hear Noelle say to Brooks, “You’re here.” I can’t tell if she wants him to be or not. Her face is expressionless.
Brooks grabs her hands. “I wouldn’t miss your graduation. You mean the world to me.”
Greyson takes another step, but before he can erupt, Noelle shakes her hands loose and crosses her arms over her chest. “Leave.”
“No, baby. We hit a snag, but we can work it out. Look, I bought you this.” He reaches into the purple gift bag he’s carrying and pulls out a diamond necklace. He’s obviously gotten his signing bonus with New Orleans.
Her eyes go wide, and I assume that’s all it’s going to take for her to take him back. We stand waiting for her response. She closes her eyes and says, “I’ve moved on. Please leave.”
He jerks her arm, and I lunge for him, grabbing his elbow. “Get your hands off her, or I’ll break them.”
Brooks shakes me off and says, “What’s wrong with you, old man? You want what I have?”
Yes.
“What did you say, motherfucker?” I grab him by the shirt. He has a few inches on me and is probably on some illegal supplement.
“Stop. Both of you. And for your information, Brooks, I traded up. Matt and I are dating,” Noelle adds.
I stand there, my hands flexing at my sides, heat rushing through my chest so fast I almost don’t register what she says until it’s hanging in the air like a live wire:“Matt and I are dating.”
Time stops. Brooks blinks, shock flickering into something ugly. Noelle’s brothers—Greyson and J.D.—are stone-faced, like boulders ready to roll. Her other brothers are behind Brooks. Parker smiles like he’s enjoying the show, and Witt is expressionless. Her dad’s jaw clenches so hard I hear his teeth grind.
For a heartbeat, nobody breathes. I catch Noelle’s gaze. Her eyes are level, daring me to contradict her, but something almost pleading shimmers there—a silent apology.
Brooks laughs, humorless, the sound splintering the hush. “Are you serious right now? You’re with…him?” He jabs a thumb at me, his knuckles white. “What, you break up with me and go straight for your brother’s quarterback coach? You’ve got serious daddy issues.”
Greyson starts forward. “Watch your mouth, Brooks.” His voice is like gravel, and J.D.’s knuckles are turning white, his nostrils flaring. To be honest, I think it’s more at methan at Brooks.
Her dad, Mr. O’Ryan, just stares at me, betrayal and disbelief twisted across his face. “Matt?” His voice is a low warning. “Is that true? With my daughter?”
