No thanks. Need some time to think.
Ryan’s response was immediate.
Don’t think too much. Noah loves you. He’s just scared.
Luke tossed his phone onto the kitchen counter, unable to face any more well-meaning advice. Because that was the problem, wasn’t it? Noah did love him—Luke could see it in his eyes, feel it in every touch, hear it in the way his voice softened when they were together. But love wasn’t always enough, especially when fear spoke louder.
The house felt too quiet, too empty after a weekend surrounded by family. There was a half-finished bookshelf in his workshop that he’d been building for Eli’s growing collection. The video game controller was still out from when Eli had come out here while Noah was at a meeting.
Between fixing a storm-damaged house and falling in love with its occupants, Luke had found the family he hadn’t known hewas looking for. And now, watching it slip away, he realized he had no idea how to fight for it without making things worse.
His phone buzzed again—probably another well-meaning message from his siblings—but Luke ignored it. Instead, he grabbed his keys and headed for his workshop. Maybe losing himself in sawdust and power tools would help quiet the voices in his head telling him to drive back to Noah’s to prove that loving each other made them stronger, not weaker.
But as he stood in his workshop, staring at projects half-finished with Eli’s help, Luke knew he had to make a choice. He could fight for them, push through Noah’s fears and risk pushing him further away. Or he could step back, give Noah the space he seemed to need, and hope that love would eventually speak louder than fear.
The decision felt like lead in his stomach, but Luke knew what he had to do. Because loving Noah—and Eli—meant respecting their needs, even when it hurt. Even when every instinct screamed at him to hold on tighter.
His phone buzzed one final time. This message he couldn’t ignore.
Can we talk tomorrow? After Eli’s in bed?
Luke’s hands shook as he typed his response.
Whatever you need.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Dad,have you seen my Iron Man shirt?” Eli’s voice carried down the hallway, followed by the sound of dresser drawers opening and slamming shut. “The one with the glowy thing that lights up?”
Noah paused in making Eli’s lunch, smiling despite his exhaustion. He didn’t have the heart to point out that the glow-in-the-dark didn’t matter since it was a sunny day and they’d be outside other than during lunch and snack time. “Did you check the laundry basket? Pretty sure I washed it last night when we got home.”
“Found it!” More shuffling sounds, then Eli appeared in the kitchen doorway, shirt already half-on and hair sticking up in all directions. “We’re doing superhero art projects today at camp. I have to wear it.”
“Of course you do.” Noah set aside the sandwich he was making to help straighten Eli’s shirt. “Although I’m pretty sure you could make awesome art wearing any shirt.”
His phone buzzed on the counter—Jenna’s familiar picture lighting up the screen. Noah’s stomach did a complicated flip. He hadn’t talked to her since before the lake house disaster, and he wasn’t sure he was ready for her perceptiveness right now. He’d been hiding away from the world, wallowing, any time he didn’t have to pretend like everything was okay for Eli’s sake.
It had been four days since he’d seen Luke. They exchanged text messages throughout the day, but even those were tense. Their talk hadn’t happened yet because of some setback on a project that had Luke and his crew working overtime. With every day that passed, Noah couldn’t help but wonder if this was Luke giving him a taste of what it would be like if he listened to the stupidity in his head.
Or maybe it was more of him accepting Noah’s excuses about needing to focus on Eli.
“Hey, buddy, can you grab your backpack while I talk to Mom?”
Eli nodded, already darting back toward his room. Noah took a deep breath before answering the call.
“Morning,” he managed, aiming for casual.
“You sound terrible.” Jenna’s voice carried a mix of concern and amusement. “Late night?”
Noah glanced at the couch where he’d spent most of the night, unable to sleep in a bed that still smelled like Luke. “Something like that. What’s up?”
“Well, I was calling with good news, but now I’m worried about you.” A pause, then, “I’ve got a break coming up. Thought I might come get Eli for a few days and take him to that new water park he’s been talking about. And since I miss out on so much, Iwas hoping you wouldn’t mind if I took him shopping for school supplies and clothes. From the pictures, it looks like he’s in desperate need of a new wardrobe with how fast he’s growing.”
“Oh.” Noah’s chest tightened at the thought of Eli being away right now. “When were you thinking?”
“End of next week? But seriously, Noah, what’s going on? You sound…off.”
“I’m fine.” The words came out sharper than intended. In the background, he could hear Eli singing to himself as he packed his bag in the other room. “Just tired.”
