“Well, it’s not like I had to do much.” She gestured to the bags of Chinese food they’d brought. “Also, why aren’t you hungover?”
Val opened his mouth to answer, but she didn’t let him.
“I wish I were that young again. I can’t handle my alcohol anymore.” She pressed the fingers of both hands to her temples. “Anyway, come in. It’s so cold outside.”
They all walked into the house, and a warmth that felt like home wrapped around Noah. It had been over a month since he’d last been here. Everything looked so much better now that she’d finished the renovations she wanted to do.
The walls were all painted in a light shade of grey that matched the rustic wooden floors. The ceilings, high and perfectly white, contrasted with the colorful mustard yellow, brown, and dark blue furniture. She had some Scandinavian atmospheric black metal music playing in the background—if Noah wasn’tmistaken, it was Myrkur. Trine was obsessed with this artist since she’d discovered her a few months before.
He loved all of this for her.
“This looks amazing, Mom.”
“Thank you, honey.”
“Have you done it all by yourself?” Val asked.
“No. I wish.” She laughed, then grimaced again. “I had my friend Sigrid help me. She’s the best handyman ever.”
“Nice!”
“Is she the photography assistant?” Noah wondered.
“No, that’s Silvia. Sigrid is the tattoo artist that did the piece on my shin three months ago.”
“But I thought it was a friend from work who invited you out for dinner and drinks?”
“Do you ever listen to me?” Trine rolled her eyes, grinning. “Sylvia and I met Sigrid again at a drag show a month ago, and she invited us to her friend’s pub.”
“Oh, okay. Sorry. I’m so bad with names, and you gotta admit those are really similar.”
“Sure, baby.” She patted his shoulder jokingly, as if she were talking to a kid. “Okay, enough with the small talk, table is ready, so let’s sit and eat.” She motioned to the area designated for the dining room.
“You’re hungry?” Theo asked with a chuckle. “When I’m hungover, I just wanna die.”
“And I do wanna die,” she said. “But my stomach is craving the most greasy, unhealthy food. Did you bring me those spring rolls, Noah?”
“Of course.” He grinned, for real this time. “Who do you think I am?”
“The best son in the world.”
The four of them sat and started opening the takeout containers—rice, noodles, spring rolls, some spicy beef, and chicken with veggies. They could feed an entire army.
As they ate, the space filled with music, chitchat, jokes, and soft laughter. However, Noah wasn’t feeling the coziness that usually washed over him when they gathered like this. Over the past two years, he’d sewn his heart together, but after seeing Kaj the previous night, some stitches had ruptured, and he was questioning every decision he had made.
“What are you thinking about?” Trine’s voice brought him back to the table.
“Nothing.” He shook his head and scooped a forkful of crispy sesame chicken.
“I know you. I gave birth to you,” she said. “You’re way too silent and moody. What is it?” Her eyes darted from Noah to Val and Theo, who immediately stuffed their mouths with food. “Out with it.”
“It’s all good,” he insisted.
“Did something happen with Zach?”
“No.”
“Something with your project?”
