She looked up but the train was out of sight. Noah was gone.
ChapterThirty-Nine
An hour later, Elle slumped down on the settee and kicked off her boots, sighing loudly.
Pippa appeared in the doorway. ‘That’s a loud sigh. What’s up with you and what was all that about before?’
‘It’s Noah.’
‘I kind of gathered it was something to do with him.’
‘The girl last night – the one with her arms wrapped around him – she only turned out to be Jessica – Arthur’s daughter.’
‘No way. I bet that was a shock. What a coincidence,’ Pippa exclaimed, sliding into the chair. ‘And is she Noah’s girlfriend?’
‘I thought she was but it turns out she’s with Dan.’
‘Some girls have all the luck,’ Pippa said with a grin. ‘So why are you looking so glum?’
‘Because Noah’s gone back to London. He thought I wasn’t interested because I didn’t turn up at his signing and I didn’t message. I think I’ve missed my chance. Jessica told me that last night was a disaster and he was constantly checking his phone for a message from me and now he’s on a train back to London. I raced to the station to stop him but it was too late. I saw him step onto the train and before I could reach him, it left.’
‘Oh, Elle.’
‘That’s when I rang you for his number, but it went straight to voicemail, and I … I couldn’t just leave him a message. What would I have said?’
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
‘That’ll be Aiden,’ Pippa said. ‘He was going to come round after he dropped Theo back with Louisa. I’ll get the door.’
Elle nodded. Her head was spinning. Within the last twenty-four hours she’d met her biological mother, found out Wilson was her brother, got to know Arthur and Jessica – and Noah had disappeared back to London.
Hearing the front door shut, Elle looked towards the hallway and was just about to say hello to Aiden when her eyes locked on Noah, who was standing in the doorway wearing a lopsided grin. ‘Cooper.’
Elle’s heart began to race.
‘Can I come in?’
‘Of course. Where’s Pippa?’ Elle asked, looking over his shoulder.
Noah pointed to the front door. ‘She’s given us some space. Her words, not mine,’ he said. ‘She grabbed her trainers and jumped into a car that just pulled up outside.’
‘That’ll be Aiden.’ Elle gestured to the chair.
Noah sat down opposite her. He stared at her in a way that caused her whole body to erupt in goosebumps. He was a vision of total gorgeousness.
‘What are you doing here? I saw you at the station… I went… I’m not making much sense, am I?’
Breathe, Elle – in, out, in, out.
‘I heard you shout at me as I got on the train, but by the time I realised it was you, the doors had closed. Then, as soon I got a signal, I received texts from both Jessica and Dan telling me not to get on the train because of you.’
‘But you were on the train. How did you get here?’
‘I jumped off at the next station and got a taxi straight here.’
‘I’m so sorry about last night. There was an accident and—’
‘I know you’d left your phone at home. Are we ever going to get this timing right?’
