“Jeez, I was joking,” she says, tugging me back by the arm. “Anyway, you and I both know why he’s doing this.” She huffs.
I hold my breath.
“He wants to find his own place,” she states.
Pain hits my chest. I hate when she talks like that. If Noah leaves…I don’t know what I’ll do. I’m not sure I can withstand that again. Not when I just got him back.
Hefeels like a drug and I just got a small hit. Seeing him everyday, all day, has been a blessing and a curse. But nothing in me wants it to end. Not ever.
“I feel like all we’ve been talking about is Noah, lately.” Veronica pouts.
A wave of guilt washes over me. After what I just did. It’s not her fault that I’m in this mess with Noah. I’ve just been so…wrapped up in him. Even after insisting we stay apart, I drew myself back to him anyway. I have no one to blame but myself. Veronica’s the mother of my child. That’s what she’ll always be, no matter how this turns out.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s just been…a lot of readjusting, with him here. I’m trying to make everyone happy.” I admit. “But, you’re right. How are you? How have you been?” I ask, getting comfortable.
Veronica smiles. “Well, I’ve been good. Excited for the annual summer fair—”
“Isn’t it Noah’s birthday coming up too?” I ask.
Veronica's lips straight line together.
Right. Shit. “Sorry, go on.”
She nods. “Yeah, after I leave for the girls weekend, I was thinking we could go to the summer fair together? It’ll be the first time since being pregnant.”
“Okay, yeah. That sounds nice.” I nod. “When was the girls weekend again?”
Veronica’s face goes still. “Brad, I told you this. It’s next weekend.”
“Right, right.” Dammit. I really need to listen better.
“I really need you to remember this. It’s the first weekend I’ll be away from Paislee. You’ve got to help me feel comfortable about this or else I'm not going. I—”
I turn to her, resting my hand on her shoulder to calm her down. “I’m sorry. Right. Everything will be fine.Morethan fine. It’ll be perfect.”
“You promise?” She yawns, snuggling into my arm.
I look down at her and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I promise.”
A weekend alone with Paislee and Noah? I think I can do that.
29
Noah
“Stop looking at me like that,” Brad mutters under his breath as he screws in a lightbulb.
“It’s a nice view,” I say quietly as I hand him the next one to install in the kitchen hanging light.
This is definitely not a two person job but how could I not? Getting to look up at Brad as he stretches his strong arms above his head. Twisting and pulling as he positions the metal decoration just right. I justhadto help.
Electrical was completed over the weekend so we got to install all the walls and lighting this week.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.” Brad shakes his head, jumping off the counter.
“I can definitely think of one to two things,” I say quietly, pressing my chest into his shoulder.
“Hey Boss,” Terry’s voice cuts in, loud enough to make us both jump apart.
