“But grateful?” Ciarán asks sweetly.
I peek between my fingers. “Unfortunately,” I groan. “You two are really laying it on thick today.”
They mean well, I know they’ve done it because I told them I wanted to do more events. And the store does need more reach. But change is hard for me. Exposure is harder. Still, I think I’d regret not taking these opportunities, and I have enough regrets in my life.
“Yes, okay, do it.”
“Don’t let him talk you into anything without thinking about it first,” Aiden says gruffly as he drops into the chair across from Theo, setting two mugs down on the table, glaring at Ciarán.
Noah leans into my space. I feel the heat of him, and it sends a shiver through me. “You feeling okay?” he whispers near my ear, just for me.
I feel the warmth of his breath against my skin, and it takes effort not to let my eyes flutter closed and lean in so his lips brush my ear. I give him a nod.
Ciarán smiles at my brother, but there’s nothing friendly in it. “I only want the best for him. No need to be so protective, Daddy.”
Aiden looks at him, stone-faced. “Stop calling me that.”
“But it’s so much fun.”
I huff out a breath. “You two need couples counseling.”
“We should do this weekly,” Theo says happily at the same time, clearly enjoying their bickering.
Abbie groans and reaches for her coffee. “This is why I always have to sit in the middle, to referee.”
“You love it,” I tell her.
“Maybe.” She hides a massive smile behind her mug.
The conversation drifts—Abbie talking about a school play her students are rehearsing, Theo mentioning a new art show he wants to check out—and I find myself just… listening. The table is filled with warmth and overlapping voices, and for the first time in a long time, it feels like I’m part of something instead of orbiting around it.
Noah hasn’t spoken much during lunch, but I notice him watching me, and whenever I catch his eye, he has a tender-looking smile on his face when taking the group in.
I know he was lonely in the city. I hope he doesn’t feel like that anymore.
I hope he’s happy with us.
By the time I flip the sign toClosed, the day has left me pleasantly wrung out. The lunch chatter still hums faintly in my head—Abbie’s easy warmth, Ciarán and Aiden bickering like it’s their job, Theo’s dry one-liners that made Ciarán snort-laugh in a way I’d never heard before.
I’d been nervous about going, but I’m glad I did.
I’m wiping down the counter when the door opens, and Noah steps inside. “Hi,” he says, smiling in a way that makes my stomach flutter.
“Hi,” I say shyly. I feel like he can see the attraction on my face now that I’ve admitted it to myself.
He glances at the rag in my hand. “Need help?”
I shake my head. “Almost done.”
He leans against the counter. “You did a lot of smiling today, seemed less tense than when we went to Kindle’s,” he says casually, but there’s an undertone of something else I can’t quite place, maybe hope?
His eyes search mine, and I duck my head, focusing very hard on cleaning. “I’m trying,” I say, a little dazed. “It felt… good. I felt like I was actually present, not worrying about all the things that might go wrong.”
“I want that for you.” His voice is so low I almost miss it, and that strange flutter goes off in my heart again, the same one that’s been sneaking up on me all day when I think of him.
By the time I set the rag aside, he’s already heading for the nook with a paper bag.
“Brought snacks,” he calls over his shoulder. “Figured we could work on the shop stuff?”
