“Will you fuckers stop talking about me? I’m right here,” Noah grumbles from behind me, and I jump with a shriek.
“Fucking hell,” I declare, smacking him upside his head. “Don’t sneak up on people, it’s rude.”
Noah rolls his eyes, and I have to bite back the urge to ask if he still loves me. I know he does, he just has a weird way of showing it. Just like I’m needy and want all the attention, Noah doesn’t. He hates all eyes on him and is the most private person I know. I’m slowly learning Noah wouldn’t be here celebrating my son’s birthday if he didn’t love me.
Slinging an arm around his shoulder, I give him a quick squeeze and a kiss to his cheek. He bats me away, but I chase after him. “Come on, Noah, please? I need my hugs,” I call out to his retreating form.
“You come any closer, fuckface, and I will never speak to you again,” he shouts as he runs away.
“You wouldn’t dare?” I gasp.
Oscar, seeing me run after Noah with the wind in my hair and the sun beating down on my face, chases after him as well, encouraging his friends to join in. Noah’s eyes go comically wide when a group of six kids start chasing him. I’m laughing as I come to a stop, watching my son torment Noah.
This. This is exactly what my soul needed, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the life I now have.
Chapter Forty-Five
BLAKE
The party’s in full swing as I look around. Oscar’s off playing with his friends, and their screams of delight as they run around with a football warms my heart. I was worried the weather wouldn’t hold, but we’ve been blessed today—the sun is shining and the wind is low, but there’s still a bite to the air. All in all, it’s been a great day.
Making my way over to the fire pit on the back patio, I take a seat in one of the Adirondack chairs that surround it, warming myself. Theo’s been wandering around talking to the parents of the other children, laughing, joking, and making sure everyone has something to eat or drink. For someone who doesn’t like people, he’s doing an amazing job, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.
Theo deserves more than anger filling him. I think he’s had enough of that to last a lifetime. The work he’s been putting in with Mike has also been helping. I mean, he’s still my needy Viking, but he’s a lot calmer and less chaotic.
I just don’t know what to do about the work situation. We’ve come to a stall on the case, neither of us able to find anything other than what we already know. Theo says his contact is working on it and that we need to trust them to get what we need. I’m just worried about Harper and how all this is affecting her.
True to his word, Theo has been acting professionally while we’re at the office. Maybe it’s my paranoia, but I’m convinced people know about us, especially when we find ourselves locked in a lust-filled gaze. Someone’s bound to find out about us. I want to say I’ll leave, that Theo is more important, but I’m not that type of girl. I never have been. But then again, I’m in a forbidden relationship with him so… maybe I am?
“Can we sit?” a voice asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I glance up to see Lauren and Raven pointing at the chairs next to me.
“Oh, of course,” I reply, sitting up. “Sorry, I was in a world of my own.” I chuckle.
We’ve messaged a couple of times in the group chat for the party and exchanged hellos when we first arrived, but with the chaos of setting everything up, I haven’t been able to speak to them properly.
“How’s it been?” Lauren asks, sitting down opposite me.
She’s a beautiful woman with her long blonde hair in a ponytail and her face free of makeup. The hoodie and leggings she wears look comfortable, and I’m a little jealous. I didn’t feel like I could wear my comfy clothes, so I opted for black slacks and a navy blue sweater.
“Amazing,” I reply with a smile. “Thank you so much for all your help.”
“We didn’t do anything,” Raven chuckles. “That was all you. We were just here for moral support and to let you know the best places to get everything.”
Raven seems quieter than Lauren, less outgoing. Her jeans and hoodie cling to her curvy figure while her hair blows gently in the wind.
God, I’d love to have hair like hers.
“You did more than I did, Raven,” Lauren laughs, leaning forward and warming her hands against the flames. She looks over at me as she says, “Well, it looks like we’ll all be spending a lot of time together now.”
“Yes, it does.” I smile. “So, how did you guys meet Caleb and James?”
Lauren and Raven look at each other before laughing. “Erm, Caleb was my college professor,” Lauren replies, grinning.
“James is my dad’s best friend,” Raven says, pushing a lock of curly red hair behind her ear.
It takes a second for their words to sink in. “Professor? Dad's best friend?” My gaze darts between them, my mouth slightly agape.
