"Well…" I blow out a long breath.
He laughs and in a gesture of friendship he places his hand on top of mine. I am not normally the type to get butterflies from something so simple, but this was Noah and he had a way about him that through all logic out the window. In such a short span of time, I knew he would matter. "I can guarantee you that whatever it is, it made you stronger for having survived it."
I smile in kind, remembering what little Carrie told me about their childhood and I feel somewhat guilty boobing about it to him. "My parents weren't bad to us, they weren't good either. My sister Brittany and I were raised by staff. We saw our parents on holidays and a few days here and there."
"Where were they?"
"Oh all over. My dad made his first million in his very early twenties. He went out and found an arm trophy to marry and have kids with. By the time I was five and Brit was three we were listed as one of the richest families in America. When I was sixteen Forbes did an article of the richest heirs and heiresses in the world and Brit and I were in the top twenty."
I don’t tell him the behind the scenes version and that by the time I was thirteen I was partying and having sex. I also don’t tell him that by the time I was twenty two I left it all behind with only guilt and money to show for the suffering. Or that it's been over five years since I saw my parents.
"So Brittany was the younger? No other siblings?" He is genuinely interested and I am reminded of why I never spoke of these things. In the past when guys showed interest in getting to know me, I would shut them up with my body and ride the high until climax.
"No just us."
"Little sisters are a pain in the ass." He says it jokingly and I know he is referencing his sister, but I feel that vacant dead part of my heart that mourns Brittany every day. She is why I am here, trying to help him.
"She passed away five years ago. I would give anything to have her here driving me crazy." I don’t know why I tell him. It isn't like it’s a secret he would learn it eventually. Hell he couldGooglemy name and learn it. I never talk about her though so it undoes me knowing I did so easily.
"Death blows." He says, and he does so in such a final way that its touched him somehow.
"You say that like you know on a personal level?" As I say it, I can remember Carrie saying someone had died but couldn’t remember who.
"My fiancé died a little over a year ago." I can hear Carrie in my mind telling me this just last week and I feel awful.
"I knew something like that happened but I wasn't thinking before I spoke. I'm sorry Noah."
"Jesus please tell me Tay didn't give you a file on me?" I cringe and most likely look guilty as hell and I know he knows she did. "Fuck man… I try to not be pissed because I put them all through hell… but she doesn’t get how violating that is." He stops then and rolls his window down handing a card to the guard and I realize we have arrived at the venue. "Ya know, if you knew me, you'd understand my resentment."
I lay my hand over his in the same gesture, delighted that I could tell it affected him to feel my touch. "Then tell me so I know you. And BTW, I didn't read the file. I didn't think it was okay for me to know your secrets without you trusting me enough to give me them."
He gives me an odd look and I want to apologize if I said something wrong. Before I can though I see Sully and can't help but smile as I follow Noah out of the car.
"How was the drive?" Noah asks and pats Sully on the shoulder in that half hug man thing that guys do.
"Relaxing." He says and shrugs his shoulders. "Worked most the trip on some custom pieces I have coming up."
"You won't be on the bus with us?" I ask him and feel a little bit of a blush for wishing he would have been. Noah is as untouchable as the sun… Sully however is nice and funny and seriously not hard to look at. Having him along with us I thought would help break the tension.
"I will be, from time to time. Don’t worry pet, Noah's bites are gentle." Noah laughs and walks away shaking his head and Sully winks at me before he chuckles. "I'm kidding pet. You guys will be fine. Give him a chance. There are very few people I know with a heart like Noah. He had a shitty fucking start in this world and still has the ability to treat others as they deserve. We all just want him to have a happy ending." He winks at the double entendre.
"You're all perves aren't you?"
"Oh hell yes pet. Of the worst kind." He puts his arm around me and guides me to the door of the bus.
***
Noah
I had asked Sam to hang back while we had dinner. To be present without his presence. I wanted, more than anything, to make sure Bright knew she was not here for anything other than dinner. I opened the door when the food arrived and set it on the table.
I grab two beers from the fridge and set one in front of her. She looks at me with shock. "What? I have wine and some Vodka if you prefer?" I pick up the beer and set it back in the fridge. I grabbed the Moscato I keep for Tay and the bottle of white zin I keep for Carrie.
”Noah… should you be drinking?" She whispers and imitates a drunk with a beer in his hand.
"Why are you whispering? My parents won't be home for hours." I mock and laugh when she rolls her eyes.
"You're an addict. Drinking." The obvious went unsaid but I still laugh at her.
