Chapter 24
JJ
Audrey opens the door, but Noah steps in first.
“Hey,” he says with a bright smile, looking up at me with his head tilted back. “You’re here.”
Audrey looks at me, her brow furrowing. She glances around the room, and her eyes pause on Miles’ shirt that’s discarded on the floor.
“Hey, Miles is just changing,” I say, hooking a thumb over my shoulder.
“Right,” Audrey says with a knowing smile.
I pick up the shirt, that I know is covered inmycum, and his jeans. No way in hell do I need his sister and her kid to accidentally see that—or worse, touch it.
“I’ll let him know you’re here.” I hurry to the bedroom and slip inside.
Miles whips around in time to see me tossing his shirt and jeans into the laundry basket.
“Thank you,” he says.
“No problem.” I scratch the back of my neck as he puts on a new t-shirt. “I can go, if you want…”
“Why would I want that?” he asks, turning to face me and running his hand through his hair to tame it.
“Because your family is here?”
“I live with them. Well, basically. But even if I didn’t, I don’t need to hide you.”
He walks to me, putting his palms on my chest and leaning up to kiss my jaw.
“But if you’re uncomfortable—”
“I’m not—well, not uncomfortable, but I’m not used to this.”
He nods like he understands. I know he doesn’t. I want him to. Almost as badly as I want to understand his family dynamic. No, not just understand it, but have it.
“I didn’t realize it was so late,” he says. “We usually cook dinner together on Saturdays… I forgot all about it.”
“I didn’t mean to get in the way.”
He looks at me like I’m crazy. “JJ, you’re not in the way. I’m not mad, and if it was a big deal, I’d tell you. Trust me.”
“I’m trying,” I say softly. I don’t mean for the words to come out so… serious and filled with emotion, but emotions are definitely getting in the way here—and it’s out of my control.
Maybe not in a bad way.
Because I keep thinking about the conversation with my brother. I’ve heard his words about Franklin a thousand times before, but I’ve never actually listened. Never really had a reason to. I knew I wasn’t going to leave my husband because what else did I have?
Is Miles a reason to? Can I leave my husband because I met Miles?
It wouldn’t beforMiles…
It would be for me because Miles made me realize what my life should be like. That doesn’t feelaswrong.
“You okay?”
I blink and Miles comes back into view.
