Page 36 of Let Me Show You

Of course, I laughed with her, but as soon as I took off my shirt to wipe off the mess, I saw the way her eyes stared at my chest. Katie licked her lips and quickly averted her gaze when she realized I’d caught her.

That was when I should’ve made my move, but I fucking chickened out. The self-conscious part of me took over, so instead of kissing her, I created more space between us.

Didn’t stop my fantasies every time I took a shower.

“You ready?” Gemma asks as I stroll into the kitchen with my duffel bag and air mattress.

“Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

“Eh, don’t worry,” Tyler says. “What’s the worst that can happen? She poisons you and feeds you to the gators?” He chuckles, patting me on the back.

“Just promise me you’ll at least look for my body…” I groan.

To be on the safe side, we walk through the backyards to Katie’s. It’s just down the block, so it’s not far. The asshole harassing me might be watching my dad’s place, so it’s best if they don’t see where I go.

“If you need anything, just call, okay? I don’t want you out of work for long, so I promise you we’ll find whoever it is,” Tyler reassures me.

“Yes, and let me know if you need me to bring you anything to eat. Katie’s a good cook and all, but she doesn’t have a fridge yet, so I think your choices will be limited,” Gemma tells me.

“I’m sure I’ll manage.”

Gemma walks with me, and soon, we’re at Katie’s back door. I knock and nervously wait.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

KATIE

Noah’s the last person I want to be around, but I’d do anything to keep him safe regardless of how mad I am or how awkward it will be. He desperately needs somewhere to disappear to, and I agree that my house is the perfect haven, even if it’s inconvenient for me.

My focus will still be on finishing the house so Owen and I can move in. I haven’t gotten used to Noah being back in town, and it’s been harder than I ever imagined. Working on the house has been my escape for the past year. I’ve lost myself within those walls on more than one occasion, and now Noah will be in my safe space.

I’m not sure how to feel.

He’ll undoubtedly use this opportunity to talk to me about everything, and honestly, I have nothing more to say, nor do I want to hear his excuses. After I put on my remodeling clothes, I cook Owen and me some eggs and bacon. After we eat, I pack the car, and we head out.

My fingers tap against the steering wheel, and I’m a nervous wreck to face him again. Owen doesn’t notice, which I’m thankful for, but I still need to talk to him about Noah living there temporarily. After I park, I turn around and grab his attention in the back seat.

“I’ve gotta tell you something before we go inside.”

Owen furrows his brow. “Okay, what?”

I swallow hard. “Well, there’s gonna be a man staying here for a little while.”

“Who?”

“It’s Gemma’s brother, but it’s really important you don’t tell anybody that he’s here.”

“Why?”

“Because bad people are trying to hurt him, so I wanna keep him safe, which is why it needs to stay a secret.”

Owen’s eyes widen. “Why do they wanna hurt him?”

It’s a question that’s way too complicated to answer. I haven’t explained to him exactly what happened to his dad other than he had an accident and passed away. I’ve never said who was responsible or given any details about what happened that night. I’ve been waiting for him to get older so maybe he’d comprehend it better.

“Well, that’s hard to explain. I don’t know why anyone would wanna hurt him. Gemma asked if her brother could stay until things were safe for everyone, and I said yes. But it’s very, very, very important that you don’t tell anyone. Not Mimi, Pepaw, Memaw, or Pawpaw. Nobody. It would put him in danger if anyone knew. Do you understand?” I tell him directly and clearly, then wait patiently for his response.

He nods. “I won’t tell anyone.”