Page 102 of Noah

Adrienne ignored him, stepping eagerly out. Her eyes paused as they neared the front of the building. “How do we get in?”

Briar’s lips quirked. He strode to the front and gave his ID. They let them through.

Adrienne took a deep breath and was prepared to be shocked, but nothing could have prepared her for the thought Noah had put into it.

All the pieces she had done in Moon were laid out like a story.

The biggest piece of her was right at the centre, her pain, her heart, and her hope and theirs…the Numbers.

“Oh Adrienne,” Mhane exhaled, eyes filled with wonder.

Briar studied the half-caged, half-free Noah with her hand reaching for him and Briar broke into a smile. “You’re talented. It looks exactly like him.”

“Really?” Mhane was sceptical.

Adrienne understood what she meant. There were changes.

“When we found him, his hair wasn’t tamed, his face was wild. It was as if his eyes were dead until he broke free. It’s haunting…” Briar drifted off.

“Sorry. I know it brings back a lot. I shouldn’t have…I told Noah I wouldn’t put it out.”

“Are you kidding? If anyone could give a glimpse into what our life was like, it’s you. People deserve to see this. Not to try and bury it or flinch away from it.”

“Why have I never seen any of your pieces before?” Mhane exclaimed.

Mhane’s head whipped back and forth to take in the kids playing on the playground with their mouths parted in carefree laughter and the protective stance of a Number’s guard as he stood on the wall glaring at the crowd of protestors.

“I’ve never put any out in public and these were the ones I did in Moon. This was supposed to be my debut so to speak.”

“Is it okay?” asked a deep voice and Adrienne’s heart suddenly beat faster.

She braced herself and turned, her heart full to bursting. “Are you kidding? It’s perfect,” she whispered to Noah.

Noah looked so handsome in a suit. His hair smoothed back suavely, the stripes distinctive but held back by clips and a band making her think one of the females had helped him do it.

His eyes were hopeful, searching hers. He was beyond handsome and looked uncomfortable in the suit and the crowd.

This wasn’t natural for him; he was doing this for her because he believed in her. Biting her lip before she blurted out something embarrassing like “celibacy sucks, take me!” Adrienne watched his eyes brighten as he looked at her body and dress.

His eyes slowly travelled over her face, quickly becoming heated as they travelled downward. His fingers twitched when his gaze got stuck on the valley between her breasts, then he choked when he looked down at her legs.

His hand gently touched the fabric, his fingers brushing her thigh. “You look beautiful.”

She swallowed hard. “Thank you.” Adrienne glanced at Mhane. “And you look handsome.”

Mhane nodded at her to go for it. Noah might think Mhane was trying to keep her away, but Mhane had still forced her to read every note through the door.

Mhane hadn’t given negative opinions. She had been there like a sister should be, supporting her when Ren needed it and giving her a shoulder to cry on.

Yes, Mhane wanted to kill Noah for hurting her, but Adrienne was sure that her natural state was murderous insanity, at least that’s what came across sometimes.

There was more to it but until Mhane felt like opening up, it couldn’t be forced.

“Shall we?” Noah said interrupting her thoughts.

“Okay,” she agreed.

He took her hand, guiding her to his side. She couldn’t refuse him; he was being a gentleman and she wasn’t sure she even wanted to.

---