Page 54 of Fifty-Fifty

He nods then shifts back on his feet. “Sounds good. Thanks again, Beau. This place,” he looks around the room, “it’s really something. I’m sorry it didn’t work out, though.”

A tear slides down my cheek, pissin’ me off as I rub it away.

“Thanks. I’ll, uh, I’ll see ya later, okay?”

He nods, again, remindin’ me of the bobblehead on Noah’s dashboard in his truck. The sight is almost enough to make me smile, but not quite.

Instead, I grab Mac from the family room and go upstairs to mourn the loss of what coulda been by myself.

Mac is busy playin’ with the bubbles in the tub when I hear Noah’s truck pull up outside. My brows furrow at the familiar sound.

I thought he left? His room was empty…

Walkin’ over to the window, I shift the curtains and take a peek outside. Sure enough, Noah’s out there. He’s not alone.

Slater, Shane, and Ricky are all chattin’ with him by the truck. I can see their breath from here and shiver at the sight.

I ain’t ever wished I could read lips until this moment. Shane seems mighty worked up by the way he’s leanin’ forward and gettin’ close to Noah’s face. He don’t seem mad. Just… confused? And hurt, maybe?

Slater is stone cold, and I ain’t surprised by his chilly expression. It’s the only one I’ve ever really seen him wear.

Ricky, however, looks like a kid on Christmas mornin’. He’s bouncin’ up and down like he just can’t contain himself. Hell, his mouth is in the shape of a nice lil’ ‘o’ and everything.

I glance toward the bathroom to make sure Mac’s still doin’ all right before turnin’ back to the window.

Finally, I examine Noah. My heart aches as I take in his familiar features. He really is a sight for sore eyes with his low-slung jeans and his black leather jacket that fits him like a glove. I know that if he were a little closer, I’d be able to see the stubble on his cheeks and the gleam in his eye.

I’m grateful for the distance, though. I don’t think I can handle that gleam not bein’ directed at me.

It’s hard for me to read his expression from this far away, though. I can’t decide if he looks sad, resigned, or determined. Maybe a combination of all three? Regardless, I spend the next ten minutes jugglin’ my bathin’ two-year-old and the scene playin’ out before me.

And the entire time I have one question runnin’ through my mind. What the hell are they still doin’ here? Shouldn’t they be gone by now?

Shakin’ my head, I decide that my obsession with the scene playin’ out in my front yard ain’t healthy and decide to close the curtains.

Sittin’ on the side of the tub, I spend a few minutes soakin’ up some precious time with my baby girl. Once Mac’s fingers are all pruny, I reach for the sunshine yellow towel hangin’ on the rack before wrappin’ her up in the dry material. Grabbin’ her a pair of her jammies, I decide that it’s too close to dinner, and then bedtime, to dirty another outfit before the night is over.

Thankfully, she’s two and doesn’t complain.

I take another peek out the window when I hear a car door slam, only to see Slater’s car drivin’ off in the distance.

What surprises me, however, is that Noah doesn’t get in his truck to follow. Instead, he heads to the front door of the inn, disappearin’ beneath the overhang of the roof. My heart stops as the front door opens then closes with a soft click.

“Beau?” his familiar voice calls, startlin’ Mac, who wasn’t expectin’ Noah to be home.

“Noah!” she squeals as she races out of the room and down the hall. I listen to her bare feet slap across the wood steps as she makes her way down the stairs.

“Hey, sweet pea.” My chest aches as I hear him use my pet name for her. “How was your day?”

I take a step to the hallway, makin’ sure I’m hidden from his sight as I peek around the corner and down the stairs to the entryway.

“What did you do with Mama?” he asks as he squats down to her level.

“Me go for walk. Take bath,” Mac tells him, and I’m proud of how well she’s stringin’ words together. She’ll be three in a month, and the thought is just another cherry on top of a bunch of heartache. I can’t believe my baby girl is gettin’ so damn big. How can she almost be three?

“You took a bath, huh?”

“Yeah,” she confirms in her sweet lil’ voice.

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