Page 113 of Man On

Reluctantly, I release Noah, missing the weight and heat of his body almost immediately. The four of us sit in awkward silence while I search my brain for something to say. I look up and find Noah watching me. Something in his gaze clutches at my heart, and I think of what he said this morning, about today being the day to get everything out in the open.

We speak at the same time.

"I love him."

My eyes nearly bug out of my head and so do Noah's. A grin stretches across his face.

"I love you," I tell Noah, quietly. "And not as a brother," I add, turning my eyes to our gawking parents.

"Definitely not as a brother," Noah agrees.

My mother slaps a hand over her eyes. "Yeah, I saw that."

I groan. Noah laughs, because as usual, he doesn't give a shit.

"We have a lot to talk about," Scott says.

"No, we don't," I say firmly, my chin lifting. "Noah did nothing wrong. If you can't accept him for?—"

"You're right," Scott says, surprising me. "I'm sorry for how I reacted. I was surprised—am surprised." He looks at Noah. "I made assumptions that weren't fair to you. From what I just saw, this definitely isn't just pushing boundaries because you're bored. I'm sorry, and I love you, son. Both of you," he says, giving me a pointed look.

"You're both our sons, and we love you," my mom says, looking down to where Noah has his fingers woven into mine, our hands resting on my thigh. "This might take a little getting used to, though. But only because you’re our children, not because of any other reason."

Everyone hugs, and my mom cries some more, then she and Scott go upstairs to get ready. It's almost time to leave for the deposition. Despite no one else being allowed in the room, they're all coming to support me, no matter how long of a day it's likely to be.

Noah and I are left, sitting at the bottom of the stairs.

"His response was fair," Noah says quietly, while my fingers comb through his too-long hair. "When this whole thing started, I was pushing boundaries out of boredom, and because I was insecure. And then I had this stupid, immature notion that I could hump you out of my system so we could both move on."

My brow furrows, but he continues before I can say anything to that. "I was so wrong," he says, chuckling. "If anything, you've burrowed deeper than ever, like some kind of rooted plant." He turns around and looks up at me, starting some kind of apology, but sees me laughing instead, tears gathering in my eyes. "I'm pouring my heart out over here, and you're laughing?" He holds his hand over his heart. "I'm wounded."

"It's just that I had a similar thought before, about the roots. Growing like some kind of evil, sentient thing, burrowing into me."

"Hmm, I'll burrow something into you, alright."

I roll my eyes, but let him lean into me, pushing me back against the stairs as he kisses me deeply.

"Boys!" My mom calls from upstairs, only cracking the door enough to let some sound down. "We need to leave in ten minutes!"

"It's safe, mom," I say flatly. "No one's naked."

"Yet," Noah mutters under his breath. But he smirks and kisses me one more time, before taking my hand and leading me upstairs, towards the next obstacle.

CHAPTER 35

NOAH

"Noah, why don't you go for a walk?" My dad says, aiming a glare at my knee that won't stop bouncing.

"No, I need to be here. What if he needs me?"

"It's been four hours, and it could be another four. You might as well get some air." Hannah's deposition took almost five hours, and we were warned when we got here that Lane’s was likely to be closer to eight hours, given the importance of his testimony and the likelihood that the defense team would try to shake him. "Ms. Clarke's assistant said she'd have an update when they’ll take a break for lunch. I'll text you if I see the doorknob move," he says with a teasing grin. I’ve spent the last four hours staring at the door handle, thinking the door was about to open. Every time, I shot out of my seat, making everyone think something was happening. After the third time, Dad and Hannah made me sit facing away from the door. But now I'm driving them nuts fidgeting, and other people here don't seem to appreciate me pacing in the minuscule lobby outside the conference room.

"I'm not going anywhere," I say firmly, and Dad sighs.

Hannah reaches for my hand and squeezes it. She's been on edge, too, except she manages it silently, the way Lane does.

Finally, the door behind us opens, and a younger man in a fitted blue suit approaches us. The three of us shoot to our feet, causing a commotion in the office and we run over to him. I think he is the lawyer’s assistant. I hadn’t paid him any attention before since all of mine was focused on Lane.

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