Page 34 of Play On

But as I see the flicker of pain filter across his handsome face, I know he’s telling me the truth.

“You know my father passed away when I was sixteen,” Noah says. He pauses, and my heart catches inside my chest, as I can see wherever he’s gone in his head is painful for him. “It changed the family dynamic forever. My mum went into a grief spiral, and she refused to go get help. My brother and I were never close to begin with, and instead of a tragedy bringing us together, it pushed us further apart. I’ve been on my own since then, really.”

My heart aches as this story comes out of him. I instinctively lift his hand, and this time, I’m the one pressing a kiss across his knuckles, which brings a flicker of a smile to his lips. I want to ask him questions about what happened, but I know this isn’t the time. Whatever Noah wants to share tonight is hugely personal, and I’m honoured for any bits he decides to trust me with.

“When I see Bella there for Camden, it reminds me there’s never been anyone there for me,” he continues. “I push the feeling away, because believe me, I’m happy Camden has found someone as amazing as her. He deserves that happiness. But I can’t help but envy it, too, even though I know a lot of it is on me.”

I am about to ask what he means when the waiter returns with our drinks. As soon as they are placed in front of us, I follow up on that comment.

“What do you mean by ‘a lot of it is on me?’” I ask, picking up my Coke and taking a sip.

He smiles gently at me. “Camden is confident on and off the pitch. When he sees something he wants, like Bella? He goes after it. The first time I saw you here at Wisteria House, I thought you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. But I was too shy to make a move.”

I can’t help but giggle at this. “You certainly weren’t shy this evening in that alcove.”

“I’m not shy all the time,” he says, lifting a brow.

I laugh, and he does, too.

“When I got to Dorset, I knew I had to do something, or I’d really be pissed off at myself for letting another opportunity slip through my fingers. So when you began talking about pick and mix, it was a natural opening for me. And you’re so easy to talk to, it made it easier for me to open up.”

“I’m so glad I brought up pick and mix,” I say. “What if I hadn’t? What if we wouldn’t have had that conversation?”

Noah shakes his head. “No, there would have been something else. I was determined to talk to you.”

“I’m so glad you did.”

“Me, too.”

“Okay, we’ve both confessed flaws,” I say, wanting to make Noah smile. “Let’s talk about how amazing we are.”

He grins at that, and I grow warm upon seeing it.

“Well, that doesn’t make us sound like narcissists at all, does it?” he teases.

I laugh, and I can’t help but notice how his eyes light up knowing that he made me do it.

“Okay. Maybe we shouldn’t talk about how amazing we are, but let’s talk about the fun things so we can get to know each other,” I say. “First question. Do you have a pet?”

“I do,” he says, grinning. “My dog, Mila. Want to see a pic?”

“Of course.”

Noah lets go of my hand and shifts so he can retrieve his phone off the coffee table. He picks it up, unlocks it, and shows me his phone wallpaper.

His dog is his wallpaper.Swoon.

I see the cutest fawn-and-white dog. “She’s adorable. What breed is she?”

“Mila is a border collie mix. I got her from a rescue shortly after I came to play at Stonebridge United. I’d be lost without her.”

“You already know from being at my house that my family has dogs,” I say, suddenly recalling how Noah took an interest in them when he first arrived for the weekend.

“Setters,” he says.

“Yes,” I say, pleased that he remembered what breed of dogs they are. “I love dogs. We’ve always had them in the country.”

“The falcons on your estate are cool.”

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