Page 36 of Until Then

Cheers erupt at the doorway. Briar and Tyrell make their entrance. Noah nudges us aside, his body close enough I can breathe in the smooth spice of his skin.

Maybe I channeled my inner Mia too forcefully.

Somewhere during the months I blotted out the truth that Noah Hayden left me feeling wanted, safe, cherished. I doubt he’s even trying, but he’s doing it all over again.

Truth be told, I don’t think I’m getting out of this night with my heart intact.

TWELVE

Hayley

Noah clears his throat. “We better get this kid his treat and get to the table, I guess.”

I agree and start to shift out of the way.

“Thanks,” he goes on. “With being awesome to Jude. I’m a little protective of the kid. Rees tells me to relax, but believe it or not some people I’ve brought around him say ignorant things.”

A wrinkle gathers over my nose. “Because a child can’t hear?”

“I know, right? I don’t get it. Vienna’s dad was born with the same thing—no auditory nerves—but Jude’s is a little more severe with a few other issues.”

“Well, it’s good he has family who can help him communicate. He’s adorable.”

“He’s basically my favorite human.” Noah grins.

Jude doesn’t stay to watch the movie—Noah explained they just don’t hold his attention well since he doesn’t read captions yet. He’s there for the candy. Once the boy has his bag, he plops his action figure inside, slides the handles over his wrist, takes Noah’s hand, then reaches his other for me.

I pause for a breath, then slowly hold the little boy’s palm. Jude does a strange little gallop.

Noah laughs and leans closer so I can hear. “He wants us to swing him.”

Terrible on the shoulders and elbows, but I can indulge maybe once or twice.

The glee on Jude’s little face when we heave him in the first swing is enough to forget muscle strain and shoulder displacement for a few moments.

When we make it past a small crowd by an appetizer table, Jude takes off. His mom and dad are chatting with a few other couples and kids at a big table.

A warm palm touches my lower back. Noah looks down at me, and nudges me forward.

“Oh, good. You were able to keep Noah’s fingers and mouth from getting sticky,” Rees says to me.

Noah shoots his twin a glare, but turns us to the others on the table. “Hayley, meet Perfectly Broken.”

My breath catches. Rockstars. Rees’s band. I’m meeting real, true, rockstars.

“Bridger, his wife, Alexis, and their two boys who are insane. Yeah, you heard me, Garett.”

A little boy who looks about seven or eight with marker tattoos all over his hands tosses a wrapped chocolate at Noah. Bridger is tattooed much like Rees, but his wife looks like she’s going to bounce out of her seat.

“Hayley, so good to meet you,” she says, reaching over at least five people to shake my hand. “Rees has been telling us everything. Every. Thing.”

“Lex,” Rees said. “You said you’d keep it between us.”

“Rees, do you know my wife at all?” Bridger laughs and tries to avoid a pinch to his arm from Alexis.

“Nothing is sacred between brothers.” Noah sniffs and keeps going with the introductions.

I meet Tate Hawkins, the drummer, his wife Ellie, and their little girls. I’m told the lead guitarist couldn’t make the wedding due to a conflict with another family engagement.

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