Page 22 of My Ex-Best Friends

“Fine. Don’t tell me. At least come downstairs and eat.” He saw my confused look and sighed. “I got tired of waiting and threw something together.”

“Noah!” I stepped into his space and gripped his shoulders. “I’m not helpless. Sure, I’m a flake, but I can make a meal. I can take care of myself and I have. I didn’t go off and become a parent but I can still be trusted.”

His eyes widened and he suddenly wrapped his arms around me. “I’m sorry.”

I grunted at his tight hold. “You’re sorry?”

“I hurt your feelings. The thing is, Brooke, I know how easy it is to fall for you. It did worry me at first today when I saw Sin losing her cool for you. She’s my kid and I never want her to feel pain. It’s my job to make sure she doesn’t. You left and stayed gone for so long, B. I’d rather my daughter not feel even an ounce of what I felt when you left. That kid’s a soldier, though, and she wouldn’t let me keep her away from you, even if I wanted to. I trust you with Sin.” He hesitated. “I just don’t trust you to stay. If you decide to go again, I’ll handle it. It’s just part of caring about you, I guess.”

I squeezed him tighter when he tried to let me go. “I’m not leaving.”

His body stiffened. “Brooke…”

“I’m not. This place is home. You guys, my mom and aunt, you’re home.”

19

***Brooke***

“When did you and Kelly divorce?” I shoveled another bite of the spaghetti Noah made into my mouth. “God, this is so good.”

“Two years ago.” He pushed his own plate away and sat back. “She left me for her current wife. Can’t say that was easy. It felt like a fucking failure. I’ve always wanted to have a family like mine growing up. I didn’t handle it well at first.”

That made my appetite die. “Of course, not. Your wife cheated on you. No one would handle that well.”

“That’s the thing. I never loved Kelly. My ego was a bit wounded, of course, but mostly I was just devastated that I couldn’t give Sin the same childhood I had. I never wanted her to go through a divorce.”

“You never loved Kelly? That’s not true. What about high school? You two were always on and off, sure, but you loved her.”

He laughed while slowly shaking his head. “No. It probably makes me an asshole but I didn’t love her, even then. It was justeasier with her. Everyone expected us to date so I just went with it.”

My mouth was hanging open. “That’s insane, Noah. Why were you with her? Were you happy, at least?”

He looked away. “I didn’t think I could have happy back then.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing. Let’s get off my failed marriage and back onto your failed almost marriage.” He laughed. “Sorry.”

I was still in shock over his declaration. “My failed almost marriage?”

“Yeah. Aren’t we supposed to be finding you good guys?”

Shrugging, I tried to come back down to earth. “I don’t know what the hell is going on.”

“Maybe we should try online dating. I haven’t dated since my divorce. And I don’t plan on starting again until Sin is older, but some of the guys at work are always telling me that I need to go online now.”

I made a face. “I don’t think so.”

“Come on. I’ve never known you to be a chicken.”

Scowling at him, I wiped my mouth and sat up straighter. “I’m not a chicken.”

“Then let’s create a dating profile for you.” He stood up and grabbed his laptop. “Come on. Grab a couple of beers and meet me on the couch.”

I made my way across the house and frowned as I sank into the couch next to him. “I think we got carried away the other night. I just ran away from my wedding. I don’t need to date anyone.”

“Too bad. I’ve already started your account.” Smirking at me, he turned his laptop so I could see that he had indeed started an account under my name. “Alright. Let’s answer some questions about you. First question. What’s your ideal first date?”

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