Page 28 of Unbearable

Don’t flatter yourself.

I smiled, sliding my phone back into my pocket and walked inside, ready to have the best girly weekend ever.

After two at-home mani-pedis and a princess movie marathon, I put Gracie to bed and finally pulled out my phone. I hadn’t checked it in hours.

Noah

Hey, call me when you get a sec. Miss your face.

I hit her contact and stood my phone up in the bathroom, preparing to wash my face and unwind for the evening.

She answered on the second ring, her bronze skin glowing in the low light of her bedroom. “Hey! I miss you. How’s everything going?”

“It’s really good, actually. We’re making good progress with the cabin, and it’s nice being here. I kind of missed it here, surprisingly enough.” I paused and looked at the time. “Has Dorian made it there yet?” I asked, remembering I had given Noah a heads-up about his arrival.

“Yeah, he is in your room now. But that’s not why I called. I have some bad news.”

“What’s up?” I asked.

“You know how I said I was coming in a week to spend some time there and fly back with you? Well… I’m going to be stuck here instead.” Her smile was tight, and I sensed she wasn’t telling me everything.

“That’s okay. Stuff happens. But what’s going on?”

“Nothing crazy, don’t worry. Work’s been hectic with school starting, and John really wants me to go to this fancy gala with him next week in LA. I totally forgot and double-booked myself, but since you’re coming back soon, maybe we can plan a trip to Woodstone Falls this summer if you decide you want to return.”

Noah was a kindergarten teacher and loved it, and her boyfriend, John, is some fancy tech CEO. I’d met him a handful of times. He seemed nice, but sometimes I got a weird vibe from him. But he made Noah happy, and that’s what mattered.

“No worries. We can plan a trip this summer. I do want to come back more often.” I replied honestly.

As we talked about the myriad of events that had unfolded in our lives the last couple of weeks, and I remembered exactly why Noah was my best friend. We didn’t let time pass often without talking, but even if we did, we picked up exactly where we left off, as if no time had passed.

After a few yawns, Noah pinned me with a glarethrough the screen. “Seriously, Dot, you sound exhausted. Are you sure you aren’t overdoing it?” Noah said, her concern evident even through the phone.

“It’s nice to have the cabin as a distraction, but I’m definitely tired all the time lately,” I admitted reluctantly.

“Speaking of which, how’s the hot cowboy roommate situation going?” she asked.

“He’s been… distant,” I replied cautiously. “One minute he’s teasing me like we did when were kids, and the next, he’s avoiding me like I’ve got the plague.”

Noah chuckled softly. “Men. They’re a mystery.”

“Tell me about it. You’d think with three brothers, I would have figured this shit out by now.” I sighed. “I don’t know what’s going on with Trent, but it’s like walking on eggshells.” Noah brushed her long, curly hair out from her eyes.

“Maybe he’s simply adjusting to having you around again,” she suggested. “You did sort of drop back into his life out of nowhere.”

“That’s true, I guess,” I said through my yawn.

“Okay, okay. That is enough. Go get some sleep. You got a niece to go sugar up tomorrow. I love you.”

“Love you too, Noah. Good night.”

Gracie and I spent the next couple of days watching movies, learning how to ride a bike, sans training wheels, and making an array of crafts. Throughout the weekend, we kept in touch with Dorian, who seemed to be enjoying his time in Seattle.

We were getting ready for Sunday night dinner whenGracie insisted on wearing her princess costume, and I didn’t fight her on it.

After staying away from Woodstone for so long, it was nice to be back to attend Sunday family dinner nights again.

It was a tradition that had taken place for as long as I could remember. Growing up on the ranch, my father’s demanding schedule often kept him from joining us for dinner during the week, but he steadfastly maintained our Sunday gatherings, rain or shine.

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