Page 56 of Undone

Well, I wanted to stay away from this girl, but then she went and called my girl by her nickname.

Fuck.

“We can all drive and make a fun weekend out of it,” Sawyer said, grinning.

“You can count me out,” Colt replied, not even looking up from his plate.

“Me too,” my dad and Trent said in unison.

“You couldn’t pay me to go to that shit,” Colt added.

“Colton!” my dad scolded, though the corner of his mouth twitched.

Sawyer tossed a crumpled napkin at him this time, which sent Gracie and Noah into a fit of giggles.

The noise, the laughter, the teasing—it all swirled around the table.

I glanced at Noah again, catching her smile. And this time, I held her gaze.

She fit here so effortlessly, like she’d always been part of this. And maybe that was what scared me the most.

TWENTY

Noah - August

RUMOR - LEE BRICE

I stalledfor a moment before stepping into Outlaw’s Bar, where my first Friday teachers’ night out was already in full swing.

The atmosphere in the bar was full of laughter and the occasional clink of glasses. It had that familiar buzz of a small-town bar, where everyone knew everyone.

Earlier in the week, I’d run into Miss Lane while setting up my classroom again. We’d talked for a while about teaching and life in Woodstone Falls, and by the end of the conversation, she’d convinced me to come join her.

Now, standing at the entrance, I wasn’t entirely sure what I’d gotten myself into. But I’d promised her I’d make an effort. So, here I was.

As my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I scanned the room and quickly spotted a table with a group of people toward the back of the bar. They claimed a table beneath a buzzing neon sign that cast a blue hue over their heads. Their laughter stood out in the otherwise subdued atmosphere, giving the place a coziness that contrasted with its rustic, cowboy-bar charm.

Miss Lane spotted me and waved enthusiastically. She gestured to an empty chair beside her, and I grabbed a water from the bar and made my way over.

“So glad you could join us,” she greeted, her tone friendly and welcoming.

“Wouldn’t miss it. Thanks for inviting me…” I said as I slid into the seat. The chair let out a faint creak beneath me, blending with the low hum of chatter.

“You can call me Lana, please,” she said with a smile.

I thought back to my old school in Seattle, where everyone clung to their titles—even outside the classroom. But this wasn’t Seattle. Woodstone had a much more relaxed pace, a reminder of just how different life was in this small town.

“Noah, this is Chad, Mr. Thompson. He teaches kinder,” Lana said, gesturing toward a tall man with glasses who looked like he hadn’t had a full night’s sleep in weeks.

“Great to meet you, Noah,” he said with a nod.

She quickly introduced me to the others at the table. Mrs. Rodriguez, the no-nonsense third-grade teacher with kind eyes, and Brooks, who taught second grade and had an enthusiastic energy that instantly made me feel welcome.

“I’m basically the unofficial tour guide of Woodstone Falls,” Brooks said. “Need to know where to get the best coffee, or where to hide during your free period? I’ve got you covered.”

Lana chuckled. “Don’t mind Brooks. They like to tease.”

She then gestured to a man with thinning sandy hair that was combed back neatly. His glasses caught the low light of the bar as he glanced up, offering a polite but reserved smile.

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