Page 79 of Undone

“I was perfect!” She beamed.

“Daddy!” she called into the other room where Dorian sat on the couch, laptop open and glasses on. “I did it! I was flawless!”

He looked up and smiled. “I knew you could do it, G,” he said, lifting his glasses up to his forehead.

In that moment, it was more than a lesson. Watching her eyes light up as she mastered something she had been working so hard toward, I realized how much I cared about her progress.

“You okay, Noah?” Gracie asked.

“Yeah.” I smiled at her. “But I do think we are done for tonight. We’ll pick up next week,” I said, tapping her little nose.

She let out a giggle that released all the dopamine in my body.

Gracie had been a big part of my adjustment to Woodstone Falls, whether she knew it or not. Tutoring her turned out to be one of the most rewarding things I’d done all summer.

What started as a way to keep myself busy—something to focus on besides the tangled mess of John’s investigation—became the highlight of my days. Our tutoring sessions over the last couple of months became more than just work.

They became moments where we shared stories, laughed about silly things, and slowly built something that felt almost like a friendship. As much as you could build a friendship with a six-year-old.

It wasn’t just about school for her—or for me. It was about being present, about having someone who listened and cared and wasn’t wrapped up in the chaos surrounding them.

It started with little things.

She’d ask me to stay a few minutes longer after a session to watch her draw, showing me these incredible sketches of animals.

Then it became more, telling me about her friends, or the latest Ellie Miles drama.

Which apparently was that Ellie had broken up with her longtime boyfriend and was about to go on tour—which Gracie was very excited to attend.

I was too, honestly.

Woodstone Falls had a way of slowing things down, giving me space to breathe—something I hadn’t known I needed until I got here. Being able to take the time to settle in over the summer made me realize just how much I needed this move.

This town was so full of life. The community offered something that was unmatched, making it hard to miss my time in the city. Back in Seattle, life had been a blur, fast and relentless, with my relationship with John always teetering on the edge of disaster, even if I wasn’t ready to admit it.

But after spending time with someone who made me feel like I belonged here, I realized maybe I did belong here.

Not only for Gracie, but for the entire town. I loved feeling like I belonged after years in the city. I contemplated leaving many times, but for a while, I stayed for Dotty. And then for John. And then… because I didn’t want to run.

But coming to Woodstone wasn’t running. It was freeing.

Even if the noise of John’s investigation echoed in my brain. The chaos ever swirling in the background. Knowing John was still out there, continuing to harm innocents, loomed like a storm I couldn’t quite escape. There were days where it felt like the world might collapse under everything I didn’t know.

But somehow, this town, with its quiet streets and friendly faces, pulled me out of it. I was enjoying my new routine—tutoring Gracie, taking long walks through town, catching up with Dotty in the evenings, preparing for the school year. I found purpose in the peace.

And as much as the investigation into John’s life continued to swirl around me, for now, I had something solid to hold on to—this new life in a small town that had become a safe haven.

Not to mention Dorian.

Who was also a big perk of Woodstone.

Especially as he sat there, with his glasses and disheveled hair, looking unintentionally sexy as hell.

Something told me he could read my thoughts from across the room as I stood, meeting his heated gaze.

We hadn’t spoken much over the past week since… well, since that night.

The kiss. The little tailgate escapade. The way he took me back to his house afterward. All of that.

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