Page 91 of Undone

But when we woke up the next morning, I was grateful I had come over—seeing them in much better moods made everything feel a little brighter, especially after seeing Noah so shaken up too.

The last couple of weeks had been filled with long hours at work and the start of a new school year. Noah and I were navigating this casual arrangement, or whatever we were calling it, without any labels, just trying to live in the moment.

Somehow, she effortlessly became part of my life, weaving herself into my day-to-day, slipping into the smallest cracks of my routine.

I’d catch myself thinking about her in the middle of a long workday. I’d hope it was a day she’d come over for Gracie’s tutoring, or if not, a day I could hopefully convince her to sneak over after Gracie was in bed, so I could pretend she was mine, even if it was only for a few hours. There was something about her that cut through the noise in my mind.

I always thought I would be single forever. It was complicated enough for Gracie without a mom. The last thing I wanted was to open myself up to Noah completely, only to have her leave us one day, unwillingly or not.

And that scared the hell out of me.

But the more time I spent with her, the more that agreement was a flimsy excuse. Deep down, we both knew thatcasualwas a facade.

I sighed, grabbing my coffee from my desk and took the last sip. It was now cold from sitting untouched for hours. The day was a blur of appointments and tasks, but in the back of my mind, all I could think about was Noah. I had to face the truth. I wasn’t just scared of losing her. I was scared of needing her.

I glanced at the clipboard on my desk, the lists and notes blurring together. With a groan, I pushed back my chair, ready to escape and finish the day. As I reached for the door, my phone buzzed on the desk behind me. The name on the screen made my heart skip for a second.

Noah

Hey, you free tonight?

It was simple, but something in the pit of my stomach twisted. Casual, just like we’d agreed. And yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it—more to us. I quickly typed a reply before I could overthink it.

Me

Yeah, what’s up?

Noah

Can I come over after Gracie’s asleep?

Me

Of course. I’ll text you when she’s in bed.

Noah

Sounds good. I’ve missed you.

The lingering buzz in my chest stayed with me as I stepped out of the office.

I glanced at the chart. “Mr. Pickles?” I announced, trying to keep my tone professional as I stepped into the waiting area.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted Mrs. Hargrove, one of the town regulars, shuffling forward with her ancient tabby cat in tow.

The cat was a legend around here—mostly because he hated everything. I’d been treating him for years, and no matter how often I saw him, he still looked at me like I was number one on his shit list.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite troublemaker,” I said, nodding toward the cat. Mrs. Hargrove chuckled, her familiar smile creasing the corners of her eyes.

“I swear, I think he knows we’re coming here before we even leave the house,” she said, struggling to keep him from wriggling out of her arms. “He starts sulking the second I mention your name.”

“Smart cat,” I muttered under my breath, suppressing a smirk. “Come on back. Let’s see what’s going on with him this time.”

Mrs. Hargrove followed me into the exam room, setting the cat down on the table, where he immediately crouched low, his tail lashing. Mr. Pickles glared at me, clearly not pleased with the situation.

Me neither, buddy.

“How’ve you been?” I asked, more out of politeness than genuine curiosity. Mrs. Hargrove had a habit of talking at length once she got going, and I didn’t have time to get lost in small-town gossip today. But she was a good client—loyal and always kind.

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