Page 98 of Undone

Dotty’s face softened, a knowing smile playing on her lips. She didn’t say anything though, just nodded.

I exhaled, my heart pounding now that the truth was out there between us. “But it scares me, Dotty. Everything with John… it changed me. I’m not the same person I was before all that happened. And Dorian, he’s been through so much. I don’t want to be another complication in his life.”

Dotty shook her head. “Noah, you’re not a complication. You’re part of his life already, and from where I’m standing, it seems like he wants you to be even more than that, though neither of you will admit it.”

I forced myself to meet her eyes. “It just feels so… overwhelming. Like if I let myself fall for him, there’s no going back. And I don’t know if I can survive another heartbreak. How can I trust anyone? How can I trustmyself?”

“Noah…” She paused, searching my eyes carefully. “I love you more than anything, and you know that. But with John… it was different, and deep down, you know that too. I don’t doubt that you cared about him, maybe even loved him in your own way. But while you were together, it didn’t really feel like you were together. You were probably with him because it’s what your parents wanted, or it was more comfortable than leaving.”

I let her words sink in. It wasn’t easy to hear, but she wasn’t wrong. Memories flashed through my mind—how John and had I drifted, the way our relationship felt more like two people coexisting rather than truly being together. I thought about all the times we barely spoke during our dinners, the awkward silences that stretched between us, the way we lived like two parallel lines, always close but never truly meeting. I ignored the signs, convincing myself that we were okay, that it was just the way things were.

But deep down, I always knew. And now, hearing it from her, it was like the truth I buried was finally surfacing, and there was no more pretending.

She continued. “He was always busy with work—and, apparently, other things,” she added with a sad smile. “You were wrapped up in your own life. You spent time together occasionally, but it was always surface level. I could tell your feelings weren’t as deep as they should have been for a real relationship. You used to push me to get out there and find my person, but Noah… deep down, every time we had those talks, you knew John wasn’t yours. Neither of us said it out loud, and I wasn’t exactly in a position to criticize when I was still hung up on Trent after a decade, but we both knew.”

Dotty squeezed my hand, her eyes full of understanding. “I get it, but you can’t spend your life running from what might hurt. You deserve the very best, and while I might argue that isn’t my brother, I want you to do what is best for you. If Dorian is that person, you owe it to yourself to see where it goes.”

A lump formed in my throat as everything crashed down on me. “It just feels so scary.”

It was hard to let go of the fear. To trust myself, to trust someone else. I was afraid of everything after John wrecked my life. But here I was, letting the echoes of his threats and violence dictate my future, but I didn’t want to anymore.

“That’s because it is,” Dotty said with a weak smile. “But scary doesn’t mean bad. Sometimes the things that scare us the most are the things worth holding onto.”

I nodded. “It feels like more,” I whispered again, almost to myself. “Like he’s already more than I ever expected.”

Dotty grinned, her eyes sparkling with that playful, knowing look again. “Well then, that’s something definitely worth fighting for.”

We both fell quiet, her words lingering in the silence. My mind swirling around everything I hadn’t quite admitted to myself until now. But as heavy as the day was, it wasn’t about me—it was about Dotty. I took a breath, deciding to tuck all those feelings away.

“Okay, little miss cupid. Enough of that. How about we focus on getting you married?” I laughed, wiping at my eyes.

“If we must.” Dotty chuckled, her excitement returning as she adjusted her veil.

I sighed. Maybe it was time to stop hiding from what I knew deep down. Maybe it was time to stop letting fear hold me back.

The wedding ceremony took place indoors, framed by a grand floor-to-ceiling window that perfectly showcased the snow-capped mountains beyond. The venue was breathtaking, with its high, timber-beamed ceilings and large stone fireplace, radiating rustic elegance.

It was perfectly Dotty and Trent.

My heart squeezed as they began exchanging their vows, every word filled with love, hope, and a sense of renewal. I swallowed hard, feeling the familiar sting in my eyes. I’d watched Dotty navigate heartbreak, loss, and the uncertainty of trusting again.

And yet, here she was—standing before the man who’d shown her that love could heal.

It felt surreal, like watching everything come full circle, standing at the altar with Dotty and Trent. As I glanced across the room, my gaze naturally found Dorian, standing next to Trent. He looked so composed, yet there was something in the way he stood.

My breath caught as he gave me a small wink from across the altar. My heart raced as a thousand thoughts rushed through my mind. All the moments we’d shared—the kisses, the stolen glances, the undeniable connection—they all seemed to culminate in this one look.

THIRTY-FIVE

Noah - October

WONDERING WHY - THE RED CLAY STRAYS

A smile tuggedat my lips as I took in the scene from the edge of the dance floor. The gentle hum of conversation, the love that filled the air—it was all part of this place, all part of Woodstone Falls.

And then there was me.

The people of Woodstone were kind, and extremely welcoming, but I didn’t share the same history they did. I wasn’t rooted in this town, its traditions, or the quiet rhythms of life that seemed to come so naturally to them. My ties here were fragile—delicate strings connected to Dotty, to her family, and maybe to this job that was supposed to be my fresh start.

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