Page 62 of Undone

“So, what’s the holdup?” Sawyer asked, his tone now curious.

“Honestly? I don’t know,” I admitted. “I think I’m… scared.”

“Shit, man.”

“Yeah… I just… I’ve never wanted to pursue anything with anyone. All these fucking women in town, and I’ve never wanted a single one of them. Then she just prances her merry fucking way into my life, turning it upside down and… I want to know her.”

“Oh damn,” Sawyer laughed, low and surprised.

“Tell me about it,” I muttered.

“Good luck with that.”

“Thanks for the help, asshole,” I said, shaking my head.

“Whatever you do, don’t fuck it up.”

“Noted,” I said, ending the call.

My sister protected those she loved fiercely. Apparently, Dotty’s best friend came before her twin brother, and I couldn’t really blame her for it.

Noah was always kind, always smiling, and her presence could make the weight of the world feel a little less heavy. But that wasn’t all there was to her. Beneath the surface, she carried a silent kind of pain. The aftermath of what John had done to her was still there, something she wore like a shield. It made her stronger—more resilient than anyone gave her credit for. She still found a way to care, to put others first, even when she was hurting.

It was no wonder Dotty adored her. She’d been there when no one else could break through her walls, offering a kind of support I couldn’t match. I couldn’t blame Dotty for choosing her every time.

She deserved to be protected.

But to Dotty, I was just the single dad who kept everyone at arm’s length.

While I still wasn’t entirely sure of what I was doing, kissing Noah and asking her to meet me at the end of the night, I knew that I wanted her.

Every time I looked at her, I told myself I couldn’t care about her more than I already did.

But every day I proved myself wrong.

TWENTY-THREE

Dorian - August

HEAVEN - JULIA MICHAELS

Gravel crunchedbeneath my boots as I made my way across the lot toward my truck. But I stopped mid-step when I saw Noah leaning against it, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the ground.

I hadn’t known what to expect when I asked her to meet me, but seeing her there, waiting, made me glad I did. Whatever this was between us, I couldn’t keep pretending I didn’t feel it. I couldn’t keep pretending it wasn’t real.

“I didn’t realize you’d left,” I said, stepping closer. “I figured you were still inside, playing pool.”

Her brown eyes met mine, and for a moment, everything else faded.

“Yeah, I slipped out a minute ago,” she said.

“How was your night?” I asked, stepping closer.

“Uh, good… It was… good,” she replied, though her gaze held something back.

I moved in, closing the space, standing just over her where she leaned against the truck.

“Good, huh?” I echoed from earlier. Without thinking, my hands moved to her hips, fingers curling into the waistband of her skirt.

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