Page 22 of Finding Home

The streetlight highlighted Noah’s defined features, the dusting of dark stubble accentuated his strong jawline and reassuring warm eyes. A dimple still punctuated his smile. Noah Wilson was the quintessential leading man from any romcom.

Not handsome enough to tempt me.Mr. Darcy’s words about Lizzie Bennet whispered in her ears. Unlike Mr. Darcy, who was lying to himself and everyone else about his feelings for Lizzie, this was Elle’s truth. The smile and eyes that ignited a flutter in her belly did not belong to Noah Wilson. Not anymore.

“Goodnight, friend.” Her words were a simple declaration.

NINE

“There is nothing I would not do for those that are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not in my nature.”

~Jane Austen,Northanger Abbey

The humidity broke with a clap of thunder at a little after four a.m. Though the storm did not jolt her awake. She’d slept on-and-off most of the night. Instead of trying to lull herself back to sleep with a book, she lay listening to the gentle hum of the air conditioner and increasing volume of approaching thunder. Rain was rare in Long Beach. It was a luxury to listen to the tap-tap of fat drops on the roof.

Pulling the soft cotton sheets up so they were snug around her body, she counted between claps and flashes to assess the storm’s distance. A voice in her head, eerily similar to her dad’s told her that nothing could get her if she kept her blankets tight around her.

How wrong he’d been.

Elle kicked the memory away with the sheets. Dull gray light of a rainy sunrise filtered into the room. Rain was forecast forthe entire day. There would be no run with Clayton, just a solo yoga session in the living room. Should she text him? Would he want to do yoga? This was all new and scary. Opening her contacts, she selectedFitz’s Humanand messaged him.

Elle:Good morning. Looks like yoga is forecasted for today.

She added a frowny face emoji.

An hour later, as Elle lay in corpse pose on her mat in the living room turned makeshift yoga studio, a gentle knock came at the door.Had Uncle Pete come to inspect the state of the roof to ensure it wasn’t leaking? She laughed at herself, rising and walking to the door.

“Good morning.” Clayton stood beneath an umbrella with a perturbed Fitz tucked under his arm.

“Morning?” Her head tilted.

“You look confused.”

“I am. It’s raining.”

“Like cats and dogs.” His gaze drifted up and then back to Fitz.

“Is that veterinarian humor?” she chuckled.

He smirked.

“Did you get my text?” She leaned against the wet door frame, the cool slickness refreshing against her sweaty skin.

“Yes, but I believe there was a post-workout Fitz playdate included in your Airbnb package.” Clayton set Fitz on the porch, the pug puffing out an annoyed snort.

His gaze dropped to his four-legged companion and then back to Elle. The warm gray of Clayton’s eyes matched the morning’s sky with breaks of sunshine forcing itself through.

Her lips tugged up. “I’ll make tea.”

Elle sat cross legged on the floor, her back against the green couch, sipping peppermint tea. Clayton sat beside her, his long legs stretched out.

“Does he ever stop being entertaining?” Elle asked, listening to the sounds of Fitz’s snoring, his little legs moving as if trotting along in his dreams.

“Fitz is endlessly distracting. The distraction and chewed sneakers are worth the price of admission, though.” Pure unabashed love radiated from Clayton as he glanced at the pug.

“I hope he doesn’t have a taste for high heels.”

“Hasn’t eaten any of mine yet,” Clayton joked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Ooh, we may have to go shoe shopping sometime,” Elle said, cheekily.

---