Page 71 of 5 Golden Flings

Devastation and pain filled her golden-brown eyes.

Noah shot up, the chair rolling back and rattling loudly into the dark silence that sat between them. “Man, I have to call you back.”

Matt was still protesting as Noah hit the button to end the call. He didn’t care.

“It isn’t what you think.”

Autumn simply shook her head. “Your grandparents are cutting the cake.” Her words were thick and heavy, just like the weight in the center of his gut.

Without waiting, Autumn spun away. Her heels clicked across the flagstone floor of the lobby, staccato beats as she shot through the empty space. She had a head start and beat him back to the ballroom. Skirting around the edges, she stopped to murmur to one of her employees. Her back to the room, he could tell that she was about to run away.

But he wasn’t about to let that happen.

“Noah!” His grandfather’s voice boomed above the crowd gathered around the stage at the far end of the room. Every head turned to stare. Together, his grandparents emphatically waved him up onto the stage beside them. His mom stood there too, her husband – a man Noah liked and respected – lingering behind. A path opened up through the throng of people, giving him no choice but to comply.

Noah’s entire world felt like it was crumbling as he passed by neighbors, friends, people he’d known his whole life. Up on the stage, Harry wrapped her arms tight around his middle. “We’d like to think our grandson for this wonderful party. It’s been a blessing to get to celebrate the happiness of our life with all of you.”

Her arms tightened, squeezing hard. Noah swallowed, squeezing her back. His eyes burned, but he forced a smile onto his face.

The next few minutes were a blur. His grandparents cut the cake. The band played the same song they’d danced to at their wedding as they took another turn around the floor. After a few minutes, they began pulling other people out with them.

Harry snagged his hand and tugged. “Dance with me.”

He could never deny her anything.

Her body was strong, but still somehow frail as he wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her smoothly across the floor.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, staring up at him with that knowing expression only a mother or grandmother could pull off.

Noah shook his head. He wasn’t going to ruin this night for her by unloading. “Nothing.”

Her eyes narrowed, glittering with irritation and disappointment. “Boy, I’ve known you your entire life. I’ve watched you struggle and triumph and deal with shit no one, let alone a child, should have to deal with. Stop bullshitting me. What’s wrong?”

What could he do in the face of her demand? “Matt called. I have an offer to play in Seattle, but they want me there next week.”

“I see.” Harry’s expression went completely neutral. “When do you leave?”

Why did everyone just assume he was going to jump at the opportunity?

“I’m not sure I am.”

A single eyebrow rose. “Oh?”

Noah closed his eyes. The jumble of emotions had his chest and stomach in knots. “It won’t be like before. I wouldn’t be a star on the team, just a back-up and support.”

A rude sound echoed through Harry’s chest. “You’ve never cared about being a star, which is one of the reasons you’ve always been one.”

Noah’s lips twisted into a grimace. “True, I don’t give a shit about playing time or media or any of that. But I do care about doing what I love and even going to Seattle, I won’t be doing that very much.”

“Something is better than nothing.”

This time, when he looked down at his grandmother, his eyes narrowed. “Are youtryingto get me to leave?”

“Absolutely not. I’m trying to get you to do what you want, but I’m not so certain you know what that is right now.”

For some reason, her words had peace settling across his shoulders. Until that very moment, hehadn’tknown what he wanted. “When did you get so wise?”

“Son, I’ve been wise longer than you’ve been alive. What else is holding you back?”

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