Page 118 of So Steady

“You don’t have to be sorry.”

“I do. I never gave you the full picture and you had faith in me when the shit hit the fan with Paula and Gil, anyway.”

“Of course, I did. Noah, Iwant you. I wantus.”

She hadn’t meant to say it so desperately, soearnestly, but it came tumbling out, as uncensored as her teenage crush on the fictional werewolf, Jacob Black. Before Greyson, before the horrible doctor’s office, before she gave up on feelings and put her faith in The Plan. And it felt good to be that vulnerable. That wide open.

Noah’s arms tightened around her like steel bands. “I still don’t know how to be with you the way you want.”

“You don’t need to! We’ll just take it a day at a time for a bit. Figure it out. There’s no rush.”

He looked at her with his insanely green eyes. “You mean that? You can give me some time?”

“Yes,” Nicole said without hesitation. “All the time.”

“I still don’t know how I’ll go talking about everything. Not just about you, but about heaps of shit. That’s why I never showed anyone my…” He looked around, as though searching for witnesses. “My paintings.”

“Because it makes you feel vulnerable?”

He shuddered. “See, even hearing you say that makes me wanna leave the state.”

“The word is cringe. And you’re going to have to get over that because your paintings are beautiful and a condition of us going out together is that I want to show them to people. Sam, at least. And Tabby.”

Noah looked at the sky. “Yeah, that might be a problem.”

“Why?”

“Long story.”

Nicole pressed a palm to his lovely mouth. “Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?”

He smirked, pulling back and biting her fingers. “You might. One day. If I can figure out how to tell you how I feel.”

She smiled, eyes burning with unshed tears. “I missed you.”

He ducked his head. “You don’t have to. I’m not going anywhere.” Noah bent his head, his mouth close to hers. “I can’t say it yet, but I…and you. Get it?”

She nodded furiously and for the first time in a long time, it felt like everything might be o—

“Kiss! Fuckin’ kiss!” Tabby’s head was sticking out of her bedroom window. When they looked at her, she shook her fist at them. “Kiss, you plebs! I’m sick of waiting!”

Sam appeared and put Tabby in a headlock. “Sorry, I tried to hold her back but she’s stronger than she looks. Hey, Noah.”

Noah raised a hand, a flush weaving down his neck.

Gosh, he’s adorable.Nicole raised her middle finger to her sisters. “Get out of here.”

They didn’t budge. They stood in the window as they stood in her mind, watching, ready to cast their loving, snappy judgement. She sighed and turned to Noah. “You can put me down if you want to. They’re going to keep watching us until we—”

He kissed her, his mouth as warm and hot as the sun on her back. Sam and Tabby cheered above them, and as Noah’s arms tightened around her, Nicole felt really, truly, temporarily perfect.

Chapter 22

Five and a half months later

“Fuck!” Noah pulled his thumb away from the barbecue, examining the bright red line he’d just singed into his skin. He sucked it, irritated.

“Oh no, civilian casualty!” Tabby dumped the salad she was carrying on the table and came over to inspect his burn. “Want me to take over?”

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