Page 73 of Tainted Hearts

“I know it’s hard to believe, but he does. I think a part of him always has. He’s giving Luke and me the time to grow with you, but I know he wishes he could do the same.”

“Could have fooled me,” I sigh. “I mean, I see him trying, I see the change in him. But he’s hardly tried to talk to me alone, and anytime he does say something, it’s him randomly saying sorry before walking away. The first time he really talked to me was the same day he told Heather what he did.”

Noah helps me out of my coat. “He doesn’t want to make any of this about him. He wants you to know that he craves something between the two of you, but he wants to make sure Luke and I get it before him. Because as much as Isaac craves it, he doesn’t think he deserves it.”

“He doesn’t,” I tell him as I take my boots off. “Yet.”

“He will keep working at it until he does. And even if you don’t give him a shot, he will still spend every day trying.”

“I guess we will see how things go.”

As I change out of my wet clothes and into something dry, so I’m warm when we go back outside, what Noah said plays on a loop in my mind. Isaac has been groveling in his own way. But he’s doing it in ways that won’t get him recognized for it. Like he wants to earn my forgiveness but won't take credit for anything. He’s been leaving me little cupcakes at my door for the past week. My favorite, red velvet with cream cheese.

I overheard him tell Mary, the head housekeeper, not to do my laundry, so I waited around to see why, and found him washing my clothes. The confusion and dedication on his face as he tried to fold everything was cute because he clearly hasn’t done his own laundry ever.

I’m the only one in the house that likes Red Delicious apples, but the fridge is always stocked with them.

It’s the little things with him that I find are getting to me, in a good way, more than his words. If it was anyone else but him, I’d make him work harder than ever, grovel like crazy, but I don’t have it in me.

I see the light in his eyes slowly dimming, and it’s breaking my heart.

What Isaac needs is love, support, and people on his side. I’ll be one of them, if he’d let me.

Noah and I spend the next hour playing in the snow. After we make a very wonky–but adorable–snowman, we grab the sleds from the shed and go to a hill nearby.

I laugh and smile the whole time. I don’t think I’ve had this much fun in a really long time.

When we’re tired and the sun is fully set, we head inside. After changing again, I head back to the living room to find Noah sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace with two mugs of hot chocolate on the coffee table.

“Thank you,” I say, taking a seat next to him and grabbing a cup. I take a sip and moan. “This is so good.”

“Thanks. It’s my mom’s recipe. All from scratch.”

Putting the mug back on the table, I look over at Noah. He grins and opens his arms. With giddy excitement, I snuggle against him and sigh happily. The bond is a powerful thing. It has the power to control everything, if you let it. And in moments like this, I don’t mind.

Tonight is a go with the flow kind of night, and I’m hoping it ends with me and Noah taking that next step and officially making him mine.

---