Page 145 of After All This Time

I place one of my hands on my hip. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

He presses down on his lips after sticking out his tongue, but only a touch. “Want me to kiss you on the lips, Princess?”

“No, dumbass.” I roll my eyes, laughing. “Don’t forget the eggs are on the stove.”

“Oh, shit!” His voice raises as we both run over to the stove.

He’s scrambling the eggs with a small, plastic spatula.

They’re fine.

You think I wouldn’t be freaking out about eggs, but here we are.

As I zone out, I take the time to realize what happens today. We’re bringing Lizzie home.

My heart is bursting with so much joy.

I’m hoping everything goes smoothly for Noah’s sake. I can’t bear to watch him experience another panic attack. Last night freaked me the hell out and this is coming from someone who has anxiety.

It’s different when you’re the one experiencing anxiety versus watching someone else experience it.

Sometimes it feels like you’re walking down a dark alley and have no idea where it leads to. It threatens to take over everything.

I can only imagine what he must feel.

Noah splits the scrambled eggs, putting half on my plate and the other half on his. He spreads the scallion cream cheese he picked up from Kailani’s on his bagel before he hands the tub over to me.

“I wonder what my dad would say if he was here right now. You know because we’re getting along and the fact that we’re actually together.” Noah fully snaps me back to reality.

“He’d lose his shit,” I blurt out.

“Not exactly.”

I stare at him, cocking my head to the side.

“Dad always rooted for us to get together,” he says.

I slightly purse my lips until a small grin forms on my face. “I remember when we had our last family game night with my dad before he passed away. Ben pulled me aside when you weren’t paying attention. He told me you need someone like me in your life. Someone who challenges you, but secretly cares about you. I thought he was crazy at the time.”

“Then, he’d just blurt it out in front of the both of us all the time. You’d get so pissed off when he did that. Your cheeks would turn bright red.”

“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” I cross my arms in front of my chest, standing my ground.

“Yeah, you do.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yeah, you?—”

I cut him off. “No, you’re not listening to me. Your dad never upset me. You have no idea how much I looked up to him. He became my father figure after Dad passed away. He freaked out when I got into SCU. I loved your dad more than you’ll ever understand.” I get all choked up. “So, in a way, I’ve lost two dads. Not just one. You will never understand what I’m going through.”

God, I can’t believe he’s not listening to me. He doesn’t understand how close I was with Ben because he never paid close enough attention.

“Please don’t follow me.” I walk away from the island and head for my bedroom.

“Dani.” He nervously chuckles. “I was just…” He tells me as he follows me out of the kitchen.

The tears are falling like leaves do when it’s autumn in states that experience seasons.

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