Page 177 of After All This Time

“Seems like you and Dani have an affinity for the word inevitable.”

She studies my face. “There’s something else you’re not telling me.”

Guiding Mom over the chairs hanging out in front of Lizzie’s room, we sit down next to each other and I face her.

Fuck, my heart is beating so damn fast.

I exhale. “I’m in love with her. And I didn’t tell her when we were together last night. I wanted to, but I chickened out. I’ve never felt this way about a woman before. When I saw her standing in the middle of the fourth floor in this hospital a month ago, I thought I was hallucinating. I was convinced she wouldn’t come, but she did, despite how she felt about me at the time.” I pause to catch my breath. “I was stubborn as hell back in high school, not listening to Dad or Grayson because I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that I could be in love with a woman I couldn’t stand growing up.” I lick my lips. “When I’m with her, it feels like I’m underwater and I can’t come back up for air. All I want to do is hold her hand, hug her, and touch her in some way. So, yeah. I love Dani Solomon and I don’t know how to tell her.”

Mom breathes out through her nose, blinking her eyes as a tender smile spreads across her lips. “You’ve got it bad, Noah Bear. Is that why your shelves are full of romance books? It’s been to serve as a reminder of her after you two stopped talking?”

I nod, closing my eyes.

“Guess it’s time for some words of wisdom from your mom, huh?” She gives me a loving smile. “Love has its way of finding us when we least expect it. It can be terrifying, overwhelming, and exciting all at the same time. It’s like listening to a song for the first time and knowing right off the bat it will become a favorite of yours for a very long time.”

“Brain Damage by Pink Floyd has become one of my favorite songs of all time,” I babble. “We listened to it in my bedroom and the way she kept looking at me felt as if I wasn’t in my own body. She makes me feel everything when I’m with her. All I want to do is take care of her because she’s done so much for us. For her friends. For her family. She deserves someone who loves her unconditionally. Someone who treats her like a princess. Someone who worships the ground she walks on. Someone?—”

Mom cuts me off. “I think you’re talking about yourself, honey. She deserves someone like you.” She pauses. “You know, sometimes I wonder if you're my son and if we’re from the same bloodline. You have such a big heart and you care so damn much about people. Let Dani have a piece of your heart, and let her in, even in the parts you don’t want her to see because I know she’ll love them. I know she loves you too.”

“How do you know?”

“Call it maternal instinct.” She winks at me.

“Hey,” Dani says as she walks over to us.

“I’ll talk to you later,” Mom tells me as she kisses my forehead.

Mom and I stand up and she walks over to the elevator. I watch her disappear with Celia.

Dani places her hand on her hip. “Is everything okay?”

Oh, you just missed me spilling my guts to my mom about how I’m hopelessly and desperately in love with you.

“Yeah, everything’s fine. Just had some mother and son bonding time.” I pause. “Where did you just come from?”

“I had to go to the bathroom after you chased down your mom.” She licks her lips. “I can go into more specific detail about what I did in there if you want me to.”

My mouth parts slightly. “I’ll pass.”

We make our way back inside Lizzie’s hospital room.

“I thought you were never coming back. God, you almost missed out on me giving myself a concussion by banging my head on the wall behind me from Mom giving me the whole PT spiel and everything,” Lizzie says.

“I would’ve paid to see that one,” I reply.

“You suck.” Lizzie sticks her middle finger up at me.

“Hey, Lizbug,” Dani greets my sister.

“Hey, lioness. Ugh, I slept so shitty last night. It’s not just that my back is killing me from the accident, but now it’s going to be even more sore from sleeping on this damn bed for several weeks. How did you two sleep?”

Dani and I look at each other. I clear my throat excessively. “Sorry. Had a lump in my throat.” She squeezes my ass just as I answer Lizzie’s question, making me spring forward a touch. “W—we slept fine.”

“You okay, little bro?”

I turn my head in Dani’s direction, eyes widening. “Uh-huh.” Turning away from me, she smiles at me. A goofy yet sneakily hot kind of smile.

“Oh my God. You two had sex!” Lizzie blurts out.

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