Page 42 of Nolan

"Boone won," Weston chimes in, clapping Nolan on the back. "He had 'after a traumatic event, Nolan will figure his shit out.' Man, we thought for sure something would happen at New Year's."

Nolan laughs, a sound that still makes my stomach flip. "Well, if I'd known you all were so invested, I might have moved things along quicker."

The others arrive in quick succession,Boone and Alexis with nachos, Abel and Kara bringing her famous birria tacos, Vaughn and Val with beer, and Jasper and Daisy showing up last with Barrett and Gabby in tow, holding the best dessert I've seen in a while.

The backyard fills with laughter and conversation. I find myself constantly gravitating toward Nolan, and he to me, his hand on the small of my back, my fingers brushing his arm, small touches that feel significant in their newness.

"So," Gabby sidles up to me as I'm refilling the chip bowl. "Tell me everything. How did it finally happen?"

I smile, remembering the night after that first kitchen kiss, when Nolan came to my bedroom door, his face etched with determination rather than regret. "It just... did. Like it was always meant to."

"Well, duh," Alexis chimes in, joining our conversation. "We've watched you two orbit each other for years. It was painful, honestly."

"Months," I correct. "Not years."

The women exchange glances. "Honey," Daisy says gently, "you've been in love with him since the first day you saw him at the daycare.. And he started falling for you the moment you got Ashlynn to sleep through the night when no one else could."

I feel my face flush hot. "Was it that obvious?"

"YES!” comes the chorus from all the women within earshot.

Across the yard, I catch Nolan watching me, a soft smile playing on his lips. Boone is saying something to him, but Nolan's attention is fixed on me. When our eyes meet, the world around us seems to quiet.

"See?" Melanie nudges me. "That look right there. That's how we knew."

Later, as the afternoon stretches into evening and our friends begin to depart, I find myself helping Ashlynn build a dandelion crown on the edge of the patio. Nolan approaches, carrying two glasses of wine.

"For you," he says, handing me one before sitting beside us. "Ashlynn, that crown looks beautiful."

"It's for Anna," she announces, placing the slightly squashed circle of yellow flowers on my head. "Because she's a princess now."

Nolan's eyes crinkle at the corners. "She certainly is."

When Ashlynn races off to collect more dandelions, Nolan leans closer. "So, this wasn't too terrible, was it? Everyone giving us a hard time?"

I take a sip of beer. "Actually, it was kind of nice. To know they saw it coming before we did."

"I saw it coming," he admits quietly. "I just didn't think I deserved it. Deserved you."

The confession catches me off guard. I turn to look at him fully, taking in the vulnerability in his eyes. "Nolan,"

"Let me finish," he says, taking my free hand. "I've been alone with Ashlynn for so long, trying to be everything she needs. When you came into our lives, you filled all these spaces I didn't even know were empty. But I was scared to mess it up, to risk losing you completely if things didn't work out between us."

I squeeze his hand. "I was scared too. You and Ashlynn became my world, and I couldn't bear the thought of not being part of your lives."

"You are our world now," he says, his voice rough with emotion. "I don't know exactly where this is going, but I know I want to find out. With you."

My heart swells in my chest, too full for words. Instead, I lean forward and press my lips to his, tasting wine and promise.

"Anna. Daddy. Look how many I found." Ashlynn runs back toward us, her little hands overflowing with dandelions, some already gone to seed and floating away in the evening breeze.

Nolan pulls away just enough to rest his forehead against mine. "What do you say we put her to bed early tonight?"

The heat in his eyes sends a delicious shiver down my spine. "I say that sounds perfect."

As the sun sets over our little backyard gathering, I can't help but feel that after years of taking care of everyone else, I've finally found where I belong. Not just as Ashlynn's nanny or Nolan's girlfriend, but as an essential part of this beautiful, unexpected family we're creating together.

And for the first time in my life, it feels like coming home.

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