Page 181 of Before We Were

Her giggle makes my chest ache with something I never knew I could feel.

"Tonight," she promises, eyes dark. "Just don't actually ruin the dress. It's my favorite."

I pull her against me one last time, kissing her hard before whispering, "I'll buy you a closet full if it means I can keep ruining them whenever you wear them."

She laughs. "You're crazy."

"For you? Entirely." And nothing has ever been more true.

We slip out of the laundry room, her hand brushing mine as we move back toward the chaos of party prep. The distant hum of chatter and laughter filters through the walls, grounding us back in reality. Each step feels like we're emerging from our own private world into one that's suddenly too bright, too loud.

Nora's cheeks are flushed, her hair slightly tousled, and she looks at me from under her lashes, a small, secret smile playing on her lips. Her fingertips touch her neck where my lips were moments ago, and the gesture sends heat coursing through me all over again. I catch her glance and wink, sealing our private moment between us.

"Try not to stare too much, will you?" she teases, smoothing down her dress with trembling fingers.

"I'll try, but I'm not making any promises." To her surprise, and maybe to prove a point about being done with hiding, I plant a kiss on her lips right there in the open. "Later though, I'm keeping all my promises."

"You're trouble, Nathaniel," she whispers, but her eyes spark with something that makes me want to drag her right back to that laundry room.

"Likewise, Lenora." I say with a wink.

We part ways and Ollie spots me the second I step back outside, his arms crossed, and a single eyebrow raised. "Oh, perfect timing, Nate. Really. Now that I've folded approximately forty napkins, rearranged tables twice, and listened to Lydia lecture me about floral symmetry, you've decided to grace us with your presence?"

I shrug, slapping him on the back as I pass, still riding high on the lingering taste of Nora's lips. "You're killing it, Ol. Keep up the good work."

He scoffs, leaning dramatically on the counter like he's about to pass out. "I am killing it, thanks for noticing. But you know what would be great? Some help from my brother-in-law."

I freeze mid-step, turning to glare at him. "You want to run that by me again?"

Ollie grins, waggling his eyebrows. "You think I didn't notice you slipping off with my sister? You're not exactly stealthy. And she came back looking like she just ran a marathon in a wind tunnel. I've got eyes, you know."

"Eyes and a death wish," I mutter, grabbing a tray of drinks to hide my mixed emotions. Part of me wants to deny it, another part wants to shout from the rooftops that she's mine.

"Relax," he says, throwing up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm not going to say anything. But if you disappear again, I'm telling Lydia and letting her assign you to napkin duty. And trust me, she's ruthless."

I roll my eyes, but I can't help the small laugh that escapes. "You're such a pain in the ass."

"That's what I'm here for," Ollie says cheerfully, grabbing a bowl of chips and heading toward the yard. But then he pauses, his expression shifting to something more serious. "Hey." He turns back to look at me, all traces of teasing gone. "Don't hurt her, yeah?"

The simple request hits me like a punch to the gut. There's trust in those words—trust I'm not sure I deserve but desperately want to earn. I nod, a lump forming in my throat, and watch him walk off. For all his teasing and big-brother antics, Ollie's always had Nora's back. Seeing him now, giving me a quiet warning but still trusting me with his little sister, hits differently.

I've always known Ollie as the jokester, the one who doesn't take anything too seriously, but when it comes to Nora, he's different. Protective, but not suffocating. He's letting me in, even though I know it can't be easy for him to see his little sister and his best friend together like this. I respect the hell out of him for it. For trusting me not to screw this up, for giving me a chance to prove I'm the guy who's going to take care of her heart, not break it.

Guests start trickling in not long after, filling the backyard with the familiar mix of neighbors, family friends, and the odd straggler who always manages to find their way to a Sullivan party. Laughter spills out from every corner, kids chase each other across the lawn, and the scent of barbecue wafts through the air. Mom is in her element, effortlessly charming everyone as she floats from group to group, ensuring drinks are topped off and plates are full. It's chaos, but it's her brand of chaos, the kind that makes everyone feel like they belong.

I'm hauling another bag of ice inside when I spot Nick making his way through the door. He's casual as ever, hands shoved in his pockets, that signature smirk plastered across his face like he doesn't have a care in the world. Somehow, he always manages to look like he belongs, no matter where he is.

"Your mom invited me," he says in lieu of a hello, grinning as he claps me on the shoulder.

I snort, handing him a beer from the fridge without him even asking. "Surprised it wasn't Kat."

Nick chuckles, twisting off the cap. "You're funny."

We settle into an easy rhythm of conversation, catching up on nothing and everything. When I bring up the concert, I fish the key to his apartment out of my pocket and hand it back.

"Thanks again for letting us crash," I say.

Nick waves it off like it's nothing. "Anytime. It's yours whenever you need it."

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