Page 25 of Axe Backwards
My mind raced and my heart pinched. The two of us were only friends. But the possibility of not having to face my family alone was very tempting. “Isn’t that a lot to ask?”
“For my mom?” He shook his head. “She raised six kids almost completely on her own. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but she’s baby crazy. She turned Gus’s old room into a nursery for Thor and Simone, so she’s got a crib and changing table and highchair. She’s itching to get Tess over there. I’ll be lucky if she gives her up after the wedding.”
I forced a smile even as my stomach soured. I’d give anything for a mom like that. One who was loving and generous, who rolled with the punches. Who loved her kids enough to let them be who they needed to be.
“You don’t understand,” I pleaded. “My mother, my sisters. They aren’t kind people. They’ll spend the whole day looking down at you.”
I had nothing in common with any of them, and they were about as fond of me as I was of them. Our goals and outlook and priorities couldn’t have been more different. For years, I’d kept my feelings about them to myself. It was almost freeing to admit it out loud to Noah instead of pretending we were too busy to get together regularly.
“You think your family can scare me off? Please. I’ve battled two-thousand-degree flames many, many times. Your mother’s glares have nothing on a wall of fire burning off all the available oxygen.”
Huh. I’d forgotten about his heroic firefighting career. The Noah I knew was a loving dad who was desperate for a few hours of sleep each night.
But the man was undeniably gorgeous. Though I was incapable of feeling attraction, he could absolutely make a splash as my date.
With his height, muscles, and thick hair, he would make Graham so jealous. My ex was incredibly vain.
As we continued down the trail, I had to push myself to keep pace with him.
“It may seem weird,” he admitted, his long legs eating up the distance back to the parking lot. “But it’s only a wedding. I’ll be a gentleman. You don’t have to worry about that.”
I kept my focus fixed on the ground ahead of me, ensuring I didn’t trip over exposed tree roots or another rock, but in my periphery, I could swear his cheeks went a bit pink under his stubble.
“You’ve done so much for me and for Tess. You’re an incredible friend.”
My heart swelled. I was thankful for the unlikely friendship we’d struck up. I was pretty sure I needed the connection even more than he needed the extra set of hands.
“The entire town already thinks we’re dating,” he said.
True enough, and it was annoying as hell.
“So if I came as your date, we wouldn’t have to worry that they’d question the status.”
“Doesn’t matter anyway. My parents would never deign to invite anyone from Lovewell. They think this town is beneath them.”
The moment they climbed that society ladder, they got the hell out of rural Maine and ditched the entire community.
As we rounded the bend and the parking lot came into sight, the sun shone brightly, warming my face.
It felt incredible. Not only the heat but being here with Noah and Tess. The fresh air in my lungs and good friends by my side. Would taking him to the wedding really be so bad? It was unlikely anyone would question it, and having a trusted friend at my side would make the entire weekend much more tolerable.
“Aunt Lou is going. I promised I’d give her a ride.”
“Great. I can help her get around.”
The ease with which he offered made my heart thump. Of course he’d go out of his way not just for me, but for my beloved aunt. “The wedding is in Kennebunkport.”
He whistled.
“At a fancy yacht club.” I cringed. “And it’s black-tie.”
Lips pressed together, he nodded. “I can manage.”
“And it will be ridiculous and over-the-top. Alexandra is my parents’ favorite. The entire thing will be nauseating.”
“You’re not talking me out of this. I’ll get to be there with you, so I’ll have a great time. Plus, it’s been years since I’ve had a lobster roll.”
I tossed my head back and laughed. “I’ll buy you ten. We’ll call it compensation for the pain and suffering my mother will cause.”
