Page 106 of Love is a Harmony
Ben saw him first and jump to his feet. “They wouldn’t let the rabble into the house.” He shrugged sheepishly.
Drew stood and grinned. “Who knew Noah Clarke was a prince?”
“I’m not a prince.” Noah released a long breath, the tension leaving him at the sight of two of his best friends.
“Could have fooled me.” Drew looked up at the house looming over them. “You grew up here?”
“Unfortunately. What are you guys doing here?”
“Funeral crashing.” Ben clapped him on the back. “We couldn’t let you do this alone.”
Noah didn’t tell them he wasn’t alone. He had Stella and Nan and Ava, but seeing them, having them here… “I…” Everything crashed in on him. Days spent around parents who had never wanted him here. A little girl who was having to learn that not all families were worth the effort.
And doing it without the one person who made him feel like he could do anything, like he could raise a kid and fall in love and be the kind of guy who deserved both.
Ben cursed and closed the distance between them, pulling Noah into a back-thumping hug.
Drew joined them. “If anyone ever mentions this, I’ll deny it.”
“Shut up, man.” Ben punched him in the stomach and draped an arm over Noah’s shoulders. “You going to show us this place or not?”
* * *
Noah’s two worlds weren’t supposed to mix, his past and his present. But… it worked. Both Ben and Drew had the kinds of families most dreamed of, and Noah would have given up every penny he’d grown up with for that, to have parents who cared about their children.
“Jo would kill to be here.” Ben touched the piano lightly as if afraid he’d break it.
Noah snorted. “She’d take one look at this place, tell my parents to get stuffed, and ask to go back to the airport.” Of anyone, Jo only knew bits and pieces of Noah’s old life. He hadn’t told her everything. When he first met her, he kept his secrets in fear she wouldn’t keep hanging around him if she knew.
Jo was the coolest person he’d ever met. Coming from a life of boarding schools and polo matches, exploring the New York music scene with the rocker chick had been the thrill of a lifetime. He’d never expected it to turn into a lifelong friendship or a soaring career.
There are singular moments that change a person’s life forever. Meeting Jo Jackson was one.
Seeing Stella for the first time another.
And the most recent? Realizing he loved Melanie.
He knew he’d been quiet for too long when Ben nudged him. “The entire group would have been here for you, but Jo’s doctor doesn’t want her traveling, and Dax didn’t want to leave her in the city without one of us to call if she needed to.”
“I can’t believe you’re here.” He’d gotten used to the group showing up for each other. From flying to Ohio to knock sense into Ben to helping Drew when his lead dancer was injured, they’d all done a lot for each other. But he wasn’t someone who enjoyed needing people, letting them in.
Drew bent down in front of the couch where Stella slept. “I’ve heard so much about her, it’s kind of surreal seeing the girl who brought Noah Clarke down in person.”
Noah lifted a brow. “Stella didn’t bring me down.”
Drew looked back over his shoulder at him. “She brought down a version of you. You can’t go back to that guy, you know that, right?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, mate. I know. And she had help.” He hadn’t meant to say the last part, but it was true. Stella was only one part of the equation that had Noah wanting more.
Ben and Drew shared a look, but neither mentioned Melanie, almost like it was a silent pact. They weren’t here for Mel, and neither was Noah. This was about saying goodbye to Carson.
Stella’s eyelids fluttered open, and she sucked in a breath but didn’t say anything.
“Hello.” Drew cocked his head. “I’m your uncle Drew. I’m going to be your favorite rock star.”
Stella looked to Noah in question.
Noah shoved Drew out of the way. “You’re scaring her, mate. She doesn’t want to wake up to your ugly face.” He sat on the end of the couch by her feet. “Hey, Stell. You already know Ben, but you can ignore Drew.”
