Page 45 of Love is a Harmony
“Our host?” Melanie’s eyes widened. “Noah, if you’ve gotten us abducted by some crazed fan—”
“Me? I don’t control my fans!” He lowered his voice, remembering the scared kid tucked against him. “This will be fine. We’ll all be fine. I’ll sign some autographs, take some pictures, then they’ll let us go.”
“You don’t know that,” she hissed.
“Are you coming?” the driver asked.
Melanie gave him one more apprehensive look before stepping out of the car. Noah and Stella slid as one across the seat and followed her. The three of them locked hands as they walked the long drive.
“I’m going to count to three, and then we’ll make a break for it.” Noah squeezed Stella’s hand. “You ready?”
“What happened to you’d sign autographs, and we’d be fine?”
“Mel, just for once in your life listen to me. There’s a row of hedges blocking the street from view. We need to get through them and to the next house.”
“Okay… one—”
“I said I was going to count.” Noah wasn’t used to being scared, not for himself. But there was no way he was taking Stella into that house. “One. Two. Three.” He picked Stella up and started running for the hedges, glancing back over his shoulder to make sure Melanie was still with him. She matched his pace. They were almost there.
Noah pushed between the hedges, using his body to shield Stella from sticks and leaves. Melanie stumbled out behind him.
The next house wasn’t far. Almost there.
A car pulled up in front of them, stopping their escape across the road.
“Melanie, take Stella.”
Melanie pried the girl from him, and Noah readied to fight for his girls. He waited for someone to exit the car, his heart hammering in his chest. The door opened and one foot reached out. Then, the next.
And Noah recognized him. “What the heck are you doing, Ben?”
Just then, footsteps neared, the sounds of multiple people running down the drive. They rounded the hedges, matching grins on their faces.
Dax adjusted his glasses. “Hey, man.”
Jo huffed as she waddled up behind him. “Dudes, don’t make the pregnant woman run. Next time, you’re carrying me.”
Noah looked between his friends as he caught his breath. “Wait, we’re not being abducted?”
Jo was the first to crack, a laugh bursting free of her. The others weren’t far behind. “Total honesty, bro, we watched you walk up all scared on the security monitor.” She pushed pink tipped hair over her shoulders.
Relief rushed through Noah. He took two giant strides and pulled his very pregnant best friend into his arms. “Missed you, kid.”
She pushed him away. “Gross, you’re rubbing your scent of fear all over me.”
“Scent of fear?”
“Yeah, dude. You were terrified, and I’ve gotta say, best thing ever.” She stuck out her tongue.
He stuck out his, matching her expression. They were completely mature.
“Jo.” Melanie walked forward, Stella still in her arms. “I thought you weren’t leaving the house these days.”
“Well, just this once. I wanted to see Noah. And you. I don’t like you guys being gone.”
It was the most she’d ever admit to vulnerability.
Ben chuckled. “The image of you bursting through those hedges will forever be my happy place.”
