Page 112 of Just My Type
I cackle out a laugh, but Jo just looks at me. “You think that’s funny? Take a look at the way brother number three is undressing you with his eyes right now and tell me you won’t be having some serious alone time later tonight.”
I glance over at Noah in the open kitchen who is, in fact, giving me a look so heated I have to practically shift in my seat to alleviate the ache between my legs. Without moving his eyes from mine, he opens the waffle maker and flips a finished waffle onto the platter he has waiting, pouring more batter in and closing it up without so much as glancing at it. Then he gives me a grin and a wink and turns right back to what he was doing.
“Shit,” I mutter, wondering if anyone would notice if I stole him away for a minute or ten so I could maul him in a bathroom or something.
“I think you’ve got some drool on the corner of your mouth, Hans,” Pam says, flopping back down in her seat.
I snap my gaze to hers, face heating at the fact that she caught me so openly ogling her son. I’m sure she’s kidding about the drool thing, but I surreptitiously wipe my mouth, just in case. “Sorry,” I mumble.
“Oh, honey,” Pam says, patting my hand. “Nothing to be sorry about. I always hoped my boys would find women who loved them the way they deserved to be loved.” She looks between me, Jo, and Amelia, satisfied smile on her face. “Looks like I’m three for three so far.”
“He’s the best,” I say absently, my mind wandering back to that dark hallway with Brett. The fear, but then the way Noah stood with me while he let me stand up for myself. The way I felt brave and powerful and protected, because of him. And loved. So, so loved. We should probably get around to saying the words pretty soon because I don’t know how much longer I can hold them in. Especially not after today.
“He certainly is,” Pam says, her eyes turning serious. “Howare you feeling, Hannah? I won’t ask you if you’re okay, because I think okay might be a ways off after the way Brett scared you like that. And after everything he’s done.”
My gaze snaps to Noah and then back to Pam, but she just holds up a hand. “He didn’t tell me anything. He would never. But I watched that man with you, and that kind of anger isn’t new. It was there before. Directed towards you.”
It’s not a question, but I answer it anyway. “Yes,” I say, my voice quieter than I would like. Smaller. Embarrassed almost, for what I put up with for so long.
Pam just covers my hand with hers. “It’s not your fault, Hannah. Any of it. He’s a violent, angry man, and I think he probably always has been. I won’t press you, I swear, but I will tell you that I’m here for you and you can always, always come to me. We’re family, Hannah. All of us. The only thing I’ll ask you right now is how you’re holding up.”
I take stock of myself while I try to swallow down the ball of emotion caused by Pam’s words. I consider her question. Really, really consider it, and I realize that actually…
“I am okay, it turns out. I thought I got closure from leaving Brett, but I think that was just running away. I needed to face him. To see him for who he really is and to finish it once and for all.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, feeling like I’m exhaling a weight I’ve been carrying for far too long. “And now I can really move on. I have family and friends. I have books to write and a publishing deal to work out. I have Noah.” My eyes stray to him where he’s standing in the kitchen laughing with his brothers, his dad, and Ben, and my heart thuds against my chest, like it’s trying to jump out and right into his hands. “And he’s everything.”
Pam sniffles, wrapping an arm around me. “Those are all really good things.”
“They are.” Cece nods. “I’m so proud of you, Hannah. I know you’ve heard that a lot tonight, but the way you came to Boston and made a new life, and then gave your old life thefinger when it came calling? It’s brave and bold and you should be proud of yourself too.” Cece gives us all a satisfied smile. “Even if I knew it was going to happen the whole time.”
“Can you be my grandma too?” Hallie asks, looking at Cece with something like awe. “I think you’re the most fascinating person I’ve ever met.”
Cece aims her smile at Hallie. “Your two sisters belong to me, so it stands to reason that you do too. Anything you need, Hallie, you just ask. You’re family, too. And I am definitely the most fascinating person you’ve ever met.”
“Breakfast is ready,” Rob announces from the kitchen, flipping the burner off under his famous hashbrowns.
“Fucking finally,” Cooper mutters. “I’m starving.”
Elliot rolls his eyes, platter of pancakes in hand. “Maybe if you learned how to cook like the rest of us, things would have moved a little faster.”
“Fuck off, I set the table.”
Jordan slaps Cooper across the back of his head. “A preschooler can set a table. Learn to cook like a fully functioning adult. No woman wants to date a guy who can’t cook. She’ll imagine you asking her what’s for dinner every single night for the rest of her life and she’ll probably kill you on the spot just to save the rest of the female population from that fate.”
“Truth,” Jo says, standing up from the couch and flinging herself at Jordan, kissing him like they aren’t in a room full of people. She changed out of her wedding dress, but she still has the fullit’s my wedding dayglow. “Love you,” she murmurs, grin on her face as she kisses him again.
“Love you right back, Hurricane. I had El put M&Ms in a pancake for you.” He kisses her nose and sets her down.
“Fuck yes. You are the perfect man.”
“Come on, Gorgeous, I saved you a seat next to me.” Noah stands above me, jacket long gone and his top two buttons undone, bowtie untied and hanging around his neck, hairperfectly mussed. Literally he has never looked hotter. I love him so much, and I also want to jump his bones.
I cock my head, raising an eyebrow at him. “What’s in it for me?”
Noah grins at me, and it lights up his entire face. “A Sprite, a Twizzler straw, all the waffles you can eat, and telling my entire family and most of yours the story of how we got accidentally married in Vegas?”
I laugh, taking the hand he holds out and pushing to my feet. “Sold.”
Noah wraps an arm around my waist and spins me into him, pressing his forehead to mine. “You sure you’re okay? I don’t want to be the annoying guy who asks you a million times, so I’ll just ask this once. Tonight was a lot, and it’s okay if you aren’t okay, you know?”
