Page 163 of Here With Me
“Hey,” Noah scolds. “Why not one year ofmeputtin’ up withhim? Misogynistic much?”
“Relax.” Wilder rolls his eyes as he taunts her with a devilish grin. “Anyone who can deal with you that long deserves an award.”
Noah’s lips curve up as she arches a brow toward him. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll berewardin’him all night long.”
“Gross,” Jase whispers next to me, and Amelia chuckles.
“What’s that mean?” Mallory blurts out.
My eyes nearly pop out of my head as I look at Noah’s parents. Her dad scowls at Wilder while Mrs. Hollis’s cheeks flame red. Then there’s Gramma Grace, who smiles wide as if she’s just happy to be here.
“Nothin’, sweetie.” Mrs. Hollis points at her plate as a reminder to eat.
“Noah.” I cough out her name in a hushed, scolding tone.
“What? If he can dish it out, then he can take it.”
Her thick drawl has me grinning and shaking my head.
The conversation goes back to ranch and retreat work stuff, as per usual with their Sunday dinners. The closer we get to dessert, the more nervous I get. My palms are slick with sweat, but I try to act unaffected once the peach cobbler is served.
“Gramma, this is so good.” Noah moans as she takes a large bite.
“It really is,” I agree. I love how the hot cobbler tastes with the cold ice cream.
“When do I get the secret recipe so I can learn to make it?” Noah asks her.
“It’s tradition to pass it on at one’s bridal shower,” Mrs. Hollis says.
“You’re jokin’.” Noah makes a face as if she’s not happy with that answer.
“Guess that means we’re never gettin’ it,” Landen quips, and the other boys laugh.
Mr. Hollis kicks him underneath the table. “Your wives will get it.”
“So we gotta be married to get family recipes? That seems very 1950s, Momma.” Noah pouts before shoving another forkful in her mouth.
“Yeah, what if she becomes a nun?” Wilder muses, and by the look on Mr. Hollis’s face, I swear he’s about to send him out onto the porch again.
“Shush your mouth or I’m gonna—” Noah stops when I stand.
I walk over to where I hid the scrapbook I made for her and bring it back to the table.
“What’s this?” she asks when I set it down in front of her.
“I put together a little somethin’ for you. Pictures of us from the past year.”
She slides her plate to the side and looks at the cover where I added a recent photo of us from my birthday.
“Our First Year Together,” she reads aloud. “Oh my gosh, Fisher! Is this what you’ve been workin’ on?”
I lean over and kiss her temple. “I know how much you like capturin’ memories and keepsakes. Figured this was a good way to document our relationship.”
She knew I started this months ago, but I stopped letting her see my progress when I came up with an idea I wanted to surprise her with.
Noah flips through the pages, touching every little greenery and floral piece, then reads where I added in details of the photos. Each new holiday we spent together, adding onto her cottage, us riding together, me trying to teach her how to clip hooves, her attempting to teach me a trick riding stunt that I gave up on, her birthday party from a few months ago, and when I officially moved in with her. So many memories and milestones from the past year that I can’t even remember my life before she was in it.
“Wow, I’m speechless. This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten.” A few tears spill down her cheeks as she looks between me and the pages. “You decorated this so cute, too.”
