Page 26 of Love Hollow at Last
“C’mon, Aya,” said Noah.“This music sucks.Let’s go bother the DJ.”
“Okay,” said Aya, faking a smile.But the warning resonated in her head as she crossed the room with Noah.
Apparently, Noah wasn’t taking their relationship as seriously as she had thought.And that was a good thing for her to know.Even when he talked his way into a classic slow-dance song and spun her on the dance floor, settling into an embrace that made her heart flutter, she was guarded.
He didn’t want it to last.So she should appreciate the moment, but that was it.
23
Noah
“This narrative wouldn’t be terrible,” said Grace, “but I’m not sure we’re going to be able to spin it correctly when it comes out that the museum is fighting us.Well, you.”
Noah’s cheeks were still flaming.He’d spent the morning explaining to his parents and siblings that he and Aya were absolutely not a couple, and it had seemed like even baby Hana viewed him with suspicion.
“You’re not actually together, are you?High school sweethearts reunited, et cetera.We could you use that.”
Noah put his head in his hands.“We weren’t high school sweethearts,” he said.“I don’t know who told you that.”
She shook her head.“Only the whole town.Apparently, people were putting bets on you back in the high school years, and some of them are still hoping to cash in.Some people even thought you’d have babies together by now.”
He barked a laugh.“Aya definitely doesn’t want someone like me.I’m sorry.I assume you know she’s working on a doctorate?”
“So she’s smart.You’re used to smart women.”
“Yeah, but she’s used to smart men.She’d never want to actually date a college dropout.Nobu warned me about that a long time ago.”
Grace didn’t bother trying to hide her laugh.“And Nobu was supposed to be some sort of expert, was he?”
“Well, yes.I mean, aren’t they all?”
“All gay men?Yep, pretty much.There is not a single gay man on God’s green earth whose advice on my personal life hasn’t been spot-on.”
“Exactly.”
“I was being sarcastic, Noah,” said Grace, the sweetness of her singsong voice in sharp contrast with the sarcasm that lay buried underneath.Noah was always shocked at how many of his friends thought Grace was a pushover, too kind to do the hard work required of her mishmash of roles.Whereas, in fact, Grace only grew frustrated when people underestimated her.Generally, as long as she was respected, she could appear to be kind and yielding.She didn’t mind nearly agreeing with everything, but she always did what she wished.
Noah was a cheap drunk.It had taken him only a couple of years in show business to realize that anything but near-teetotaler status dulled the ambition that was essential to his success.If he relaxed too much each evening and slept in, he couldn’t keep up.
But he still loved an occasional glass of whiskey.And Grace, though she rarely had time to drink, was no stranger to hard liquor.So he went to the cabinet where they kept a bottle of the good stuff, poured each of them a fraction of a shot, and raised his glass to Grace.
For the first time that morning, she gave a genuine smile.She closed her laptop, put her phone down, and joined Noah at the folding table next to the mini fridge.She raised her glass before taking a sip.
“Kanpai,” she said.Her Japanese accent was better than Noah’s, though she didn’t actually speak the language.
“So,” he said.“Explain it to me like I’m a total idiot.”
She smiled, but he held up one finger.
“Don’t,” he said, and she nodded.
But her thoughts radiated in her smile.You are a total idiot, though.At least she didn’t say it out loud.
“Fine.So.Your brother, Nobu, is gay.Did you know this in high school?”
Noah rubbed the back of his head.“Um, no, not really.There were some signs, but I guess I didn’t read them very well.”
“Good,” said Grace.“Signs.Such as what?”
