Page 163 of Keep Me Never
Noah chuckles, nodding several times before taking a deep breath and sitting back. “Yeah. Yeah. Just want to be there.”
I nod, looking out the window.
“Distract me?” he asks and I turn back with a raised brow.
“You don’t really think that’s possible, do you?”
The guy laughs. “Okay, that’s fair. Just give me something to talk about to pass the time. How’s the job going, Mr. CEO?”
I wait for the anxious feeling to come, but it doesn’t, and I nod to myself. “Good, man. Busy. I think it’s taking off a lot quicker than anyone expected, but I mean that’s a positive thing. We’re not sure yet if it’s because it’s July, and everyone is just trying to get in to see what it’s about before they have to take off from training camp or if it’ll stick, but Prescott seems to think it’s a good sign,” I tell him. “I still have a shit ton to learn, but Prescott has been like a godsend, man. Patient, that dude.”
Noah nods. “You still wanting to go back to school for that final semester?”
I nod. “Yeah, there’s no point in getting ahead of myself and I put in all that work. I owe that to myself. Like I said though, we don’t know yet if this new division is going to pop off or not, but at least I’ll have my degree if it doesn’t. I’ll be good either way.”
Noah smiles in knowing. “Because you already got the most important thing, right?”
I smirk, nodding as I look down at the screensaver on my phone—a picture I took last night. I’ve gotten in the habit of taking one each day. Might be out of some sort of fear of loss, but I try not to think about it too much.
It’s not long before we’re parking and climbing out, making the short trek up to a very specific point of Sunset Cliff. Thesun is just over the horizon, like it’s just been waiting for us.For them.
We’re silent as we walk, our friends and family coming into view instantly, watery smiles and proud gazes staring back. My eyes move to Noah, to the empty seat he stops beside, gripping its back with both hands as he takes a deep breath, the seat reserved for someone special, someone who can’t be here today physically but is in spirit.
The photo of his mama sits in a pretty frame, her smile pointed right at her son as he places himself just ahead.
Mason stands beside him, then Brady, and lastly,me.
The air grows quiet, the waves softly crashing below, and soft music begins to play from speakers we can’t see.
Paige is the first person to come into view, and I watch, breathless.
She’s glowing, absolutely stunning. There’s a softness in her eyes that makes my pulse jump.
I can’t help but think about how far we’ve come, from the secrets and the hurt, to standing here today, and then she looks over, big, blue eyes locking with mine and everything feels…right.
I can feel my pulse quicken as she draws closer, smiling at me, her attention never once leaving mine, as if right here, in this crowd of thirty-plus people, I am the only one she sees. I can’t help but get lost in her, the woman who taught me how to live without hesitation, who made me believe I was worthy of this.
As I stand there waiting, I’m not just thinking about now. I’m thinking about our future. The ring I’ll put on her finger. My name at the end of hers. Tiny little hands I’ll get to hold and baby-blue eyes that match their mama’s.
She smiles again, winking this time, and I feel it in my soul, everything that was broken, now healed.
Payton is next, followed by Cameron, and then little Deaton steals the show.
He stands at the end, pulling a pair of sunglasses from hispocket and placing them over his eyes with a wide grin as he walks this way, his focus on his dad, a little white, fluffy football in his hands—the one that Noah had made a long time ago, the words “Little Riley” stitched into the side—only there is a little addition to it. A ribbon, with two rings hanging from it.
The music fades, everyone stands, and then Ari appears in all her bridal glory, her dad at her side, his newborn grandson tucked safely in his arms.
My eyes move to Noah, witnessing his choppy inhale and the glossiness in his eyes as he stares down at the two most important people in his life, his bride-to-be and their baby boy.
Mase reaches out, gripping Noah’s shoulders, and Brady and I share a smile.
The moment hits hard, and I’m honored to be a part of this group, of this family.
Because that is what we are—family.
The music fades, the bride stepping up to take her groom’s hands, their son placed in the little bassinet between them.
As the ceremony begins, my eyes fall back to Paige, finding hers are already on me.
