Page 95 of Beauty
I fight back a wince. It’s way too early for her level of energy.
“That’s where you’re going, right?” she asks. Like everyone else I’ve encountered this morning, she gives me a confused look. Clearly, I’m not hiding how out of sorts I am. “Team plane?”
I open my mouth, then snap it shut again. It’s better than slamming my forehead against the door in defeat. With another steadying breath, I straighten my spine and nod. “Yup. Thought I forgot something, but I was wrong.” I lift the bag clutched in one hand as proof. “So I’m good to go.”
She beams at me. “Thank god. Brooks has forbidden Sara from traveling with the baby yet, and Lex is busy organizing a charity event. And Millie texted to say she’s too nauseas to fly. I was nervous I’d be alone, but I love how I can always rely on one of my girls.”
Her words soothe me.My girls. Lennox, Sara, Millie, and Liv are my people, yes, but they’re married to my brothers, so they have to be nice to me. Other than Cat, I’ve had very few friends in my life who weren’t somehow obligated or didn’t have ulterior motives.
“Baby Hall, you got the other Baby Hall and the luggage?” she calls as Daniel steps out with Mav strapped to his chest. The man rolls two suitcases out, one topped with a duffel and the other a diaper bag, bumping the doorframe as he goes.
“Does he need help?” I mumble.
She shakes her head. “He likes doing this kind of stuff for me. I used to fight it, but it’s pointless, so I let him do his thing. He gets so little time with Mav as it is, right, baby?”
He grins at her with stars in his deep brown eyes. “You know it, dream girl.”
“C’mon.” Hannah herds me toward the elevator, where three sets of eyes are fixed on us. “Hi, Jen. Hey, Ollie,” Hannah chirps, her loud voice bouncing off the metal walls. “Are you excited for our week away?”
Jen gives Hannah a polite but reserved nod. If she were with Noah, she’d be more friendly with his sister, right?
And still I knew you were the only one for me. And if I couldn’t have you, then I didn’t want anyone else.
It’s a lie. The man is good at them. He had me fooled. Had me forgetting that his son was bornafterour weekend together.
Daniel shoves his way in, dragging his luggage, causing the rest of us to step back and to the sides. Jen grabs Ollie’s shoulders and pulls him to the back left corner, and Noah goes to the right. I take a step toward the front right corner, near the panel, but I stumble back when Daniel wheels the suitcase in that direction, almost taking out my toe.
I’m still off balance when a big hand clutches my hip and pulls me back into a broad, warm chest.
In the chaos of the moment, all eyes are on Daniel, but my skin prickles at the notion that any of them could see. Okay, that’s a lie. My traitorous skin tingles becausehe’stouching me. His hold is gentle, the squeeze he gives me soft as he brings his mouth to my ear. “Still like to be touched in a room full of people, I see.”
Knees wobbling, I suck in a surprised breath and scan the small space.
“And I still love touching you.” His words are a kiss against my ear. “Only you.”
Blessedly, the elevator dings, signaling that we’ve reached our destination and breaking the spell he cast on me. Noah keeps one hand pressed gently to my side, and when he confirms that I’m steady, he sidesteps me, tossing a wink over his shoulder, and outstretches his arm to hold the doors open so our group can exit. Out on the street in front of the building, I try not to stare as Ollie hugs Jen. Or as she gives the rest of the group a friendly nod and walks away.
There’s no long goodbye to Noah. No kiss. No words at all.
Relief and excitement hit me, one after another. Maybe she’s not someone important, after all.
The moment the thought appears, I scold myself. Because it doesn’t matter. Because I shouldn’t care.
If only I could stop.
THIRTY-TWO
NOAH
Ollie’snever been on a private jet before, so, as is to be expected, he’s got a lot to say about the team plane. “I thought it would be bigger,” he muses as we stand side by side on the tarmac.
Hannah arranged for a car service to pick us up since both kids are traveling with us, along with all the luggage they require.
I don’t know how my sister did it, but she convinced Sienna to send her driver home and ride with us. It’s the logical choice, of course, but my girl is stubborn, and she’s clearly doing everything she can to avoid me. Even in the car, she chose the seat farthest from me and sat in silence the whole way.
Now, though, she pauses on Ollie’s other side and looks up at the plane too, like she’s seeing it for the first time. “I can’t wait to tell my brother you said that.”
Hannah giggles. “Beckett will cry.”
