Page 74 of Truce: Declan
After lunch, we head back inside the courthouse. Noah is standing beside his lawyer in the hallway.
Slowly, I walk up to him, my hands threaded together, filled with nervous energy. “Hey,” I say, offering a warm smile.
Noah emits a soft sigh.
“I’ll give you two a moment, but make it quick. We need to be back inside in five,” his lawyer says.
“We won’t be long,” Noah says, staring at me, and I’m waiting for him to cut me off or yell at me, but he does neither.
“I’m sorry about the ambush this morning,” I say. I shift my weight from one leg to the other, uncomfortable under his heated stare.
Noah looks hot, dressed sharply in his black suit. It’s probably one of the outfits that he wears after a game when he’s forced on camera. I know he doesn’t like the spotlight, but he’s dealt with it recently because of me.
“We’ll see if it worked,” he says. His eyes are tight, his jaw terse.
“It sounded like good news before lunch.”
“Anything can change. I’m not getting my hopes up,” Noah says. He glances at his watch. “I should head back inside.”
“Wait,” I say, expelling a nervous breath. “I know I’m the last person in the world whose help you want, but I’m there for you and Zayn. If you need help until you find a nanny, consider it. Okay?”
He opens his mouth, and I think he’s about to argue with me when he nods. “Yeah, okay. I need to get back inside.”
I let him go, watch him walk away. He’s only a few feet from me, but it hurts. It’s like he’s turned his back on me, not that I deserve anything less.
His teammates and Amber have already disappeared from the hallway. I quietly follow into the courtroom and sit next to Amber again. Whatever happens, all of us want to be there for Noah.
Noah takes the stand, and sure enough, the judge’s first question is, “How do you intend to manage your son and a professional hockey career? You’re in the middle of your season. I can’t imagine the timing is ideal.”
“He is my son. I will always put him first. I wouldn’t be managing my son, Your Honor. I’d be raising him. Other professional hockey players have children and families that support them. My teammates have offered to help while I hire a nanny, and I have friends who have offered to step up if I need assistance in the beginning,” Noah says, his gaze locking on mine.
And for a moment, it gives me hope. Maybe all isn’t entirely lost.
“I have it handled. I assure you, this isn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision,” Noah says. “I’ve already purchased a bed and toys. I’ve turned what was my guest room into Zayn’s bedroom. I want to take him home with me, Your Honor, and protect him like a father should protect his son.”
“I’ve heard enough. I’d like to call Mrs. Jasmine Brass to the stand,” the judge says.
Noah steps down and Jasmine’s eyes widen as she whispers something to her lawyer.
“Your Honor, may I have a word with you in chambers?”
Both lawyers and the judge momentarily leave the courtroom.
I’m stunned, unsure what is going on.
Ten minutes later, the lawyers return to their tables and the judge follows inside the courtroom.
“I’ve made my decision,” the judge says.
TWENTY
Noah
It’s hard not to stare at her across the room. She hasn’t seen me and doesn’t know I’m here, but it was easy for me to get into the charity event.
Everyone recognizes me.
That’s why I hate these kinds of functions. They all expect me to open my wallet and contribute a month’s salary without flinching, which I wouldn’t mind doing if I wasn’t knee-deep in a million other things. One of those includes paying the final bill to my lawyer for the legal fees regarding the custody hearing.
