Page 46 of Rock the Cradle of Love
Noah takes a deep breath. He missed Taylor so much. More than seems possible after barely a month. Happiness and relief fill him in equal measure.
Taylor’s filled a void Noah didn’t realize he had. If you’d asked him six weeks ago if he was happy with his life, he would have said yes. Sure, he wanted a family and someone to spend his life with, but he’d fully expected it to be years before that happened for him.
To end up with a kid and a boyfriend in the span of three weeks is some wicked karma. To lose one of them within another three was a blow.
Aside from the sexual aspect of their relationship, Taylor’s easy and entertaining to be around. He adds a dimension of fun to Noah’s life that wasn’t there before. His acceptance of Noah’s asexuality had been an amazing surprise. The fact that Taylor loves Emma as if she were his own blood is icing on the cake.
And even though Taylor had gone about resolving an issue without Noah’s input, Noah can see now that he was trying to do the right thing. The fact that he’d been willing to forgo sex rather than just take what he wanted without thought for Noah’s needs or break up with Noah rather than go without sex says a lot about Taylor’s feelings for Noah.
Breaking up with Taylor over the phone had been hard and shitty andsonot what Noah’d wanted to do. It seemed like his only option if Taylor wasn’t going to communicate for days on end. Lack of communication had gotten them into that mess in the first place.
But Taylor’s back and things between them are forgiven if not yet completely ironed out. Yes, they need to have a few more conversations, but Taylor’d flown home to be here for Noah and that’s…that’s everything.
And although he wants to be mad at Taylor for missing his uncle’s funeral, Noah’s so glad he’s here, so glad he’ll be at the hearing that he can’t hold on to any sort of anger. That’s pretty crappy, but he’ll apologize for it later.
Enough contemplating though. Taylor’s downstairs and Noah’s had enough being apart.
He shucks his shorts and pulls on a pair of slacks.
Noah stops in his tracks as he comes around the corner into the living room. The sight before him warms him so deep, he doesn’t think he’ll ever be cold again.
Taylor’s sitting in the rocking chair, with Emma cradled close. She’s got her hand on his cheek and there’s such an expression of adoration on Taylor’s face that Noah’s breath stalls in his windpipe. He certainly couldn’t ask for a more loving co-parent.
He pulls his phone out as quietly as he can and snaps a picture. Taylor looks up then, grins, and sticks his tongue out. Noah laughs and snaps another picture. He’s going to hang those up.
* * *
O’Leary’s Pub has a brick façade with three sections of lead-paned windows on the first floor and two sets of casement windows on the second. Warm light shines brightly from the lower windows, the upper windows are dark. A neon sign hangs on the brick between the sets of windows. A pair of old barn doors make up the entrance.
Noah snags Taylor’s hand as they walk to the door.
Taylor tugs Noah to a stop. “Is this a date?”
“I guess it is, yeah.”
“We’re seriously doing this?” asks Taylor.
“Going out on a date? Looks like it.”
Taylor lifts up their hands. “Being a couple inpublicpublic.”
“Of course. Do you not want to?”
Excitement and happiness thrum in Taylor’s veins. He can’t believe they’re doing this. They should probably shoot a text to Jimmy and Shae in Media Relations, but it’s his and Noah’s first date. Surely the two of them can enjoy this momentous occasion without involving the team?
“No, I do. I just…” Okay, so he’s a little nervous. Which is so not like him, and he’s not even sure why. They’re in Ten Rigs, which is probably the best place, outside of his own hometown, to come out to the world. It’s fine. It’s going to be fine. Nothing’s going to happen. He takes a breath and smiles at Noah. “Let’s do this.”
“They’ll probably be showing one or the other of the playoff games.”
“Meh.” Taylor shrugs. “I think I’m ready for some hockey. So much has happened since our season ended. And after all the excitement of this week, I could use something soothing.” He knows hockey, he loves hockey. The sting of not making the playoffs after getting so close had been erased by Emma’s arrival and the change in his and Noah’s relationship.
Noah snorts, but he’s nodding. “A playoff game soothing?”
“It’s soothing by virtue of being hockey and us not being exhausted and playing with injuries.”
A large cheer erupts as they enter, and, sure enough, Taylor sees hockey on a handful of screens. Baseball plays on most of the others. One TV shows a cable news network.
White rope lights line the underside of the trim on the chest-high walls. Single fixtures hang from the raised ceiling over the booths and recessed lights illuminate the freestanding tables and chairs. The walls are all light-colored wood paneling. It’s a warm cozy place. Friendly. Taylor feels at home, and some of the tension seeps from his shoulders.
