It had been a long time since I’d allowed myself to think about him. His memory was locked away along with my mother, classified as too painful to think of. But as I stacked the plates and started up the dishwasher, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d taken up my suggestion and gone to Willa’s.
I could always call and ask? See if he got there okay.
And why would I do that? It would be weird and cause way too many questions. If Noah wanted a place to stay then he would find one. It was none of my business what he did. So why couldn’t I stop thinking about him?
I made my way into my room, ready to get into something more comfortable, and when I pulled open my closet to grab my robe, I stood there staring at the row of coats to my left.
There, wedged between the wall and about ten overcoats, was the memory I never allowed myself to revisit. Blue, white, and gold. The colors of Chamberlin High.
This varsity jacket was a stark reminder of one of the worst memories of my life. But instead of going back there to that point in time, I closed my eyes and remembered the moment Noah had walked into my life instead…
“I REALLY DON’T want to go in there, Mom. Can’t I just go back to my old school?”
“Oh, sweetheart. I’m sorry. I know this won’t be easy, but this is where you have to go now. I’m sure after the first couple of days you’ll settle in and make new friends.”
Yeah, somehow I doubted that. The kids that went here were nothing like me. They were rich, spoiled, and had no problem whatsoever looking down their nose at anyone who wasn’t like them. I should know—I’d been on the receiving end of that look many times. That was what happened when you grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, and no, I wasn’t being dramatic.
I’d grown up three towns over from the charming town of Chamberlin, where the railway tracks divided the rich from the poor. But as of last week, my mother had gotten a new job managing the local hair salon, and we’d moved on up. Or at least over the tracks, through the town, and five miles down the road from the Chamberlin winery, where at the very end of a loose gravel road was a nicely hidden trailer park.
I stared up at the intimidating two-story brick building and wondered what teenage horrors waited inside for me. The last thing any sixteen-year-old girl wanted to do was make new friends. It was hard enough to keep the ones you had with all the gossiping and moodiness that came with the onslaught of hormones at that age.
“Come on, Laurel. I don’t have all day.”
I groaned and shoved open the car door. Then I reached for my backpack and climbed outside. As Mom revved the engine, I turned around and stuck my head back in the window.
“Are you sure I can’t just start tomorrow?”
She gave me a soft smile and shook her head. “You’re going to be fine. You’re smart and strong, I made sure of that. Just be yourself and I’ll see you tonight.”
I rolled my eyes and moved back from the car, not wanting to be the reason she was late on her first day. Then I turned to look back at the building. This was going to be a nightmare, and as I heard her drive away, I thought about making a run for it.
“I wouldn’t if I were you. They have cameras.” At the sound of the unfamiliar voice, I turned to see one of the cutest—no, hottest—guys I’d ever seen in my life.
He was tall, really tall, and had thick brown hair that was swept back from his gorgeous face. He was wearing a blue, white, and gold varsity jacket over a white t-shirt, and his smile was full of the kind of confidence one had when everything in their life was perfect. And, I was ashamed to admit, the second he flashed it my way, my heart thumped a little faster.
“Cameras?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled and pointed at the front steps that led up to the doors. “Up in the corner. See?”
I looked in the direction he was pointing, and when he moved in closer, I almost forgot to breathe.
“If you’re gonna make a break for it, you should tell your mom to drop you off around the corner there. That way they won’t see you.”
I opened my mouth, about to deny my escape plan, but instead heard myself ask, “How’d you know I planned to skip?”
He grinned down at me, and I swore his eyes were smiling too. “I recognized the look. That one that says you’re about to bolt. I totally get it—most days I’m dreaming up escape plans too.”
I seriously doubted that. The guy was wearing a jacket that all but broadcast his popularity for everyone to see.
“You don’t believe me.”
“Huh?”
“You rolled your eyes. You don’t believe me.”
I shrugged and tightened my fingers around the strap of my backpack. “It’s just you don’t seem like the type who’d hate school. That’s all.”
He slowly nodded as he began to head toward the building, then he turned around and called out, “Maybe I won’t now that I’ve found a partner in crime. See you in there, Bonnie.”
Bonnie? What? Oh, Bonnie and Clyde.
When he grinned and turned to run up the front steps, I couldn’t help but think that maybe today wouldn’t be so bad after all…
GOD. IT’D BEEN years since I’d thought about that day. But after hearing him call me Bonnie tonight, it was no surprise that the memory had found its way back to me.
I shook it off and placed the jacket back in the closet where it had hung for all this time, then I slowly closed the doors and headed to the bathroom. I wasn’t going to do this. I wasn’t going to lie here in my bathtub and let a boy—a man—whom I hadn’t seen or heard from in forever consume my every thought.
But as I climbed into the hot, fragrant water, I knew that was a lie. Because the second I shut my eyes, all I could see was the way that Noah had looked me over today, and all I wanted to know was if he’d liked what he saw.
7
Noah
THE OLD HARDWOOD floors of the courthouse creaked under my feet as I paced back and forth outside one of the conference rooms. It was Monday morning, and per my mom’s instructions, I was ready and waiting to hear whatever final surprises Harry had in store for us.
Today was the reading of the will, and ever since she’d called last night to tell me we all had to be present or it could not proceed, I’d had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Harry never did anything in half measures. He also never did anything to benefit anyone except himself. So the idea that he’d sat down and penned some elaborate final demands to be read in the presence of all his children made me think he still had some kind of end game to play.
I shoved my hands in my pockets to keep from running them through my hair as I continued to wear a hole in the floor. I should’ve known this visit wouldn’t be a simple check-in on Mom. Of course not. This had been the real reason. I was needed for this next step in Harry’s little shitshow—whatever that might be.
The echo of the front doors opening bounced around the cavernous lobby of the courthouse, alerting me to someone’s arrival, and when I spotted Justin heading my way, I began to think God had a sense of humor.
I readied myself for what would no doubt be an awkward greeting, as Justin came to a stop opposite me and glanced past my shoulder.