Noah lets out a choked sound beside me, somewhere between a laugh and a protest, his face bright red. My stomach flips at the sight.
“Aww,” Caroline says, pressing a hand to her chest. “Look at that. That’s what you get from a grown man who isn’t scared of commitment. Noah, you’d better put a ring on it before he changes his mind.”
Beside me, Noah lets out another helpless “Mom.”
“Don’t worry, baby,” I say, squeezing his hand. “I’m not going to change my mind.”
I smile at him, and Noah turns to me, still bright red. For a second he just stares, lips pressed together, eyes wide with that flustered, silentwhat are you doing?look that only makes me want to push a little further. Then his mouth twitches at the corner, like he’s trying very hard not to smile.
“Connor,” Daniel says with a laugh, “you’re making Noah blush. He’s never been great at hearing that kind of thing out loud.”
“I’m still here, Dad,” Noah mutters, going dark red.
Maya shoots me a conspiratorial look. “Careful, Connor. Mention wanting kids once, and Mom and Dad will latch onto it forever. I said I wanted them when I was fifteen, then changed my mind later, but that still didn’t stop them from bugging me about it for the next decade.”
“Excuse me,” Caroline says, giving her daughter a look. “Are we not allowed to want grandchildren?”
Maya snorts and flicks me another look. “And this is what happens when you call them out on it. They get defensive.”
“We’ve accepted that you’re committed to being what you once called, and I quote, a childfree icon,” Daniel adds dryly. “That still doesn’t change the fact that your mother and I would like grandchildren in our lives.”
“Exactly.” Caroline nods, then turns back to me with a warm smile. “So yes, that does leave Noah as our only hope.”
Noah groans. “Jesus Christ.”
“Relax,” Caroline says. “I’m not about to start pressuring anyone.” She looks at me again. “These two little smurfs are just afraid of responsibility. Don’t let them scare you, Connor.”
I laugh. “It’s okay. I’m not scared that easily, Mrs. Caldwell.”
She beams at me. “You’re a sweetheart, Connor. But please don’t call me Mrs. Caldwell.”
“Caroline,” I say, correcting myself, and that earns me another pleased smile.
“Mom,” Noah cuts in, giving her a look, “Connor and I are not having kids. We just started dating.”
“Obviously,” Caroline says in the patient tone mothers use when they are very much not being patient. “No one’s telling you to run out and have a baby tomorrow.”
Daniel snorts into his drink.
“I’m just saying,” she goes on, “couples talk about the future when they’re in love. That’s perfectly normal.”
Noah drags a hand down his face. “Yeah, privately. Not like this.”
Before Caroline can answer, Rick leans back in his chair and says, “Mrs. Caldwell, isn’t it a little early for Noah and Connor to be talking about kids? Cass and I are getting married, and even we haven’t had that conversation yet.”
The casual tone does something ugly to my chest. He sounds like a mildly concerned friend, but I know better. Hisface gives nothing away, but I know exactly what this is. He’s pissed that the Caldwells are even entertaining the idea that Noah could be happy with someone else. He doesn’t get to have Noah anymore, but apparently he still can’t stand the thought of Noah having a life without him. Even now, he’s trying to stick his hands back into places where he doesn’t belong.
Noah looks at him, expression blank. “Thanks, Rick.”
“What is there to talk about?” Brad says, turning to his son with a faint frown. “You and Cassie are getting married to start a family, aren’t you? Why else do people get married?”
Rick’s face tightens for a second. Then he glances at Cassidy.
She shifts in her seat, visibly uncomfortable, like this is not the first time they’ve hit this wall and definitely not the first time they’ve chosen not to have the argument in public.
“I’m just saying,” Rick says with a shrug, trying to smooth it over before his father can make it worse, “Noah and Connor barely know each other. No offense, guys.” He looks at Noah. “But seriously. Two months is nothing. Why would they be talking about something that far ahead already?”
Noah goes rigid beside me.
