“This is nice,” he murmurs, just for me to hear. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
I swallow hard, my throat suddenly tight. “Me too.”
I feel Rick’s gaze before I see it.
When I look up, he’s watching Noah, his expression caught somewhere between longing and resentment. It makes something hot and ugly twist in my chest.
He has no right. No fucking right to look at Noah like that after what he did. After choosing to hide who he was, after breaking Noah’s heart and parading his fucking fiancée in front of him all weekend.
Rick catches me staring and quickly looks away, saying something to Cassidy that makes her laugh.
He’s not done with Noah—that much is clear.
Not by a long shot.
I shift just enough to press a kiss to the top of Noah’s head. It’s not for show. It’s because I need to, because I can’t keep myself from doing it when he’s this close.
Noah lets out a small sound and snuggles closer.
After a moment, he pulls my hand into his lap and laces our fingers together.
I swallow, my throat suddenly dry.
His thumb moves over the back of my hand, then across my palm, like he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.
I don’t pull away. I just sit there and let myself enjoy it, this tiny thing that shouldn’t feel so good, but does.
***
We stay like that for the rest of the evening, tucked close together while the conversation moves around us, eating and talking and pretending this isn’t ending soon.
My God, I’d do anything to make this moment last longer.
“I think I’m going to head back,” Maya announces, stretching dramatically. “I have to drive back to the city in the morning, and my flight’s after lunch.”
“Yeah,” Cassidy says, stifling a yawn. “We should get some sleep before the drive back.”
A ripple of agreement moves through the group, and I feel a pang of regret. I’m not ready to leave this place. Not ready to break the spell of the past few days.
But there’s nothing I can do.
Everyone starts gathering mugs and plates, shaking out blankets. Daniel kicks dirt over the fire until it’s reduced toglowing embers, and we carry everything back into the Main Cottage.
Inside, everyone bunches up near the front door, passing mugs toward the kitchen and making plans for tomorrow. Since half the group is leaving early, the goodbyes start there—messy and overlapping, with promises to text after the drive and complaints about having to beat the morning traffic.
Brad and Maria are the first to leave, hugging everyone before heading out into the dark.
Maya hugs Noah next, hard enough to make him laugh, then hugs me too. When she pulls back, she points at me like she’s already decided something about me.
“You,” she says. “Breakfast at eight.”
“Aren’t you driving to the city early?” I ask, smirking at her.
“I am, but I’m not driving on an empty stomach,” she says with a snort.
“I’ll be there,” I say.
“Good,” she says, then heads upstairs.
