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Chapter 22
SADIE
Iwas so nervous I could hardly think straight. I knew it’d only been a few weeks since I’d seen Mom and Dad, but it’d felt like forever.
I stood in front of the full-length mirror in the bedroom of the guest house, looking over myself was as if it were prom night and I wanted to make sure I looked perfect. I didn’t know why I was fussing so much over my outfit. It was a casual dinner, and I was dressed in jeans and a gray, cable-knit sweater.
I suppose it was because I wanted to look responsible, and I didn’t want to give my parents any indication that I was nothing more than some immature girl who’d gotten way in over her head.
I also wanted them to know that Noah was a good guy and more than a suitable father, but I had faith that he’d be able to prove that to them all on his own.
My phone buzzed with a text. I hurried over to the bed and picked it up, my hand shaking a little bit.
We’re almost there, Dad’s message read.
It was nearly time.
Noah was with the kids, having told me to relax and focus on getting ready. He was good like that, seeming to always sense when it was time for him to step in and take the kids for a bit and give me an hour or so to myself.
Since he was still working full-time, I rarely took advantage of the offer, however.
I pushed all other thoughts out of my mind and focused on the situation at hand. I fired off a text to Noah, letting him know that I was ready, and that Mom and Dad were not too far away. He replied telling me that he was all set.
I stepped out of the bedroom and made my way down the narrow hallway of the second floor. It was crazy to me that the guest house had such a name – the house was bigger than my parents’, with two big bedrooms, a den, and three baths. It was more than enough space for the twins and me.
The evening was chilly, but I didn’t bother putting on a coat for the short trip across the patio and around the pool to the main house. Through the big back windows, I could see Noah inside standing in the kitchen.
He was dressed in a white button-up and gray slacks – his typical outfit for when he wanted to look casual but nice. He looked so damn good I could hardly think straight.
Just the sight of him smoothly moving here and there as he prepared dinner, an easy expression on his face, all of his moves effortless, was enough to make me wet.
Don’t think like that, I had to remind myself.Just because he’s handsome and charming and about the best dad ever doesn’t mean you can start fantasizing about him.
It was hard not to fantasize. I’d had a crush on Noah for nearly my entire life. How the hell was I going to stop now that I lived with him?
Back when I was a kid, he’d been this distant, almost abstract figure of adulthood, the idea of a perfect man. Now that I knew him up close and personal, however, I’d found out that, well, hewasthe perfect man.At least in my opinion.
I’d made a big thing out of us not getting involved with one another. At my latest checkup, the doctor had told me that due to some tearing, I’d need to wait the full six weeks before engaging in any sexual activity. So, I still had around a month before I could even think about any of that.
I stepped through the back door of the house, toasty warmth from the fireplace and mellow jazz greeting me as I entered. Noah nodded toward me from the kitchen, flicking up his dark eyebrows before returning to the food.
“Twins are down,” he said. “I’m thinking they can stay over here tonight if that’s fine with you. And if grandpa and grandma want to say hi, they can pop in and take a look.”
“You don’t think they’re going to be disappointed with that?”
“Maybe. But if this night goes the way I’m hoping, it’ll only be the first of many more grandparent visits to come.”
I loved that he was thinking that way, wanting to mend fences with Mom and Dad after the way Dad had gotten in his face and come so close to socking him.
“What about your parents?” I asked. “I can’t believe I’ve gotten so wrapped up in myself that I’ve never asked you about them.”
He smiled, bringing a glass of whiskey to his mouth. “That’s by design. You’re a new mom, you’re living in a new home, you’re dealing with making things right with your parents and, if we’re lucky, with your best friend. The last thing I wanted to throw on top of that was having you meet my parents.”
“But I want to. At least tell me that they know about the twins.”
“Of course, they do – told them as soon as I could. They’re pleased as can be – the only thing better than grandkids issurprisegrandkids.”
“What’re they like?”
