AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I put on a fake smile. “Oh, the broom fell.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” she says, coming toward me. She’s beside the closet door now.
I keep my eyes on her, hoping Noah stays still long enough for her to leave. I’m sure he can hear how close our voices are.
“Right!” I grab the broom and lean it back against the wall, hoping my acting skills are believable. “I was guaranteed by the previous owner that this house wasn’t haunted.” I let out a choked laugh. “Perhaps they were wrong.”
Her eyes soften as she walks toward me, then grabs my hand. “If you ever want help here, don’t hesitate to ask. We’d be happy to lend a hand.”
“I know,” I say. “You’ve done so much for me already, and I kinda want to do as much as I can on my own.”
“If you change your mind, just ask.” She squeezes my hand. “Elliot and I adore you both, and once this house is finished, it’s going to be beautiful.”
“Thank you. I’m trying my best,” I admit, swallowing down my panic. She gives me a sweet smile combined with a hug before saying her goodbyes. I don’t move an inch or even breathe until I hear her car reversing out of the driveway.
“I’m sorry,” Noah whispers when I open the closet door.
“You almost got us busted,” I scold. “And I nearly had a panic attack when she followed me over here.” I inhale a deep breath before releasing it.
Seconds later, Noah inches closer and palms my cheek. It takes all the willpower I have not to sink into his warmth and give into what we both want.
“Owen’s here,” I remind him, then take a step back. The added space is needed, but I immediately feel the loss.
The moment passes just as quickly as it came.
“Mom!” Owen yells. Noah follows me into the living room, and I try to act as if we didn’t just share a heated moment. Immediately, Owen’s face lights up with excitement.
“You’re still here!” he says.
“Sure am.” Noah offers him a boyish grin. “How was your day?”
“It was good. But tomorrow's Monday.” Owen frowns.
Noah chuckles. “Back to school?”
Owen sighs, and I notice he gets antsy. “Yeah, ugh.”
Noah and I look at each other, and though there’s an awkwardness between us, I try to act normal in front of Owen. There are so many things I want to say, so many questions I still have about the confessions we admitted earlier. Losing control was dangerous and exhilarating, but I’m not sure it can happen again. Over a decade of pent-up emotions poured out of us today. It’s a dangerous game to play, and there’s a lot to lose—not just for me but for Owen too.
We need to discuss what took place and figure out what it means or where we go from here. I’m not sure how to even start the conversation, but things will get even more tense if we don’t talk it out.
Owen yawns, and I check the time, realizing it’s close to five.
“We probably should get going since you have to take a bath after dinner,” I tell him, flattening down his hair that’s a mess from playing.
“But Mom,” he whines, and I know it’s because he wants to hang out with Noah. It makes me happy and breaks my heart at the same time.
“We have to be up early,” I remind him.
He pushes out his bottom lip.
“I’ll be around for a while,” Noah promises him. “Probably will be around working on the house every now and then too.”
Owen’s face lights up. “Really? Maybe I can help too.”
Shocked, I immediately beam. “Who would’ve thought all it took was Noah to get you interested.”
Noah chuckles, and Owen crosses his arms over his chest. “I am sometimes,” he says, and he puffs out his little chest.
