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“He’s sick, Noah. Your dad is sick.”
CHAPTER 37
AURORA
Noah stared at me like he couldn’t comprehend what I was saying.
“He’s lying.”
“I don’t think he is. He seemed genuine.”
“You talked to him.”
“I didn’t mean to.” My expression softened. “But you ran off, and he begged me to listen. He has cancer, Noah.”
“Cancer.”
I nodded, hating that Mr. Holden had managed to ruin our moment.
He loved me.
Noah loved me.
It didn’t seem possible, and yet, I felt it. I felt it all the way down to my soul.
It should have been one of the best moments of my life, and here I was, telling him that his dad—a man who deserved nothing but disdain and distance from Noah—had a terminal illness.
“Noah?” I reached for his hand, and he flinched, looking at me with empty eyes. “What do you need?”
For a second, I thought he might run. But instead, he pulled me into his arms, holding on like he thought I might disappear.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, rubbing my hands up and down his back.
“I hate him, shortcake. I fucking hate him. I’ve wished him dead so many times, and now…” His voice cracked, pain and frustration and sheer hopelessness bleeding into the space between us.
“It’s okay, baby. It’s okay.”
I didn’t know what else to say. I hated my mom. Resented her for every day of my life that I’d felt worthless and ridiculed. But she was still my mom. I couldn’t ever imagine finding out she was dying.
“Fuck.” Noah pulled away, pacing back and forth. “Fuck.” He kicked the stool, sending it toppling over. “Shit, Aurora, I didn’t—”
“It’s okay,” I said, picking it up and moving it aside. “You’re angry.”
“I’m… I don’t know what the fuck I am.” He shoved his fingers into his hair, tugging the ends.
“It’s okay to feel angry and hurt and scared, Noah. There’s no rulebook for this kind of thing. Do you… do you want to talk to him?”
“No,” he snapped. “That is the last thing I want.”
“Okay, okay. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want.”
“God, I hate him. I fucking hate him for coming here and ruining tonight.” He stalked toward me, pulling me into his arms again. “I had all these big plans, shortcake.”
“Plans can wait. I’m not going anywhere.” I gazed up at him, wishing I could take away all his pain.
“You mean that?”
“I do.”
