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“My mom died.” Noah glances down at Romeo as she talks, her voice barely above a whisper. “I was a baby when she overdosed on a bottle of pills, so I don’t remember her at all. Sometimes I miss her, but that’s probably stupid because how can I miss someone I never knew, right?”
My chest aches for her. To be a teenage girl without a mom can be difficult. Hell, I’m a grown adult and it sucks without my mom. But I’m also sad for Grant and what he went through raising a baby on his own, and then losing Noah’s mother at the same time.
I shake my head. “It’s not stupid. You miss the idea of her. You miss what you could’ve had with her. I feel the same way about my dad.”
She slumps down into the wicker chair beside me. “My dad is great, don’t get me wrong. But sometimes, I think it’d be nice to have a mom too. It never used to bother me until recently.”
“Because you’re a teenager. Things are a little different right now.”
She nods. “I can’t talk to my dad about certain things. He just doesn’t understand. He’s so…”
“He’s a man.”
“Yes.” Noah lets out a small chuckle. “He’s such a man, and everything is so easy for him. He doesn’t know what it’s like to be me.”
“I don’t know your father, but I can almost guarantee that he’d understand more than you expect him to.” I shrug. “I know it’s not the same as having a mom. But he’s raised you all this time, and I think he’s done a pretty damn good job. Man, woman, mom, dad, it’s all the same as long as he loves you.”
She gestures to the doorbell. “You had it in upside-down. That’s why it wasn’t screwing in right.”
“Wow. I’m an idiot.”
Noah chuckles as she lifts her big brown eyes to meet mine. “I like talking to you.”
My chest explodes with warmth. I reach out and clasp Noah’s hand. “I like talking to you too. I’m always here if you ever have any girly questions your father can’t answer.”
“Who says I can’t answer girly questions?”
Grant’s deep voice startles us both.
Noah jumps to her feet. “Hey, Dad. Look what I did.” She gestures to my new doorbell. “Lenny let me install it because she was having some trouble.”
“Very nice.” Grant’s dark eyes flick between the both of us. “How was school?”
Noah and I both answer at the same time. “It was good.”
My cheeks burn as I slap my palm against my forehead. “Of course you were talking to your daughter. You don’t care about my day. I don’t know why I answered. I heard school and thought you were talking about me.”
Why do I ramble so much around this man?
“Do you have homework?” Grant rolls his lips between his teeth, failing to suppress a smirk. “This question is for Noah, by the way.”
My cheeks flame.Jerk.
“Only math.” Noah groans. “But I have literally no idea what I’m doing. The teacher goes so fast and—”
“And you’re too afraid to ask for help,” Grant finishes.
Noah’s shoulders droop.
“What kind of math is it?” I raise my right hand. “I’m pretty good with math. I can help if you want.”
Grant shakes his head. “That’s not necessary. I’m sure you have things to do.”
I stare at Noah, waiting for her response.
“Fractions. They’re literally the worst thing ever created.”
I scrunch my nose. “I used to hate fractions when I was your age. If it’s okay with your father, I can help.”
