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“You know what this means, right, honey?” His chin rests on my shoulder as we both look at the first piece of art that connected us.
“What?”
“Our destiny was written well before we met.”
I can’t argue with him, and I don’t. He holds me as we continue to stare at a part of history, our history, which we didn’t know of until just now.
* * *
We’ve madeit to his bed, as I rifle through older paintings he’d saved in a large filing cabinet. They range anywhere from ten years old to eighteen. And though his craft has improved, it’s obvious he had so much talent as a younger Noah James.
He tugs his phone out of his pocket, and Noah’s forehead fills with wrinkles the way it does when he’s upset. “Shit, it’s a text from Liam. Mom still isn’t downstairs. Not that it’s stopping people from eating. Do you mind if I go check on her?”
Noah pulls me with him, as he pushes to his feet, and I follow him out of the room. “I’ll go find your brother. Go check on your mom, baby.”
I push up onto my tip toes, kissing his forehead. “I love you, Ash,” he calls back as I walk away, our fingers barely still touching.
“Ditto.”
His smile is broad. It’s a smile he only gets for me, though I can’t tell you why it’s different. Maybe it’s his eyes, because they brighten when I’m near. Or the little dimple on his chin that is on display for me and me alone. Or maybe it’s something I bring out in him. I understand how much he loves me, and I view him differently than the world does. Whatever it is, I never tire of it.
Liam is manning the grill. I help myself to a beer from the cooler, digging one out from the bottom. Liam is chatting with the man who looks familiar but I can’t place him. “Ashton, over here,” he calls to me, setting the lid over the hamburgers and hotdogs. “Where’s my brother?” Liam takes his own beer and downs half of it.
“Checking on your mom. He was showing me his childhood room.”
Liam lets out a long cackle, and I roll my eyes. “And other things too, I’d guess. Good thing his willy has grown since he was ten.”
I never know what will come out of Noah’s twin’s mouth. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”
“Or so I’ve been told by my brother a million times. Hey, by the way, let me introduce you to my Uncle Jim.”
Jim extends his arm and I swear I’ve seen him before. “You must be Noah’s boyfriend? We’re all excited to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too. I’m Ashton Brooks.”
His hand goes limp in mine, and his face drains of color. Liam’s attention is back on the hot dogs and hamburgers. “Sorry, son, I didn’t hear your name.”
“It’s Ashton Brooks,” I repeat, a little bit louder than before.
“Oh, Ashton. Well, yes,” he stammers. “It’s so good to meet you. I’m sorry, I just saw my wife wave for me. I’ll talk to you later.”
He steps away like I’m patient zero of the plague, retreating from me as quick as he can.
This family is so weird. At least Noah’s dad and Liam are treating me like an actual person.
“Where did Uncle Jim go?” Liam asks, looking over the top of the grill, trying to track his movements.
“He mentioned finding his wife. He too seemed spooked by me.” What is it with this family today? Once is odd, twice seems like more than a coincidence.
Liam points to the side of us, a picnic table set up in the backyard. “Hmm, that’s weird, because there’s Lois, his wife, over there.”
This has been the weirdest day, with abnormal behavior. “Do you know what could have spooked your mom? She took one look at me, and I thought she might faint.”
I’d be offended, but from all Noah has explained about her, I’m not. It seems like drama follows the woman everywhere she goes.
He shuts the lid again, turning down the heat. “Listen, Ash. I love my mom.She’s my momand has always put us first in life. But it doesn’t mean I understand the woman.”
“Fair enough,” I add, staring at the doors to the house, to see if I can spot Noah in the crowd of people, but there’s nothing. Liam and I find a seat by ourselves, eating hamburgers, potato salad, and something he calls ambrosia salad. After an hour, I leave Liam’s company and take a seat on the front porch.
