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8
“Go on, get out of here.” Graham put the car in Park, his glare belied by the wide grin on his face. “We’re not doing this again until you’re out of the honeymoon phase.”
Noah grunted something in response and grabbed his backpack. He’d been a shitty companion the last two days, it was true. He’d worried about Mia the whole time, and hadn’t been able to shut off his thoughts. Service was sketchy at the campsite, and the inability to text her and check in anytime he wanted made it worse. Being around her constantly these last few weeks had put her on his mind more than usual, and not just with the usual thoughts of whether she was happy or if she was feeling well. Now he wondered if she felt at home at his place—and what his electric bill would be. The woman left every light in the house on, and without him trailing behind her turning them off, his house probably sat like a neighborhood homing beacon all weekend.
He was also concerned about what Julia had said about David, and the fact David likely knew what he and Mia were doing. David had yet to say anything, and Noah had decided not to tell Mia. It would only stress her out, and maybe nothing would come of it. But just knowing that David knew... It still made him uneasy.
He should have canceled the trip altogether. Climbing while distracted was a recipe for disaster, but thankfully nothing had gone wrong.
He got out of the car, and when he was halfway up the driveway Graham yelled through the window.
“Think about Banff, okay?”
Noah didn’t even look back. That was another reason this weekend had sucked—Graham had brought up ice climbing. They’d avoided the subject for nine years, and Noah had been stupid enough to believe it was an unspoken understanding to leave it that way.
“Nathan would want you to go.”
Noah stopped in his tracks. He slowly turned.
Graham leaned across the passenger seat, his face clear as day through the window. His cocked brow was unapologetic.
“You don’t know what a dead man wants.”
Graham’s stone face slipped a little. “I know that much.”
“No.” Noah turned his back on his friend and went inside.
He dropped his bag by the door, his eyes immediately searching the room. Mia was on the couch, smiling at him.
“Hey. You’re back.”
He took her in, the coiled tension in his chest slowly releasing like a pressure valve.
The pink in her cheeks—she was here and healthy.
The smile on her face—she was happy to see him, and he reveled in the intoxicating satisfaction that brought him. Even if he had no right to it.
The cascade of dark hair around her shoulders, framing her face and neck—she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He’d give anything to be able to lay her down on that couch and make her as breathless as he felt just looking at her.
The pressure spread lower, doing the opposite of relaxing, and he dragged his eyes away from her. “Yeah.”
“How was it?”
“Good.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m gonna grab a shower, then we can head over to my parents’. Sound okay?”
“Sure.”
He went to the bathroom and smiled when he found the light on. He shut the door and turned on the water as cold as it would go.
The party at his mom’s went okay at first. The May weather was perfect, and people spilled from the house onto the large back patio. His parents had spent years perfecting the outdoor entertainment space and used it at every opportunity.
When Mia’s parents lived next door it had been nothing but a concrete square with an aged iron table and chairs, but it hadn’t stopped them from spending summer evenings out here. His mom’s penchant to chat for hours had driven him crazy most of the time, but those nights? It meant he and Mia could hang out in the tree house well after curfew while their parents talked for hours about travel and politics.
Those nights were long gone, though. Her parents had downsized several years ago and moved across town, and if his parents had kept in touch with them, he didn’t know about it.
Tonight the space was filled with aunts, uncles, and several of his parents’ friends and colleagues, and he and Mia mingled among them, repeating their rehearsed story of their impromptu marriage several times over. A few of the principals from the firm were there as well, and Noah either held Mia’s hand or had his arm around her most of the party, conscious of the eyes watching them.
Especially his dad’s.
