Page 30 of Noah
“I love you, Jesse.” She winked at him and squeezed my hand. “Open it, Noah.”
I glanced around the table, everyone’s stares fixed on mine, and I reminded myself to relax. Why was I so wound up in that moment? I met Sean; the hard part was over. It was him, though, and his meddling he probably didn’t even know he was doing. I watched his green eyes light up when he smiled at me like a bastard. I now understood his gift, getting into people’s minds so they wouldn’t stop thinking of him and the crap he said. I felt for Avery in that moment. And Lizzie.
“Dude,” Jesse called out. “If you don’t open it, I will.”
“Don’t you dare touch my snickerdoodles,” Lizzie warned, her voice bringing me back. I snuck a glance at her, grinning like mad when she laughed while swatting Jesse’s hand away from the basket.
“Thank you,” I interjected, “but I really don’t need anything. You’re incredible people, and you’ve welcomed me into your lives like this, and really just your company is all I need.”
“He’s so damn perfect,” Lizzie sighed, dropping her head to my shoulder, “you’re all jealous. I know it.”
“You win,” Avery teased, giggling while she and Ella nodded in agreement. I laughed off their jokes and reached inside of the basket. Lizzie eagerly took off the towels, letting me see the massive piles of beer bottles and…holy shit!
“This scotch is like three hundred dollars a bottle,” I gaped at Jesse, who tipped his head toward Sean.
“We take care of each other,” Sean replied. “And Lizard’s a pile of work. You deserve the best.”
I smiled at Lizzie, feeling my damn cheeks blush. “He already knows,” she told him, eyes fixed on mine. I lifted my right hand to her cheek, forgetting we weren’t alone, and traced my fingertips along her jaw.
“I’m so happy,” Ella cooed from across the table. My forehead met with Lizzie’s, and I swear she shivered. Jesse settled back into his chair, helping Sean refill our glasses while Lizzie and I used only our eyes to communicate.
“It’s taken way too long for us to be together tonight,” Sean placed a hand on my shoulder, “but that’s something we’re all guilty of. The torture of waiting, worrying, never knowing when the moment is right or if it’s even right. But if there’s something I learned in the last year, it’s that the wait is absolutely worth it, but it doesn’t need to exist in the first place. Life is too short.”
“Sure is,” Jesse agreed, picking up his champagne flute and tipping it in the air.
“Why do I feel like my dad is about to give us the talk?” Lizzie whispered into my ear, giggling as she pulled away. “Where is this going, Sean?”
“I love you, Lizard,” he grinned, “but tonight’s about this guy.” I hated attention. Maybe that’s why I was drawn to Lizzie; she took the attention for me, pulling me right into her extroverted protection. I felt awful for not hearing everything Sean said, especially with our dinner being significant for all of us, but I couldn’t pay attention to anything once Lizzie started tracing circles on my thigh.
“Mermaid,” she practically purred in my ear. “Cheers.”
“Cheers.” I swallowed, worried about standing from the table. Please, God, let this be a sitting toast. I noticed everyone’s arms extended toward me, their glasses sloshing with water or bubbles, and they didn’t seem to notice my mind was focused on my girlfriend and what her touch did to me. They were jovial, continuing to laugh and talk while praising me.
“Cheers,” Sean repeated, clinking my glass with his, “to the one who saved us.”
“To the one who’s more than my friend,” Lizzie whispered to me before standing. We clinked, we chatted, we ate, and everything seemed right. I’d never been around such genuine love—I wanted to bottle it all up and save it for a dark day.
Stuffed and exhausted, our night continued with their banter and collective taunting of one another, everyone welcoming me into the family without a second glance. Ella snuggled between Jesse and me on the floor, Lizzie on my other side, while Avery spread out along the couch with her head in Sean’s lap. He was protective of her, and it showed, from the gentle way he caressed her cheek while speaking to anyone or how he was twisted in an uncomfortable knot just to ensure she was comfortable.
Lizzie’s pie was devoured almost immediately. We didn’t wait for plates, and most of it fed Avery. When she fell asleep on the couch, Jesse found a blanket for her before cleaning up with Ella. I tried to keep up with their conversation, hoping to make a good impression for Lizzie while she and Sean found their way outside. I’d learned more about Jesse and Ella, sort of figuring them to be the big siblings of the group: reliable, loyal anchors to the rest of them. Watching everyone smile, hearing their laughter, I couldn’t help but grin. These were my people now and at exactly the right time. I wanted to know more, but I also wanted to find Lizzie.
I stood just inside the kitchen doorway that led out to Lizzie’s patio. Sean held his arm around her while they looked over the street below, swallowing more champagne and laughing. Their devotion to friendship, and each other, was evident in their comfort within each other’s arms, their routine and casual demeanor. I was smiling too just watching them, like their happiness was contagious.
In the sandwich of muffled laughter behind me in her condo and the warmth radiating from Lizzie and Sean, I felt grounded. Maybe a little out of place, but stable…and that felt…nice. Muffin scampered through the open patio door, barely brushing against my leg in a pathetic greeting, and wandered right over to Lizzie. I watched them bend to scratch Muffin’s ears, the bastard rolling over like a tramp when Sean tickled his nose. Even my dog loved them. Loved. Thanks, heart and balls. Second time in my life you’ve agreed on something.
My cheeks reddened while I watched Lizzie snuggle Muffin, her laughter filling the space between her and Sean, warming me further. I looked once at Sean, silently thanking him for caring so much for Lizzie. He was right. Did she know? I was falling in love with her.