Page 55 of Fair Catch
Harrison nods. “I used to be the house drummer at a music bar. This guy comes in one night to sing and the rest is history.”
“And your kids meet and fall in love? That’s just so . . . romantic.”
“Yeah,” Liam adds. The air between us shifts. It becomes thick with tension as Liam looks from me to Harrison, and then to the grill. “Not exactly how it’s probably playing out in your head, but we’ll run with your version. Makes things less messy.” Liam takes the meat off the grill, turns off the gas, and walks into the penthouse.
“I said something wrong,” I mumble these words to myself, but Harrison hears me.
“Don’t be hard on yourself. There’s a lot of history there, something Peyton or Noah can fill you in on another time.” Harrison follows Liam, leaving Alex and me alone, and I’m feeling like a colossal idiot.
“Shit.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Alex says squeezing me against him in what I assume he intends to be a reassuring hug.
“No, it’s not. Whatever I said, it was the wrong thing and now I’ve messed everything up.”
“Hey, are you guys coming in?” Noah asks from behind us. I glance at Alex, pleading with him. I don’t know what I did, but the idea of sitting down with them for dinner isn’t something I want to do right now.
“I’m not feeling that great,” Alex says to Noah. “I think we’re going to head home.”
“Really?”
He nods and never takes his eyes off mine. “Yeah. Raincheck?”
“Yeah, sure, of course.”
Alex tells Noah that we’ll see ourselves out and by the time we’re in the elevator, tears stream down my face. “I fucked up.”
“No, you didn’t. I should’ve told you the entire story of their family. I’ll start at the beginning.” Alex fills me in on our way back to the parking garage, telling me about Liam’s decision to drop out of college to start a career, unbeknownst to him that his ex-girlfriend was pregnant until he returned home ten years later to attend a funeral and came face to face with his son. By then, Liam had a successful music career and was all set to put it on hold so he could get to know his Noah when Harrison came to town and fell in love with Peyton’s mom.
“Wow.”
“It’s a pretty heavy story.”
“I didn’t think Noah and Peyton had such a big age gap.”
“They don’t, I don’t believe.”
“Well, it’s at least ten years if what you’re telling me is true.”
“Oh, no. I’m not done. The reason Liam returned to town is because Peyton’s dad passed away. He and Liam were best friends growing up and he came back for the funeral. Harrison adopted Peyton and her sister Elle when they were seven or eight. If I remember correctly, Peyton and Noah are five years apart. They’ve been close their entire lives, but it wasn’t until Peyton was in a car accident that things changed for them. I should’ve told you. It’s not a secret, but Noah also doesn’t go around telling people either. Most of his close friends know.”
Alex helps me into his truck and after he gets behind the wheel, he pulls me closer. I rest my head on that comfort spot right below his collarbone. “I like this,” he says.
“Mhm, me too.” I stay like this until we get to my place. I perk up when my building comes into view. “I thought we were going back to your place. Are you staying here tonight?” I ask him after he parks. He nods, gets out of the truck and rushes to my side to help me out. With my feet on the ground, Alex kisses me, for all to see.
“I have a confession,” he whispers into my ear.
“What’s that?” I can’t help but giggle from the sensation from his scruff.
“I like spending the night at your place.”
“Why’s that?” I can’t imagine how my tiny apartment is comfortable for him at all. He’s the gentle giant inside of there and can’t spread out.
“Well, for one, I like your bed. It’s small, which means you have no choice but to sleep in my arms.” He’s right, it is small compared to his king sized one.
“That’s it?”
He shakes his head. “Another reason is because I like to hear your bed squeak when I thrust into you.”