Page 39 of His Greatest Muse
“Tell me what happened!” I push.
Addie giggles. “Nothing yet! But we have decided on something pretty big.”
“Stop teasing me, you witch. Tell me. I’m not above begging.”
There’s a rumbling sound from across the room. I risk a look to find Noah watching me beside Cooper. His arms are crossed, legs spread wide. It’s a power stance, and I have to grit my teeth to keep from letting my eyes wander. The room feels too stuffy with him here. My fight-or-flight response is screaming at me to get the fuck away and find somewhere to gather myself.
I need time away from him, or I fear I won’t be able to figure out what’s going on. The thought of that terrifies me. Our friendship is too important to be unsure about anything.
I’m screwed.Our friendship.I think we just crossed a line that best friends aren’t ever meant to cross. We have to forget about this and move on because he’s too important to me to risk over whatever all of that was.
“Out with it, love. Don’t make her crazy,” Cooper tells his wife.
I throw my hand up and nod heavily at him. “Thank you!”
Addie flicks my arm. “Oh, relax. Or else I really won’t tell you.”
“Adalyn.” Noah sighs her name.
She flings an eyebrow up her forehead and looks at him. “Oh, hello. Welcome to the conversation, brother.”
“You should be nice to me tonight.”
“Is that so? Are you going to be nice to me tonight?”
“Have I not been?”
Addie rolls her eyes at her brother, but I can see the amusement in them. She misses him deeply. “I suppose you have. I’ve yet to have to chastise you for anything. That must be some type of record.”
“Tell us your secret, Adalyn,” he mutters.
She doesn’t need to be asked again.
“We’re going to have a baby!” she squeals.
“We’re going to starttryingto have a baby,” Cooper clarifies. The way he’s looking at her has my eyes glistening. He’s so in love with her, and I couldn’t love them together more.
“Oh, my God! You’re going to have the cutest babies.” My voice cracks, and then I’m crying. Such intense happiness fills me so full I could burst. “I love you two so much!”
Adalyn starts to cry beside me, and we hold on to each other, soaking our shirts with each other’s tears.
“Happy tears?” I hear Cooper ask. The words are hushed, so I know they’re for his wife.
“Yes,” she croaks.
I jerk when a warm hand settles on my back. But after I get a whiff of leather, I relax back into the cautious touch. For right now, I don’t try to dissect the events of earlier. I focus on my best friend and what the future holds for her.
Everything else can wait until later.
16
NOAH
My sister isin for it, and she knows it.
I freeze in my bedroom doorway not more than an hour later when I see my dad talking to Tinsley in the main part of the bus. As if he’s welcome here. It’s been months since I’ve seen him. I wish it was longer.
My hands are in fists. Each step toward him makes my chest throb. I used to be able to feel nothing unless Tinsley was near. My father took away that comfort. He makes me feel more than I want, and more often than not, none of it is good.