Chapter 474 Chapter 474
He jerked his head around to see Tia standing there. Each time he looked at her, he saw Carlene—and then she spoke, and it was like Carlene evaporated and in her place was this course, but extremely cute girl. “Uh, just thinking.”
“Is that what it looks like?” She smirked at him.
He couldn’t help but smirk back. He waved his hand around by his head, “shit going on.”
“I believe that’s called life,” she shrugged, “but what do I know, I’m just a kid.”
He did grin to that, “a kid with the mouth of a thirty-year-old man.”
“I don’t believe in double standards, equality all the way for me.”
Noah nodded, “I’ve noticed.” He watched her to see if she was offended by his tone, “I think it’s great.”
“But you don’t agree?”
He opened his mouth to answer, and she shook her head. “Sorry, couldn’t help razzing you.” She heaved a dramatic sigh and lifted her phone, “I’ve been summoned to go back over to Ed’s” she rolled her eyes, “Dad’s orders.” She tucked it into her jacket, “they’ll ask me ten thousand questions about you like I’m their little spy or some shit,” she shrugged, “what happens at Noah’s casa stays at Noah’s casa.” She looked him up and down, “listen, I’m surprised, but I really like you. I didn’t want to because you were like,” she held her arm in the air, “on some pedestal, but seems you jumped off it without their permission, so we’re good.”
“I never wanted to be on a pedestal.” He told her truthfully. “Once, a long time ago I would have loved to know they thought of me, but…”
“I get it, life moves on,” she shrugged, “they’ll get over it.” She rolled her eyes, “they’re trying to pre-program Ollie to be their precious one,” she snorted, “they really don’t know him at all.” She blew out a breath and kicked at the ground, “but if you were serious about me coming here, then, yeah, I will be back as soon as I can swindle them into wanting a break from me.” She looked up at him, with a look of vulnerability in her eyes.
“Any time you want.”
She nodded and then launched herself at him and hugged him tightly.
Noah tensed and then managed to recover and give her a slight squeeze.
“I’m glad you came back, brother.” She said with a shaky voice.
Noah blinked and then nodded but couldn’t speak.
She released him and then looked concerned, “I probably shouldn’t have grabbed you, sorry, I’m just not a touchy-feely person so it was,” she lifted her shoulders, “go for it before I change my mind kind of thing.” She dropped them and looked at him.
“It’s fine.” He motioned to the front of the house, “do you need a ride back over?”
She shook her head, “no, Blair and Kobie are going to drop me off on his way home. That way you don’t have to see Mom and Dad before tomorrow when she’ll get all sappy on you.”
Noah nodded, “appreciate that.” He sucked in a quick breath, “it’s not that I don’t like them, I just—they’re strangers now and I’m not the little kid that disappeared anymore.” He wanted her to understand.
“I get it. Dad’s not easy to get close to either,” she gave him a hesitant look, “was he always like that?”
Noah scowled, not at her, but trying to think back, “I think,” he nodded, “I think he was,” he shrugged, “he wasn’t around much then. He worked a lot.”
“Now with having to stay close together, and no,” she made quotes in the air, “pretending to blend in with the ones’ we get lots of quality family time.” She groaned, and then blew out a nervous breath and looked at him. “I heard you’re going back out there to rescue more of our kind.”
Noah nodded.
“I’d ask if it’s dangerous, but just breathing for us is now, so,” she motioned to him, “be careful, kick some evil ass, and set our people free.” She winced, “that sounded less corny in my head.”
Noah never talked about the ops, but now, suddenly he wanted to tell her everything. “This trip is, uh, to get some of Konner Flores’ clan back.” He tucked his hands in his pockets so he wouldn’t wave them around like an idiot, “the water clan,” her eyes widened.
“I thought they were all gone.”
He shook his head, “no, we actually found his mate and now we know where there’s more.”
“You guys seem to be bringing mates home.” She smirked, “I like yours. Emersyn, she seems like she’s all skittish, but there’s this strength in her, you know?”
Noah nodded and hoped this wasn’t going to turn into a conversation about mates, he could barely talk to the men about that, never mind a teenage girl.
She pointed to the side of the door, “I’m going to go before this gets awkward,” she winced, “or I cry or some shit.” She turned and then paused, “can I get your number? You know we could text or something?”
Noah jolted and then nodded and pulled out his phone, he frowned at it, and then held it out to her, “I don’t even know it, so-so put yours in mine too.” He handed it to her.
She took it and swiped the screen, “normally I’d chirp you and say old people and technology or some shit,” she looked over and grinned at him, “but you get a pass because you were seriously oppressed and it’s not your fault your knowledge is stuck back in the dark ages.”
He watched her put the numbers in both phones. He really liked her, and it had nothing to do with the fact that she looked like Carlene, it was because he knew she would always give it to him straight and he needed that in his life. He scowled at the ground, the guys did too, but they were dicks about it. He looked up at her again and wanted to ask her things that she was probably too young to know, but he needed…
“You okay? You look like you’re having some kind of seizure.”
He blinked and then blew out a breath and pointed to his head, “constantly. My-my mind—I want to do or say something, but then I sometimes forget that I’m allowed to…”
“Hey—I get it,” she nodded, “not what it’s like, but what you’re trying to say.”
He looked to see Blair standing at the corner of the house and felt saddened to know that she was leaving. “So, when you come back, I’ll take you over and show you how to drive some of the rigs.” He only knew a few, but he wanted to do something with her.
She grinned, “really? That would be epic.” She held out his phone.
He took it and jammed it in his pocket, then motioned to Blair, “better not keep him waiting, he’s got a lot going on.”
She glanced at him and nodded, “he’s pretty cool, for a pretty boy.” She shrugged.
Noah snorted. Damn, he really liked his little sister. “Try to stay out of trouble and keep an eye on your—our little brother.”
“Full-time job.” She lifted her hand and let it drop. “I’ll talk to you soon, Noah.” She looked like she wanted to say something else, but then spun on her heel and headed over to Blair.
Blair looked at him and gave him a quick salute. His expression said he was trying to convey something to him, but Noah had no clue what this time. Drawing in some air deep into his body, he turned and decided he should at least go find Cooper now and see what he was up to now.