Chapter 460 Chapter 460
“I’m going to go through the house with the ladies and see if there’s anything else that’s needed.” Kelsey said then leaned down and smiled at Aspyn, “or the kids require more.”
Aspyn put her cup down, “I want a real tiger.” She said in a serious tone.
Kelsey grinned and then glanced at her mother, “I don’t know if I can get one of those today, but I will keep an eye out.”
Aspyn nodded and then picked up her toast. “Okay.”
Noah shoved the plate away and picked up his cup, “any word from Devin?” He looked at Gage. He needed to know he was going to be going back out soon.
Gage nodded, “I don’t have details, but Calum and Shaelan will be back tonight, I’m sure he knows more.”
Noah nodded his head. That was good. Something was happening. He glanced at Emersyn, “I’ll show you how to do that now.” He turned from the counter and headed to the door with fast steps. Jamming his feet into his boots, he was out the door and sucking in the cool air like he’d been starving for it.
He heard the door close again and just stood there holding his coffee in a shaking hand.
Gage stepped around him, giving him plenty of space. “I’d ask how you’re doing, but the expression on your face says a lot.”
Noah blew out a breath, then gave him a quick side glance, “I’m trying.”
“You’re doing pretty damn good.” Gage lifted the cup and blew on the liquid inside it. “I’ve never seen you stand in a room with people for longer than three minutes before.” He glanced at the house, “never mind stay long enough to eat.”
Noah looked down at the laces hanging out of his boots and decided he didn’t care. He started walking toward the little house. “I’m trying,” he looked to see Gage was following, “but honestly, I’m getting edgy and need to go back out with the team.” He opened the door and then froze when he stepped in. The night before came back all at once. Holding Emersyn, kissing her—the scar on her side.
“This place is coming along fast.”
He went over to the ladder and set his cup down and bent down to do up his boots. “Emersyn’s been doing it.”
“She must be doing it fast; I was standing in it three days ago and it was a god-awful mess.”
Noah kept his head down and switched boots. “Cooper dragged her into it.”
“Into what?”
He stood up and looked to see Gage going over to look out the window. “She thinks she’s doing it for him to live in.” Noah scoffed, “she thinks she’s doing it because it’s too hard with his leg,” Gage grinned wide, “right. He could probably run ten miles and outdo us all, leg or not.”
“If she likes doing it, what’s the problem?” He touched the wall to see if it was dry before he leaned his shoulder against it and took a drink.
Noah blew out a deep breath and dropped his hands to his hips, “Cooper thinks this would be a great little place for a new couple to live.”
Gage started to nod his head and then stopped, “you?”
Noah nodded, “I tried to explain—” he waved his hand around, “everything to him but it’s like he’s deaf when I’m speaking.”
Gage chuckled, “not deaf, just sees different things than you do.”
Noah picked up his cup and walked to the hall to look at the other rooms, “pretty sure when he looks at me, there’s no mistaking that I’m messed up.” He could tell she’d started in the small room, there was more paint on the floor and the ceiling line.
Gage was still where he had left him after he looked in the other two rooms. “She’s been through a lot…”
Noah glared at him, “I know what she’s been through.” He snapped back at him.
Gage lifted one brow at him. Noah recognized it as a warning and clamped down on his emotions. “As I was saying, she’s been through a lot, and you understand things no one else is going to.” He paused and held his look, “that’s probably what he’s seeing that you can’t.”
Noah looked down at the dark liquid in his cup to give himself a moment to filter through his words before he said them. Gage wasn’t his Alpha, but he was Alpha family and he and Calum both refused to put up with any sort of disrespect. “I can’t be…”
“You don’t know that, Noah,” Gage’s tone was softer now, “not for sure.”
“And I’m supposed to, what? Bumble it and do more damage to both of us when I fail?” He huffed out a breath and shook his head, “there’s—it’s,” he closed his eyes for a second and then opened them and gave him a level look, “she was there that night,” he motioned up and down his chest, “when I got these.”