Chapter 126 Chapter One Hundred And Twenty Six
“See you guys later!” Nicole called from the passenger window as Jake’s car pulled away from the curb, her hand waving enthusiastically.
We had finished having pizza and catching up on details about their trip. Now it was time for them to go home.
“Have to go drop this loser off at her place.” Jake laughed.
Nicole scoffed, “Ugh! Why did we ever have to be neighbours! I’m telling your mom!”
“Until next time folks!” Jace laughed, quickly waving goodbye.
“Text me when you get home safe!” I shouted back, watching the taillights disappear down the street.
Noah’s arm draped casually around my shoulders as we stood on the sidewalk, waving at them.
The late afternoon sun cast our long shadows across the pavement, but it looked pretty all the same. Him and I, standing next to each other.
My stomach was pleasantly full, maybe a little too full from Marco’s pizza.
It had been a long while since I’d let myself eat like that, without counting calories or feeling guilty about every bite.
“Did you have fun?” Noah asked as we started toward the house.
“Yes, of course,” I said, smiling up at him.
He glanced down at me, a teasing glint in his eye. “I’m surprised you ate so much, though. The food can’t have been that good, could it?”
I faltered mid-step, something uncomfortable prickling at the back of my neck. The joke felt… off. I wasn’t sure what to make of it.
I side-eyed him, trying to gauge if he was being serious.
“It’s just been a long time since I ate without any diet restrictions, I guess,” I said carefully, keeping my voice light even though the words left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth.
Noah’s expression switched up immediately, his eyes grew soft with concern. “Oh. I’m sorry, I was being insensitive. I shouldn’t have said that”
“Yeah, it’s okay,” I managed, though I wasn’t entirely sure it was.
He leaned down and kissed my cheek, the gesture sweet and apologetic. Then he reached forward and rang the doorbell, his hand finding mine as we waited.
The door swung open to reveal Martin and…
“Rosie!” I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the red-haired whirlwind bouncing on her toes. “Oh, sweetheart. It’s so nice to see you again, last I heard you were at the hospital. How do you feel now?”
I remembered she was Martin’s best friend from school, all bright copper hair, and vivid green eyes, and a personality that could fill a room three times her size.
She was the complete opposite of Martin’s gentle, almost old-soul demeanour; loud where he was quiet, impulsive where he was careful, and chaotic where he was orderly.
It was still a wonder to me how they got along so well.
“LENA!” Rosie shrieked at the top of her lungs, making me wince and laugh at the same time. “I’m doing okay now! Though my mom says I still have to take my medicine.”
Martin launched himself into my arms with surprising force for such a small kid.
We went through our signature handshake; an overcomplicated series of hand slaps, fist bumps, and finger wiggles that we’d perfected over weeks of tutoring sessions.
“Here for another sleepover, Rosie?” I said warmly once Martin had released me.
“YEAH!” Rosie responded at maximum volume, as always.
I felt that familiar flutter of privilege in my heart, it felt good to know that despite Martin’s autism, and despite his usual reluctance for physical contact, he was still comfortable enough with me to return my hugs and handshakes.
To me it meant something. It meant I was doing something right.
“Hey, kids,” Noah said, giving them both a quick wave.
He pulled me close and kissed me goodbye “Come to bed when you’re tired, alright sweetheart?” he murmured against my lips, then headed past us toward the stairs without another word.
I watched him go, a weird feeling nagging at me that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
“Did you hear? Did you hear?” Martin tugged on my sleeve, his eyes bright with excitement as he dragged me inside. “Jace isn’t going to military school anymore!”
“I heard,” I said, letting him pull me further into the house. “That’s great news, right? Speaking of Jace, where is your brother? Is there no one looking after you two? Or—”
What greeted me inside made me stop dead in my tracks.
The living room looked like a tornado had torn straight through it.
There were books scattered across every surface; some open, and some closed, and others stacked in shaky towers that threatened to fall over and make an even bigger mess.
Football equipment was strewn everywhere: helmets, jerseys, a deflated football near the fireplace, and cleats by the coffee table.
Bits of colourful paper and sticky notes covered the floor like confetti, and in the middle of it all, sitting on the couch with his feet proudly propped up on the coffee table, looking perfectly calm, was Jace.
He was watching the TV, where footage of his past games played on loop.
Even from here, I could see him on the screen. He looked a little younger, so it was maybe from a year ago, he was making an incredible catch and the crowd was going wild, chanting his name.
“Hey, Jace,” I said tentatively.
He turned towards me, and the smile that spread across his face was devastating, so much lazy confidence and heat that made my stomach flip.
“Princess. You’re home. Like what I did with the place?” he drawled.
“You’re responsible for this mess?” I asked in disbelief.
“Better believe it. I’m reliving my glory days with the kids until school starts and I can make new ones.”
I looked around at the chaos, raising an eyebrow. “Wow. You must’ve gotten really carried away, huh?”
“Damn. You’re right, it’s like a bomb went off in here.” Jace looked around him, taking in the scene, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. “I guess I was trying to help Martin out with his report but clearly that is not going according to plan.”
“You think?!”