The Next Door Boys (28 page)

“Hey, you two,” Brian whispered. I wondered how long I'd been asleep.

I opened my eyes to see Brian crouched down, watching us lie in the warmth of the afternoon. “Sorry,” I said quietly.

He shook his head. “Please don't apologize. Maybe I shouldn't have woken you. I just feel bad that you're stuck with him.”

“I can't think of anywhere in the world I'd rather be stuck,” I said honestly. Brian reached out and used his hand to brush the hair from my face. He opened his mouth to say something but decided against it.

“Dad?” I felt Nathan stir beside me, and I already knew that I'd be sad to feel him go.

“Here, buddy.” Brian smiled and reached out his hands.

I didn't want him to go, either of them. “Thanks for playing with me today, Nathan.” I smiled at his groggy face.

“Okay.” He yawned. Brian carefully scooped him out of the hammock.

“Thanks again, Leigh,” Brian said as he stood up, Nathan in his arms.

I nodded.

Brian slowly walked across the yard and into his apartment. I felt the pull toward them in my chest.

My hammock wasn't the happy place it had been only a few moments ago. It felt empty. I curled up into a ball and prayed that the afternoon sun would put me back to sleep.

“Up the canyon?” Noah asked. He looked quickly at me before continuing the drive.

“I guess.” It was already getting late, and as much as I wanted to spend more time with him, I also wanted sleep.

“What's the matter?” He reached his hand out and rested it on my thigh.

“We seem to end up there a lot, and I don't know how much longer I'll be able to stay awake.” I smiled a little. “You could just come back to my house and hang out for a bit?”

“Under the watchful eye of your roommate, your brother, and Brian?” He seemed to emphasize Brian's name a little, though it may have been my imagination.

“No, I…” But my phone buzzed in my pocket, interrupting me. “Just a sec.” I flipped it open. Jaron. That wasn't going to help my case against the whole “watchful eye” thing. “Hey, Jaron.”

“Do you know Brian's work number?” His voice sounded anxious.

“No.” I held the phone tight against my ear to make sure that I could hear. “What's going on?” I leaned forward in my seat.

“He's not answering his cell, he's at work, and Nathan's running a high fever. We tried information, but the number they have isn't right.”

“What do you need me to do?” I asked. I wanted to help.

“If you and Noah are out and about, maybe you could drop by his work. He's asking for his dad. Megan's here, and that's helpful, but he looks terrible.”

“You're asking your little sister to go to a bar?”

“You have Noah with you, and Brian's there. You're fine.” Jaron chuckled.

“I know I'm fine.” I rolled my eyes. “Call if you need anything from the store, okay?”

“Thanks, Leigh.”

“No problem.”

I flipped my phone shut and set it on my lap in case I got another call.

“Change of plans?” Noah looked disappointed. He'd slumped down in his seat.

“Sorry. Nathan's sick, and they can't get ahold of Brian. We just need to drop by his work and let him know.” I wanted to get back to check on Nathan.

“A bar? Did I hear that right?” Noah raised his eyebrows. There was something disapproving on his face and in his voice. He pulled into a grocery store parking lot and turned us back toward town.

I felt defensive even though I'd had the same thought. “It pays well and gives him time with his son.” I sat up a little straighter.

“So did he just get some girl knocked up, or is he divorced?” Noah's voice sounded disapproving again. I didn't like that he jumped to conclusions.

“Divorced.” I crossed my arms and stared ahead. I didn't know how to explain Brian to Noah. Not in a way that he'd understand without giving him the wrong impression.

“So, one of your would-be older brothers and next door protector is a divorced guy with a kid, who works in a bar?” Noah chuckled again and shook his head. But his chuckle didn't sound like he thought it was funny. It was filled with irony and irritation.

“Pull over here.” I pointed. I couldn't wait to get out of the car. I didn't want a confrontation with Noah over Brian, and that's where the conversation was headed.

“And now I'm supposed to take you into some bar instead of driving up the canyon?” Noah half-slammed the car into park.

“You can stay here. I'll be right back.” I opened the door and jumped out, hoping to avoid a confrontation.

“Or, you can stay here, save yourself from going in there, and I'll be right back.” I could tell that's what he wanted.

I looked back through the car door at him. “Noah, you're being silly.” I laughed, even though I didn't really feel like laughing. I wanted to get Brian the message so he could go home to Nathan. I started to walk.

Noah jumped out, took two jogging steps toward me, and put his arm tightly around me. “Leigh, you're not twenty-one. You're going to have to let me go in and get him.”

I stopped just outside the front door, defeated.

“Please be nice.” I touched his shoulder so he'd know I wasn't trying to be mean.

“I'm not the one who's had a problem being nice, Leigh. The guy practically accosted me for making one small comment.” He jerked open the door. He was referring to Brian reacting so strongly on the porch.

I hated being stuck outside. Noah walked inside before I had a chance to say anything else. What would I have said even if I did have a chance to say something? He didn't mean to yell at you the other day? He actually thinks you're great? Neither would be true. I folded my arms over my chest and leaned against the brick siding, the noise of music coming through the thick walls.

It took forever. I started to pace. I didn't mean to pace. It just sort of happened.

“Look, Noah, not all of us have the luxury of a free ride through school. Leave it alone.” Brian's words were harsh. I could tell he was angry, but he controlled his volume well.

I looked up at him, and he stopped just before running into me.

Brian put his hand on my shoulder. “Thank you for coming. I'm on my way home.” His brown eyes softened a little as he spoke.

I reached out to touch his arm, but he broke away and took off at a jog down the street to his car.

“What did you do?” I turned to Noah.

He held his hands in the air. “I don't know why you're automatically accusing me.”

“Because Brian doesn't get mad, not like that.” I put my hands on my hips.

“Well, his outburst on the porch the other day is enough proof against that.” Noah walked past me. “And I guess that clears up how you feel.” He didn't turn his head toward me. He simply continued to his car.

“Noah!” I ran a few steps to catch up. “Please, wait. I think you're getting the wrong idea here, and I really don't want you to get the wrong idea.” He couldn't walk away like this.

He stopped and stood for a moment before turning toward me. “And what idea do you think I have?”

“I…” But I didn't know what to say. I stepped toward him, wanting to feel him close to me, especially since I suddenly felt like he didn't want to be. I slid my arms around his waist and slowly put my face against his so I could kiss him just below his ear. “I think you feel like I want to be somewhere other than here.” I kissed him again. “And I don't.”

He studied my face slowly as I pulled away. He reached his hands up and put them on my neck, brushing his thumbs on my cheeks. I closed my eyes and felt his lips on mine.

“Why don't we go back to your place and snuggle up together on the couch?”

“You never want to be at my place.”

“Well, I want to be close to you, and late at night on a street in downtown doesn't seem like the best place for it.” He took my hand, and we started walking to his car.

“Thanks. For all of this.” I let go of his hand and slid my arm around him, sidling in closer so he could put his arm around me.

He kissed my forehead. “’Cause I love you.”

twenty-eight

“I can't believe you talked me into this.” I stepped out of Noah's car onto the sidewalk.

“It's just dinner.” He took my hand and pulled me close to him.

“It's not just dinner. It's dinner with your parents.” I checked my reflection in the closed storefront we'd parked next to. I'd gone for simple. Noah had given me very little to go on aside from his mother being perpetually overdressed. I wore four-inch stacked black heels and a slim black pencil skirt. I'd made my blouse from the material that had been given to me by Noah's aunt. I figured I could mention that if I didn't have anything else to say.

“You've already met my dad.” He put my hand through his arm and started down the sidewalk.

I glanced in storefront windows every chance I got, looking for something on me to be out of place. I tripped once, not watching where I stepped.

“Leigh.” He stopped us. “Relax. They just want to meet you.” His hand came to my cheek.

I closed my eyes and nodded.

“I've never seen you like this. It's cute.” He leaned toward me and put his lips against mine.

“Careful.” I pulled away. “You might smudge me.” I didn't want to be smudged, especially not from kissing—not just before meeting his parents.

He laughed. “Again, relax. They're going to love you.”

“Yeah.” I took in a breath and then slowly let it back out.

“You look amazing. Really. I'm so glad you're not one of those girls who just lets themselves go when they get to school. You know, put on the college ten?”

What? I knew I was supposed to be “putting on the college ten.”

“This is it.” He stopped.

“PF Chang's?” My mind went from the shallowness of Noah's earlier comment to the fact that we were at the restaurant. Where we'd eat dinner. With his parents. Would I be able to take a deep breath all night? Could I now?

“I told you that. My dad wanted casual.”

“Right.” PF Chang's didn't really fall under casual dining for me, but it obviously did for them. Noah had probably told me a lot of things, but it hadn't made much of a difference. I'd been a nervous wreck since he'd told me his parents would be in town for a night or two—over a week ago.

“I love you. I want you to be comfortable with my family, you know?” He put his arm around my shoulders. “It's just dinner.”

“You keep saying that…” I started to bite my lip but then remembered that I might smear my lipstick.

Noah stepped ahead and opened the door for me.

“Leigh!” Noah's dad smiled at me as soon as I stepped inside. “It's great to see you again.”

“Thank you.” I looked back toward Noah, who nodded at me in encouragement. Some amount of relief crept in with his smile.

Noah's dad pulled me into a hug. It felt so strange to put my arms around someone I didn't know.

“And this is my wife, Sandra.” He stepped aside to reveal the unearthly beautiful woman behind him. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders like smooth satin. Her skin was creamy perfection, and her dark brown eyes looked at me through thick lashes. She was thinner than me and looked like someone who should be in movies or on TV. She had that intangible quality of someone completely unattainable. My chest dropped a little. She would be more stunning straight out of the shower than I could ever hope to be, no matter the amount of preparation I did.

“It's nice to finally meet you, Leigh.” She held out her hand for me to shake.

I took it firmly, but it was not the thing to do. Her hands were small, and she barely grasped my hand in hers. “You too.” I nodded, immediately lightening my grip.

Noah's dad took my hand and slid it through his arm. An unexpected but nice gesture. Noah immediately stepped in line with his mom, and we started to our table.

“What took you two so long?” Noah's dad teased.

I glanced back at Noah. Please don't say you were waiting for me.

“The drive took longer than I planned.” Noah winked at me.

His mom's gaze shifted between us, and I looked ahead. I knew she'd caught our exchange.

We walked into one of the small banquet rooms.

“I thought this was only for big groups.” I looked around at the long table and big windows.