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The words landed harder than Claire expected.

CHAPTER 25

The Visitor

Noah’s friend from college was visiting Manhattan. Her name was Maya.

She was friendly.

Familiar.

The kind of person who knew Noah’s history in a way Claire didn’t.

They were all at a casual dinner in Noah’s apartment and Claire was doing fine.

She was absolutely not doing fine.

Maya leaned in slightly toward Noah while telling a story. Noah was listening politely, smiling faintly. Claire noticed the way Maya leaned in toward him.

She shouldn’t notice.

But she did.

“He did this in college too,” Maya said. “There was always somebody sleeping on his couch because Noah couldn’t stand the thought of anyone being alone when they were struggling.”

Noah shook his head. “You’re making me sound much nicer than I was.”

“You once drove three hours because Cole’s car broke down.”

Claire smiled with them, but something tugged inside her. Maya knew the version of Noah who had existed before the apartment hallway, before Biscuit introduced them, before Claire knew where he kept the coffee filters.

She didn’t even know that Noah and Cole were friends in college. She assumed they met at work.

It wasn’t that she thought Noah wanted Maya. She didn’t.

But jealousy, apparently, did not require logic.

She trusted him completely.

Unfortunately, trust had done very little to stop the strange twist in her stomach.

She was secure in her place in Noah’s life. It was just weird, someone else knowing his history in a way she didn’t.

Noah glanced at Claire mid-conversation, just briefly. Soft check-in. Automatic now. You okay? his eyes seemed to ask.

Claire smiled in a way that said I’m fine. Her smile said yes. The tightness in her chest said otherwise.

Later, in the kitchen, Claire and Maya were cleaning up. Maya smiled at Claire. “He’s different.”

“Different how?”

“Happier.” She paused. “He always took care of people. I’ve just never seen anyone take care of him.”

Claire glanced toward Noah.

Maya smiled. “He’s just. . . lighter. He’s always carried everybody else’s load like it was his own personal burden. I’ve never seen anybody else carry his. Until now. I’m glad he found you.”

After Maya left, Noah shut the door and turned back to Claire. “You alright?” he asked.