AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We were joking around about the Jets losing and crap like that. Some muffins were done and I grabbed them out of the oven to cool on a rack and slid another batch in to bake. When I got back to the table, Ethan was getting up. “I’m going to grab the chips and salsa. Want anything?”
“Chips and salsa,” I said. He nodded.
I sat down in the chair Ethan had vacated and grinned. “I heard you liked the supper club. I wouldn’t mind seeing that black dress sometime.” I said.
“Sure,” she said, smiling, “It was a fun night. The restaurant was beautiful.”
“So are you. And I guess that makes it my turn,” I teased.
“Hey,” Leo said, pushing back his chair and getting to his feet, looking genuinely pissed. “That’s out of line.”
“What the hell?” I said, looking from my brother to Madison and back again.
Ethan set the chips on the table and turned on me as well. “He’s right, Noah. She’s not a toy we’re passing around and there’s not going to be any it’s-my-turn crap.”
“I was joking,” I said, “Jesus. You people need to relax.” I ran a hand through my hair, still shocked at how they’d taken my offhand remark so seriously and gotten mad, jumped to her defense. “I’m sorry, okay?” I said, “I won’t joke about that again. I didn’t think it would upset everyone.”
“It’s fine,” Madison said reassuringly, but she looked a little rattled, by the outburst if nothing else. Leo sat back down but glowered at me like I’d done something obnoxious. “Thanks for putting the muffins in. You’ve been a tremendous help.”
I nodded and took a chip, looked up at Leo and smirked. “Are you gonna lose your shit if I double-dip? You seem like you got a short fuse tonight.”
“Nah, go right ahead.” He shrugged. After that, Ethan told us about some home project he’s working on for a rich person. I checked my phone when a text alert buzzed and tried to hide the wince when I saw who it was from. I pocketed my phone and hoped I’d acted nonchalant enough that it didn’t ruin the evening. I’d already stepped in it once and didn’t want to screw anything up by having to tell them who messaged me. Because I wouldn't lie to them. I just hoped they didn't ask.
When I caught Madison’s eye, she reached for my hand. “Hey,” she said, “Can I talk to you in the kitchen for a minute?”
“Sure,” I said, and followed her. I noticed her glance back to see if the other two were bothered about her walking off with just me. She was still kind of uneasy about how everyone was going to react in real life. Time would show her that we were okay, that there wasn’t going to be a petty argument about who got more time or something silly like that.
“What’s up?” I said, “You, okay?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing,” she said, “It was from her, right?” I nodded.
“How’d you guess?”
“Your eyebrows,” she said with a little smile, “They got the same worried look when you told me about her the first time. I’m sorry she’s doing this to you, Noah. You don’t deserve it.”
“Thanks,” I said, “I’m not sure about that sometimes. Like maybe it’s karma. For women I went out with and ghosted after two dates or something. That this is what I get.”
“Would you say it to me? That I deserve it if an ex was bugging me all the time and showing up places and making my life miserable? No. You’re not allowed to blame yourself for someone else’s actions. Now what can I do to help?”
“For one thing, you can forgive me for saying dumb shit like I did earlier. I’m sorry and I’ll make an effort to run my jokes through the asshole filter before I say anything out loud.”
“Wait, does your asshole have a filter? Was it an aftermarket accessory or did it come built in?” She joked with a silly grin.
“You think you’re so funny,” I said, capturing her around the waist and pulling her too me, giving her a playful kiss or two. “Come to an event with me. I have a charity fundraiser coming up. It’s a, well, I’m not sure if they said it was a gala or a ball, but it’s going to be a special night, and I want you by my side.”
“I hope it’s not too fancy for my black dress because that's all I own in the category of formal wear,” she said.
“I’d love to buy you a dress,” I told her, afraid it was too much, that she’d back away or think it was controlling. “Will you wear a dress I picked out for you?”
“Are we talking about an actual dress or sequin pasties?”
“A dress. Although you’re the one who suggested sequin pasties.”
“With tassels. Because once you’ve arrived at ‘pasties’ why not go over the top?” She said with a chuckle.
“And just like that my search history is going to get weird,” I said.
“Like it wasn’t already,” she laughed.
