Noah looks to where I’m pointing, his eyes widening in shock. “Arielle?”
“And Eli,” I add. Of all the restaurants in Briar Rose, how did they decide to come here? They’re holding hands and smiling at each other, lost in conversation, but they could’ve easily seen us.
Finally catching on to the problem, Noah ducks down too, headbutting me and almost falling on his butt.
“Ow!” I hiss, rubbing my forehead.
“Sorry,” Noah whispers.
I hear Arielle say something. I can’t quite make it out, but I can hear her laughter and Eli’s answering chuckle. And then they’re at the door and disappear inside.
“What the hell are they doing? Are they on a date?” Noah asks, standing back up.
Arielle and Eli have been casually hooking up for years, nothing serious. But I’ve wondered about them with how they’ve been acting lately. Are they getting more serious? Or is their FWB situation imploding?
Still confused, Noah rambles, “And isn’t Eli into guys?”
“Eli’s into anything with a pulse,” I correct him. “And your sister’s hot. Did you not know that they’re FWBs?”
“Excuse me? FWBs? What the fuck?” Noah growls, looking toward the door of the diner like he’s considering chasing them in there. “How long has that been going on?”
“Quite a while,” I tell him. “You seriously didn’t know?”
Noah’s eyes narrow and he shakes his head sharply. “I try to respect her boundaries, but . . .”
“They’re fine,” I tell him. “Probably fueling up for a night of—"
I cut off my supposition when Noah clenches his jaw.
He glances at me and sighs. “I’m sure you’re right. They’re fine. Arielle’s fine.” He sounds like he’s trying to convince himself more than anything.
A giggle bubbles up at how dramatic he’s being. I mean, Arielle’s grown, and it’s not like Eli is her first or only partner.
Noah grimaces sheepishly. “I’m being an asshole again, aren’t I?”
I hold up my thumb and index finger a solid three inches apart. “Little bit. But you’re a big brother, and that’s expected in Arielle’s case.”
With a sigh, he lifts his hands over his head, wiggles them around, and inhales deeply. He’s doing what I coached him through, and the idea that it meant enough to him to remember means a lot.
“Okay. Arielle is FWBs with Eli. They’re getting food. That’s perfectly natural and fine.” He sounds like he means it this time, and I grin.
“You know you’re the one out on a date with your sister’s best friend,” I tease, letting my fingers dance up his arm.
“You’re right. I am,” Noah says huskily. “But I haven’t thought of you as ‘Arielle’s friend’ in a while. You’re more . . . the woman I want to know everything about.”
There’s so much depth in his comment that it catches me off guard and has my desire at white-hot levels. Confident, assured, intelligent, and . . . God, he’s perfect for me.
“Riley, what is it?” Noah asks, tracing along my cheekbone. “Your eyes went all dreamy.”
“I want to thank you, Noah. I . . . this side of you, I never knew it existed,” I admit to him. “You’re a lot more than I expected. Even after the chats and the cheesecake.”
“I did enjoy the cheesecake, though,” Noah teases before getting serious again. “I didn’t realize that you were so . . . fun. No, more than fun, you’re . . . vibrant, infectious energy. You’re an amazing woman.”
Our hands touch, and I realize the magic of what’s occurred. Without the filter of our previous notions and the week of getting to know each other online, we’ve been able to really see each other’s souls.
They say you can travel the world without meeting the one person who’s your best partner. But would I have ever realized that my perfect match was right under my nose all this time? That I was blinded by a bad first impression and couldn’t see the strong, intelligent, soulful man right here in my arms now?
Well, that’s going to stop. I see Noah for who he is, and right now, I don’t want this night to end. We already know each other. I feel like I might know him better than nearly anyone at this point. Same for him with me. I’ve shared things I haven’t told anyone.
"Thank you. You’re amazing too, Noah.” Our eyes lock, our breaths pacing with each other, and fireworks shooting between us. “I think I want to continue where we were before . . . at your place.”
It doesn’t even take him a heartbeat to catch on to what I’m saying. “Are you sure, Riley?” I nod, and he steals my breath, not with a kiss but by opening the door and almost shoving me inside the SUV before running around to the driver’s side.
Chapter 12
Noah
The elevator dings, and my nerves are raw. I never expected to be this unfiltered, unarmored. With anyone. I told Riley about my dad, for fuck’s sake, and the only people who know about that are Mom, Arielle, and River. My control is slipping from my fingers, but instead of scrabbling to get it back, I want to let go completely.
She’s worth it. She deserves that.
And now, here I am, showing her a part of myself that I don’t even think I can put into words. This apartment is both my pride and my biggest guilt. I could live in a cheaper place, freeing up money to send more home to Mom and help Arielle out, but this is what makes me feel like I’ve made it. Like I won’t ever again be that little boy who was hoping for a trash sandwich. And I’ve seen Mom’s eyes when she comes over—the relief that we all survived, her pride that she was able to provide for Arielle and me, and her joy in my success.
It’s ridiculous to be nervous about an apartment. I know that. And I’ve had women here before. But none of them knew me the way Riley does, and that makes all the difference.
I snag my keys and finally get them in the lock, twisting the key and opening the door. “Come on in.”
From the moment I hit the lights and we walk in, I know I worried for nothing. Riley looks around with interest, but there’s no judgment. She’s not impressed by trappings that way. Instead, I think she’s enjoying seeing how I choose to live, what creature comforts I’ve chosen, and getting to know me in another new way. I feel the weight of nervousness lift off me.
“Wow, I love it,” Riley says as she crosses my living room, dropping her purse on my small dining table.
Seeing her here fills the space with a life I hadn’t noticed it was missing, like she brings energy with her, sprinkling it in her wake with every step.
“Me too. It’s not as cozy as your place, but it’s home, you know?”
She beams at the compliment to her apartment. “I like bright colors and suns, and the clean background to let them all shine. But that’s not you. This is you. Classic, quality, and maybe a bit showy.” She winks with the last bit, and I shrug, not offended.
“Confident, not cocky,” I say, agreeing with her. “Look at this.” I guide her over to the window on the far left of the living room and place my hands on her upper arms, lining her up just right in the prime spot for the view. “Right there,” I say, pointing out the window across the span of sky and buildings. “You can see the logo on the top of Life Corp. It’s what let me know this was the one. I can see my future from here.”