When he pulled into his driveway, I almost swallowed my tongue.It was lush, with palm trees and small succulents everywhere, but it was the paver stone driveway that about did me in.Concrete wasn’t good enough.He had interlocking, smooth stones for his circular driveway.It was so pretty.
And the house.
It probably looked like a regular stucco house to anyone else, but I could see from the van that it had that extra sparkle.I bet he’d spent over a million on it, easily.
“Hey…” I had to pause and clear my throat, as talking was suddenly difficult.“Thanks again for coming out and showing your support.And for being our roadie.It would’ve taken me forever to load and unload it all on my own.”
“No problem.And I really meant what I said.You guys are awesome.Don’t let some old fogey who doesn’t have a fucking clue make you doubt yourself.”
“Thanks.”I smiled slightly.“And I’m sorry your date ruined your night with her power of speech.”
“Eh, I’m not.My night ended on a pretty good note, I think.I’m starting to think this whole Win-A-Date thing isn’t going to work out.”
“Maybe it’d help if you stopped bringing them to my shows.”I laughed wryly.“Your type doesn’t seem to align with our demographic.”
“Anyone who can’t appreciate your sound isn’t the person for me.”
I held my breath for a second.Something about the way he’d said that felt so profound.Paradigm shifting.
Nah, that was crazy thinking.
Right?
I darted a glance at Noah, and he stared placidly back at me like he hadn’t just rocked my whole foundation.
“Hey, do you want to come in?”He tipped his head toward his house.“We could watch a movie.Hang out.I have like three extra guest rooms.Nothing shady, I swear.”
“Nah, I should get home.Need to shower the night off me.”
“Right.Okay.”
I tipped my head and looked at him since he hadn’t climbed out of the van yet.“Have you given any more thought to adopting a dog?Might be nice to have someone to come home to, ya know?”
He laughed softly.“And here I thought I’d hidden what a sad sack I was.”He shook his head.“I don’t know.I’m away from the house for long stretches with shows and appearances.Doesn’t seem fair.”
“There’s always doggie daycares.Or you’re rich enough—you could hire a dog sitter.Oh!And my favorite suggestion—you could always adopt two.You know, so they keep each other company?”
Noah laughed.His head rocked back and forth on his headrest as he thought over what I’d said.“Maybe.I’m still thinking about it.”
“Sure, sure.”We sat there for another minute.“Okay.Get out.I wanna go home and shower.”
And obsess about what’d just happened.
Noah groaned, but he opened his door and swung out.I did the same on my side, closing the passenger door behind me.I walked around the front of the van, but Noah was still standing in the doorway on the driver’s side.
He looked down at me for a long minute that had me catching my breath.
Then he stepped away and patted the hood on his way by.“Drive safe.”
“Yeah,” I answered weakly.I stood there stupidly for a moment before I shook my head and climbed into the van.
I waited for him to get inside before I pulled away.
The whole drive back to Henderson all I could think about was that whole exchange.
What did it mean?
Was I seriously thinking about Noah like that?
