The waitress took their orders of two Cokes, nachos and flatbread to share. The quiet atmosphere of the pub settled some of her nervousness. They both spoke at the same time.
Noah gestured to her then picked up his Coke. “You go first.”
Good. Then she could get the words off her chest and maybe breathe again. “What you said about being friends? I want that. Today has been awesome. I can’t remember one I’ve enjoyed more and not just because I was spending your money.” She waited for his smile but it was half its usual size. “Obviously, we’re attracted but there are too many reasons not to go there. The moment in the store was my fault. I’m sorry. Idowant to findthe one.But not yet. Not until I’m entirely sure ofwhoI am. I promised myself I would never let a man change the direction of my life. I want one, eventually, who will add to it. Enhance it. I don’t ever want my heart to dictate my choices.” Because if it did, she’d be sitting in Noah’s lap or curled up with him on that awesome couch they’d just bought.
He seemed to measure her words before he spoke. “That seems wrong. I mean, I get what you said and you’re right. We can’t act on anything. I don’t want things to be uncomfortable between us. I like you a lot, Grace. I’ve never imagined having a woman in my life long-term but I can’t imaginenotknowing you. I don’t honestly think I’m built for forever. Not as a partner. But as a friend? I’m loyal as hell. When I tell someone they have my word, I mean it. I do my best not to disappoint the people I care about. It’s part of why I stayed with my father’s company for so long. We can both admit there’s something between us. But we can be in charge of the direction.”
She nodded. Look at them being sensible adults. She was nothing like her mother. “Okay. Then we’re in agreement. Mostly. Let’s get to know each other without the games. Tell me something about you. Something a friend would know.”
His shoulders lifted and dropped in a heavy sigh. It was like he’d breathed out the tension between them, shifting them back to better footing. Safer ground.
He set his drink down, folded his arms on the table. “Okay. I can do that. I grew up with two brothers and a sister. We hadeach other and all of us were focused on getting Dad’s approval. Well, except Ari. She’s the golden child who can do no wrong. She’s a sweetheart but she’s a bit lost. Still trying to figure out who she wants to be.” His lips tipped up when he gave her words back to her.
“Aren’t we all?”
He nodded, glancing around the restaurant. Music pumped softly through the speakers. A couple of waitresses laughed behind the bar. Noah’s gaze came back to her own.
“I grew up trying to be like my older brother, Wes, who’s all cool, calm, and statistics. He never acts on impulse. Always knows the logical next step. It didn’t take me long to figure out that wasn’t me. I tried to be a good role model for Chris but he didn’t need that. Those two were born knowing which direction was up.”
Flutters pulsed around her heart. She could relate. “And you?”
He laughed without humor. “I was born questioning if up was really up. I grasp at straws. I’m too impulsive. Sometimes I think I might be more like my father than I want to be.”
“He can’t be all bad. Chris seems like a great guy and you have your moments.”
Noah’s laugh made her feel like she’d won a prize. He picked up his drink, took a long sip before setting it down again. “That’s true, I guess. Wes is a great guy, too. Ari’s amazing when she actually locks down her focus. She’d do anything for any of us. She’s got a heart of gold. So yeah, all his kids turned out okay. But my dad… there’s an emotional chip missing. My grandfather wanted to build a legacy. That’s what he started. We were supposed to continue it together but my dad’s turned it into a Jenga game, pulling out pieces that support the whole structure. He doesn’t care if it topples as long as he can build another tower. I’m babbling like an idiot. Why do you want to be friends with me? I’m a full-grown adult who’s still impacted by his dad’s approval.”
That actually made her want to be friends with him more. Theymight come from different backgrounds but they weren’t all that dissimilar. The waitress stopped at their table, setting down the nachos, flatbread, and small plates. Grace’s stomach growled vigorously. Noah grinned.
“Can I get you two anything else?”
“I’m good. Thank you,” Grace said, glancing over at Noah.
“This looks awesome. Thanks.”
They gave themselves a moment to dig into the food.
“You’re funny and smart.” Grace said, dipping a nacho in some salsa.
Noah’s brows furrowed in confusion.
“Why I’d want to be friends with you. I’m giving you reasons. You’re mostly easy to hang out with. You make me think about things in a different way but we’re actually pretty similar. I mean, aside from you growing up the poor little rich boy with the mean daddy and me growing up in a trailer park.”
He winced, and she was about to apologize because she’d truly been teasing him, but he interrupted, pointing a tortilla chip at her.
“Don’t give me your sob stories. You were just biding your time in those trailers, plotting how to take over the world.”
She laughed. “While you were sitting in your ivory tower looking for fun.”
Both of them laughed. “It’s sad but true,” Noah said.
She stopped, waited until he met her gaze. “It isn’t. You could have stayed in that tower, taken the easy road, riding high on Daddy’s money. Instead, from the sounds of it, you worked your ass off for your dad. When it didn’t work for you, you got out, looked for something more fulfilling.Meaningful.I know you’ve had a less hands-on approach in the past but this time you haven’t let what you don’t know stop you from trying. You’re willing to try, adapt, and change. That matters. It’s brave. It’s hard to go against the grain of how we were taught. The examples that were set for us.”
He blinked several times. “You’re an incredible woman, Grace.”
She inhaled, absorbed the compliment. “We need to stop trying to prove ourselves to people that aren’t even paying attention.”
“That’s good advice.”
