One Last Time(23)

I’ve already drowned once before. In fact, I’m still treading water now.

“Noah,” I shake my head. “I . . . I have to pee.” He takes a step back, and I could quite possibly die of mortification. “I mean, I have to see . . . something.”

He laughs, and I slap myself mentally—twice. “No problem. I’ll move so you can . . . see something.”

“Can we just go since I clearly am hell bent on making all of our interactions awkward? I really need this interview, and I’d like for us to do it before I scare you off.”

Noah’s lips turn up, and he lifts his chin. “You want us to do it, huh?”

I release a heavy sigh while looking at the ceiling. “Shoot me now.”

“I’m just giving you a hard time.” He nudges me.

“I guess I deserve it after you babysat my drunk ass all night.”

Noah slowly nods. “This is true.”

I push his chest lightly and giggle. “You’re not supposed to agree.”

“You said it,” he defends.

“I give up.”

Noah wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his side. “I’m kidding. It was my honor to make sure you didn’t drown in the pool.”

Our eyes meet, and something electric flows between us. It’s different from last night, more intense if that’s even possible. My heart races as his fingers tense, and we stare at each other.

The phone rings, and he slowly drops his arm from around me.

“I should get that,” I croak before clearing my throat.

“Right.”

I grab the phone and see Scott’s number. That’s one way to kill a mood.

“Hello,” I answer, keeping my back to Noah.

“Mommy!”

“Hi, baby.” I smile hearing Aubrey’s voice over the line.

I turn, look at the sexy celebrity standing in my house, and cover the receiver. “It’s my daughter. I’ll be just a second.”

Noah nods.

“Do you miss me?” she asks.

“Of course, I miss you. Are you having fun with Daddy?”

Aubrey lets out a heavy sigh, and I picture her little face. “I guess.”

“You guess?”

“Daddy is working, and Finn is being mean.”

“I’m sorry, Aub. Maybe you can ask Daddy to do something fun?” I suggest. Scott has never had the kids on his own. I was always there, handling everything and keeping them entertained.

She goes silent for a second. “I guess.”

“Is something wrong, honey?”

I hate hearing her like this. She’s my bubbly, happy kid. Aubrey is always the one who brings people’s spirits up. Her heart is huge, and her smile is contagious.

“No, I miss you. Daddy doesn’t tuck me in like you do, and he doesn’t cook.”

I do my best to explain that he and I are different and comfort her at the same time. This is the part of divorce I wanted to avoid. Having my children struggle is all I worry about. They don’t deserve this, but it’s unavoidable. That doesn’t mean I still don’t hate it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I remind her.

“I’m going to hug you!” Her sweet little voice proclaims.

“You bet you will!”

We hang up, and I release a heavy sigh.

“Everything okay?” Noah asks.

“Yeah.” I smile. “Mom life.”

“Not that I have a clue what that means, but it sounds like your kid loves you very much.”

Still smiling, I walk over to the table to grab their picture. “These are my babies.” Noah grips the photo frame, and I stand beside him. “That’s Finn, he’s ten, and that’s Aubrey, she turned six a month ago. This is the first time they’ve been with their father alone for the night, which sounds crazy, but they’ve always been with me or my parents.”

Noah’s eyes fill with a sadness that mirrors my voice. I don’t think I ever allowed myself a chance to think about it until now. I have no idea what they’ll eat, do, think about, dream of. My parents would come to our house if we wanted to go out, and Scott never wanted to go away just the two of us so they’ve only spent a night at my parents, but I went to get them before they woke up. I’ve been there each morning, and now I’ll have every other weekend without them.

His hand touches my cheek, and I realize a tear fell. “You’re not crazy to miss your kids, Kristin.”

“I’m sorry. I’m the most unprofessional reporter ever.” I wipe the other side of my face, take the photo, and put it back.

“You’re not.” He smiles, but I don’t believe him.

“You’re lying.”

“Maybe a little.”

I laugh and shake my head. “Okay, interview and no alcohol or crying, deal?”

Noah extends his hand. “Deal.”





Chapter Nine





Noah





“So, what’s good around here?” I ask as we climb into the car. I meant to ask Eli, but he was too busy lecturing me on why this dinner shouldn’t happen. Then Heather chimed in.

I assured them both this was mainly a business dinner, which was partially true. Heather’s narrowed eyes told me she knew that as well. Kristin needs her interview, we clearly didn’t do that last night, and time is expiring on her deadline.