Chapter 457
I still check up on her boy once in a while, and honestly, he’s doing good. He’s happy living with his great aunt, which sometimes makes me question if he would have been that happy and carefree if Benji and his mom were alive.
I’m not saying they would be cruel to him, but just like Casey, he would have been assimilated into the whole ‘hate’ thing and he would grow up surrounded by hate instead of love.
“Sweetheart.” Mom’s voice gently pulls me back. “It’s time p>
I carefully place Val back into Nolan’s arms before standing. I look at myself in the mirror one last time before I turn and follow everyone outside.
At the entrance, Lilly squeezes my hand. “You ready p>
I inhale deeply. “As ready as I’ll ever be p>
She grins before opening the doors and walking inside with Juliette beside her. After them, Nova and Nolan walk in together and right between them, Val toddles forward while they carefully and gently help her.
“All right, baby,” Mom whispers beside me. “Our turn p>
Aunt Harper pushes the doors open fully and together Mom and I step inside. The music plays softly around us, but I barely notice it. Barely notice the guests or the decorations because my entire focus lands on the three little humans ahead of me.
As if sensing me, all three turn around. Nova beams brightly at me, Nolan smiles softly and Val bubbles happily while reaching tiny hands toward me.
My heart feels too full for my chest and I have to again blink back tears. I finally look up and my eyes collide with Noah’s.
Those grey eyes still affect me exactly the same way they always have, though within them, I can see his love and his fear.
Honestly, I never thought we’d end up here. After everything we went through, I was fully prepared to spend the rest of my life single.
For a while, I truly tried with Adrian, and honestly, I think he did too. But somewhere along the way, both of us realized that the spark we once had was gone. We cared about each other deeply, but not in the way we needed anymore.
Ending things should have hurt, but strangely enough, it didn’t. It felt peaceful. Like two people finally accepting something they had both known for a while but were too afraid to say out loud.
We decided to remain friends, and honestly, I think we’re better suited that way. He’s still one of the people I trust most in this world, and I know he’ll always be important to me, just differently now.
Besides, he recently admitted that he started dating again, and I have a feeling he’s bringing someone with him today.
His friendship with Noah is still… complicated. Better than before, but still awkward sometimes. Thankfully Gunner keeps forcing them together until they act like civilized human beings.
I don’t know if they’ll ever truly become friends, but at least now they tolerate each other without looking ready to commit murder… Which honestly feels like progress.
It’s weird thinking back on everything now because during the time Adrian and I were trying to make things work, Noah looked completely miserable. Like a man slowly dying inside while pretending he was fine and sometimes when I looked at him, it reminded me so much of myself back when he was with Chloe.
After Adrian and I ended things peacefully, Noah started pursuing me relentlessly but differently at the same time.
He was patient and respectful, never trying to pressure me or force things before I was ready. He simply kept showing up over and over again, proving himself through actions instead of words.
Eventually I let him back in, but with conditions. The biggest one being going to therapy together because loving each other was never really our problem. The problem was that we had no idea how to love each other without hurting each other first.
It’s been hard because healing always is. Some days were ugly. Some days we walked out of therapy angry at each other. Some days old wounds reopened and it felt like we were back at the beginning again… But through it all, Noah stayed, not just physically but emotionally too.
Every single day, he continued showing me through his actions that he loved me. Not with grand speeches or empty promises, but with consistency. With patience. With the little things that slowly rebuilt my trust in him piece by piece.