Page 64 of Just My Type (The Boston Hearts #3)

HANNAH

TWO MONTHS LATER

“ H oney, I’m home!”

I laugh from the couch as the door to our apartment flies open and Noah steps in, looking absolutely delicious in the joggers and hoodie he must have changed into at the hospital after his shift. “How’s the baby?”

He flashes me a grin as he flops into the couch next to me, turning my face to his and kissing me like it’s been weeks, rather than less than a day, since we’ve seen each other.

He always greets me like this, and I hope it never, ever changes.

“Perfect, of course. I’m the god of maxillofacial surgery. ”

The grin on his face and the excitement in his tone warms me straight through.

Noah started his permanent attending position at the hospital about six weeks ago, and it turns out his concerns about being too burned out to do his job well or not being good enough to be the one in charge were unfounded.

I knew they would be, but he had to know it for himself.

The second he stepped back into the hospital, it was like his already bright light beamed even brighter.

He loves what he does every single day, and it’s so special to witness.

Today he did some super complicated surgery on a nine-month-old, and then had back-to-back patients after that, so I haven’t talked to him in hours.

“And humble too,” I say with a grin.

“Nah,” he says, leaning back against the couch and tugging me against him so I lean my head on his shoulder. “No need to be humble when you’re the best. How was your day?”

“The freaking best. I went into some kind of fugue state and wrote eight thousand words in, like, six hours. I think it’s nervous energy for tomorrow.”

My stomach flips just thinking about tomorrow. The day I re-release my first book with my new publisher and it lands in actual bookstores all over the country. I’m so excited I could scream and so nervous I kind of want to get into bed and sleep until tomorrow is over.

“That’s, like, an insane amount of words. You’re amazing. And tomorrow is going to be the best day ever. I promise.”

“I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s not like I’ve never released a book before. I’ve released lots of books. In fact, I’ve released this very book before. But for some reason this feels different.”

Noah sits up and turns me to face him, linking my left hand with his so the wedding rings we wear all the time now line up and clink together the way I know he likes.

“Because it is different, Han. It’s the next step in your career.

You’ve worked insanely hard to get here, but it’s a big change.

It’s okay to be nervous. But it’s going to be the best day ever, I promise. ”

I narrow my eyes at him. “You can’t promise that.”

He shrugs. “Okay maybe I can’t, but I love you and I believe in you, and I’m so fucking proud of you. Also, Cece told me that it was going to be the most successful day of your career so far, and she’s a little bit psychic. ”

I huff out a laugh. “For some reason that makes me feel so much better.”

Noah leans in and kisses me, and the feel of his lips on mine chases the rest of my nerves away. “Good. I have something else that’s going to make you feel better.”

“Does it involve me and you, naked in the shower?”

Noah laughs and kisses me again, longer and slower, teasing my mouth open with his tongue and diving inside. “I like the way you think, Gorgeous. Let’s put a pin in that for later. This something is up on the roof.”

“Sounds good. Let me just finish my chapter.” I gesture to my Kindle on the couch cushion next to me. “You walked in at a critical moment.”

“Come on, Han—the book will still be there when you get back.”

I smile at Noah’s impatient tone. The man really can’t wait for anything. “Keep your pants on, dude. The roof isn’t going anywhere, and I really want to finish. He’s groveling, and you know I can’t stop reading in the middle of a good grovel.”

Noah slides even closer to me, getting right up in my space.

“I don’t have anything to grovel for right now, but I bet I can beg better than the guy in that book grovels.

If I do, will you come with me to the roof right now?

Please, please, pretty, pretty please. I want to watch the stars with my wife.

And I’ll bake you a lemon meringue pie later. ”

I narrow my eyes at him. “All by yourself? And you won’t make me help?” Ever since that first time we baked together Noah has a weird thing about me helping him in the kitchen, and sometimes I like it, but mostly I just like to watch him do it. The man looks excellent in an apron.

Noah puts a hand on his heart and gives me the most serious of looks. “Cross my heart and hope I don’t die because I want to be alive to love you for a hundred more years.”

I laugh, my heart just overflowing with love for this cheerful, funny, absolutely perfect man.

I click my Kindle off and toss it onto the couch next to me, turning to Noah and cupping his face, kissing him, smiling against his lips.

“Only because you’re so pretty when you beg. And I really love pie.”

Noah grins and peppers kisses all over my face. “Gorgeous, I’m pretty all the damn time. Let’s go!”

Noah pulls me up and out of the apartment, straight up the stairs to the roof. When he pushes the door open into the cool, crisp October night, a chorus of voices yells “Surprise!” and I freeze, rooted to the spot as I take in the space.

What used to be an empty slab of concrete is a bright, happy space full of comfortable looking furniture in a riot of colors, a fire pit surrounded by a circle of Adirondack chairs, and twinkle lights strung up overhead, casting the whole space in an ethereal glow.

And right in the middle of the roof, in the space where Noah and I sit in the dark and share secrets and dreams at midnight, is a colorful rug, topped by two cozy-looking chairs sitting side by side and a table the perfect size to hold snacks.

Gathered by the edge of the roof, in front of what looks like a long table, is our family. Jordan and Jo, Elliot and Amelia, Pam and Rob, Cece, and even Hallie and Ben, all grinning madly at me.

“What is happening right now?” I ask, turning to Noah who has the same, wild grin on his face.

He cups my face in his hands. “It’s your book party.

I thought you might be nervous for tomorrow, so I wanted you to have everyone who loves you with you tonight.

To remind you that you have a whole family standing behind you.

We’re so, so proud of you Hannah. But don’t forget that I love you most.”

I let out a watery laugh, wrapping my arms around Noah’s waist and holding tight. “Thank you,” I whisper. “This is amazing. But what’s with the roof renovation?”

Noah pulls back and smiles. “I thought it was about time that we had ourselves a comfortable place to sit when we’re up here, which is always. We’re making a home together. This is part of that home too. ”

I squeeze my eyes shut as love for this man just pours out of me. “I love you so much. You are my favorite person in the entire world.”

Noah pulls back so he can look at me. “I thought the day I woke up married to you was the best day of my life, but I was wrong. Every day since has been even better, and I think our days are going keep getting better and better for the rest of our lives. I love you, Hannah. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I promise to keep loving you forever.” Noah leans in and kisses me, light and sweet and full of promise, and I sink into it, wanting to kiss him forever, but we’re interrupted by Hallie’s very impatient voice.

“Kiss her later, Noah. Some of us traveled a really long way to be here.”

Noah chuckles, kissing me one more time. “Your public awaits. But later, we’re doing the naked shower thing.”

I wink at him. “Count on it.”

Then I sprint across the roof and throw myself at Hallie, hugging her tightly. “What are you doing here?” I ask, practically beaming.

“Your husband is very persistent. He said we were celebrating your book tonight and only bad sisters would miss it.”

I laugh, giving her one last squeeze before hugging Ben. “Thank you so much for coming. Where are the babies?”

He kisses the side of my head before he lets me go. “With my parents. My mom was thrilled for two full nights alone with them.”

“Sister hug,” Jo squeals, throwing her arms around me and Hallie in a tight, three-person hug. “Amelia, get the fuck over here! Our girl is about to be a traditionally published author.”

Amelia laughs, wedging herself in between me and Jo and then the four of us are wrapped together, and I’m so happy I could burst.

“Okay, give someone else a turn,” Pam says, scooting Hallie, Jo, and Amelia away and wrapping me up. “I am so damn proud of you, honey. Tomorrow is going to be amazing, and you deserve every single bit of it.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, a little emotional at her words. “Thank you for everything. For making me a part of your family when I wasn’t really, and for being there for me when I needed you.”

Pam leans back, her hands on my shoulders. “Always, Hannah. You’re one of mine, and not just because you accidentally married one of my sons in Vegas and then fell in love with him for real. Because you’re you, and we needed you in this family.”

“We sure did,” Rob said, taking his hug next. “You did an amazing thing, honey. I’m so happy to be able to celebrate you.”

“Me too!” Cece says, pushing Rob out of the way and standing right in front of me, taking my hands in hers. “I couldn’t possibly be prouder of another human than I am of you, Hannah. You made hard choices, and did hard things, and you ended up exactly where you were supposed to be.”

“You think?” I ask, glancing around the roof Noah made beautiful for us, at all the people he gathered here for me. At the man himself, looking at me with so much love and pride on his face that my heart practically bursts from the joy of it all.

Cece smiles. “I know.”

Noah saunters over, sliding an arm around my waist, tugging me to him. “Give the girl some breathing room, Cece. She’s got books to sign.”

“I do?”

Noah grins and gestures to the table in the corner full of snacks, drinks, and a stack of the new version of my book. “I snuck some out of the box of books you had in the library. I figured everyone would want one.”

“You figured right,” Pam says. “Mine first.”

Noah reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handful of the signing pens I like to use, pressing a kiss to my head and handing them to me. “Looks like you’ve got some work to do, Gorgeous. ”

I take them, leaning up and pressing a kiss to his jaw. “You are getting such a big reward for this later.”

Noah smirks at me, heat flashing in his eyes. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”

“Hey, where’s Cooper by the way?”

Noah shrugs. “He said he was stuck at work, but that he would try and get here as soon as he could.”

The words are barely out of Noah’s mouth when the door to the roof flies open, and Cooper appears.

His face is flushed, and he’s breathing hard like he ran here all the way from work.

His once-crisp dress shirt is wrinkled, one side hanging out of his pants.

His hair is a disheveled mess, like he’s spent who even knows how long running his hands through it, and his eyes are wide and wild, darting around the roof like he can’t quite figure out where he is.

“What the fuck?” Noah mutters, staring at his brother like he’s never seen him before. And honestly, fair, because this version of Cooper is not one that I’m acquainted with either.

“Cooper, are you okay honey?” Pam asks, stepping forward.

Cooper takes a deep breath, shoving both of his hands through his hair and tugging on it, like he’s looking for something to ground himself. When he opens his mouth and speaks, his words are shaky and uncertain, and he’s looking at us, but I don’t think he really sees anything.

“I think…” He pauses, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. “I think I’m going to be a dad.”