Page 15 of Stay With Me (Griffin’s Den #2)

FIFTEEN

Luna

I look at the time as I walk out of the bathroom. I have a couple of hours before everyone arrives.

Jess is at the counter, getting ahead on her homework, and pride fills my chest with how quickly she’s learning.

Based on her testing, she isn’t too far off from where she should be. Which is amazing since there is no formal schooling in The Family outside of reading, writing, and basic math until the age of eight. They think she should be all caught up with some extra work over the summer.

“Are you doing okay? Have any questions?” I ask her as I sit next to her.

“I think I’m okay, but can you or Noah check it when I’m done with this sheet?” she says, looking up at me.

“Of course we can.” I squeeze her shoulder.

One bonus is that I feel like I’m learning along with her. I’m okay with most of the basics, but I know I still have so much to learn.

“Who is coming over again today?” she asks but doesn’t look up from her math.

“Well, the girls we went shopping with—Amelia, who owns the aquaponic farm in town. Abby, who is in the process of buying the diner we stopped at before work yesterday morning. And Pam, who is a nurse for the emergency room in town.”

Nodding, she says, “I liked them. They were funny.”

“They are very funny, and I know they liked you too.” I stroke her hair.

“Okay. Let’s see. Noah’s friends are the ones you haven’t met.

Well, they’re my friends too, but you have Sam, who is Pam’s brother, Luke, who moved here recently with Sam, and Noah’s childhood best friend, Carter.

All three of them work at the fire department. ”

“Do you think Noah will want to play Mario Kart with me later?”

A laugh bubbles from my chest, thinking about how easy it will be for her to get them all to play, and she looks at me with furrowed brows.

“I’m not laughing at you. I bet you could convince all the guys to play Mario Kart with you.

They all love the game. Now, let’s finish what you’re working on.

Maybe we can make some cookies or cupcakes for everyone coming over? ”

“Cookies, please!” she says as she finishes up her last few problems.

Seeing Jess come out of her shell little by little, I realize I blocked out how bad it was for me when I first left The Family. I’m so grateful we have everyone here in Griffin’s Den to help because, without them, I would be so lost and most likely on the run with Jess.

Especially Noah. He’s giving her, and me as well, the space to navigate everything that is happening.

Noah.

Just the thought of him makes my heart speed up.

I don’t know what I was expecting my first kiss to be like, mostly because it wasn’t something I thought much about, but it wasn’t that. I still have no idea why he’s attracted to someone like me.

I shake the thought from my head. Noah made a point to tell me his feelings, and I trust he wouldn’t just say that if it wasn’t true. As I?start to pull out the baking ingredients from the walk-in pantry, my phone vibrates in my pocket.

Leaning over, I pull it out and smile when I see Noah’s name pop up on my screen with a text message.

Noah: Do you need me to stop at the store for anything?

Me: No I think we have everything. Jess and I are going to make cookies since it looks like you have everything to make them in your pantry.I didn’t know you bake?.?.?.

Noah: Because I don’t. My mom insists that every kitchen should always be stocked with the necessities because you just never know.

Me: Smart woman. I feel the same way, but I’m thinking for different reasons.

Noah: You’ll like my mom. I can’t wait for you to meet her.

That makes me nervous. What if she doesn’t like me? I know she’s been traveling and only comes home around the holidays, and I don’t know if I’ll even be here by then.

Me: Jess has homework for you to check later.

Noah: It’s math, right? I looked up how they teach math now because I thought she was doing it wrong. I don’t know why it’s so hard now.

I can picture him watching videos on how to do math “the new way.”

Me: Yeah, it’s math?.?.?.Now go back to work, so you aren’t late

Noah: Ugh, I hate math?.?.?.See you soon, Lunabella

I lock my phone and place it face down before setting everything on the counter.

Paper rustles from behind me, and I look over my shoulder to see Jess packing up her schoolwork.

I still feel like I have to pinch myself to believe that she’s here.

I want to ask her more questions about how she got here and how she got away, but Noah and Melissa, the case worker, said I should just focus on building a relationship with her and let the therapist ask most of the questions.

Looking up at the calendar, I see that her next appointment is this week.

She was supposed to see her therapist this morning, but the therapist had to move the appointment back due to an emergency.

As I open the cabinet to get the bowl I’ll need, I hear my phone again.

This time, it’s the girls’ group chat.

Amelia: I heard Noah got called into work. We’re still good to come over around five for dinner?

Pam: And they say we gossip.

Abby: They’re worse than we are, for sure.

Me: Yeah, he said he should be off between five and six. So he’ll get here once he’s off.

Abby: Do you need us to bring anything?

Me: No. I think Noah bought the whole grocery store, and I ordered pizza. It’s the first processed food Jess has tried, and she loves it.

Pam: Of course she does. Pizza is the best food.

Amelia: Top three, Mexican is the best.

Pam: You can literally never have the same pizza twice.

I can’t help but laugh. They have this argument at least once a week.

Abby: I love breakfast food.

Me: I just love food.

Amelia: Preach.

Pam: Soooo tell us what it’s like living with Noah?.?.?.

Abby: Yes, tell us all.

Amelia: I thought we said we wouldn’t do this over text and we would save it for girls’ night?!

Me: Well, he told me he wants to be more than friends?.?.?.

Amelia: Duhhhh

Pam: We told you that?.?.?.

Abby: Tell us more.

Me: Well, he did kiss me.

Pam: WOOOOOO

Abby: My girl!

Amelia: That’s my girl.

Me: Okay, I’m going to bake some cookies with Jess. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.

Amelia: See, you scared her, Pam. Hey, is Penny good to come over? I thought that maybe if she ever comes over or to the farm, it’d be good if she isn’t scared of Penny.

Me: Of course Penny can come! That’s a great idea! See you soon!

Pam: Can we plan a girls’ night soon? So then we can gossip.

Me: Yes, please.

Jess comes back into the kitchen, and I have her wash her hands.

As she dries her hands, I ask, “Do you want to make chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies?”

She wrinkles her nose as I say chocolate chip. “Peanut butter, please.”

I laugh, “I’m not a big chocolate fan either.”

Her eyes go wide. “Really?”

“Yeah, I’ve tried it different ways, but isn't something I acquired a taste for,” I admit, double-checking that I grabbed everything needed to make the cookies.