Page 17 of Stay With Me (Griffin’s Den #2)

SEVENTEEN

Luna

As we clean up, I push the trash down, exhaling the last of my nerves.

I didn’t realize how nervous I was for everyone to meet Jess.

It took me a long time to trust people. It took me more than six months to do more than exchange pleasantries with anyone in town, and before Griffin’s Den, I never talked to anyone outside of work since I normally moved every six months.

I don’t want Jess to have that fear of every person she meets.

But listening to her laugh in the living room with the guys as they all play Mario Kart , it’s clear this was the right choice.

She’s having a blast.

I know there’s a lot she doesn’t fully understand.

Life outside of The Family is overwhelming, and I hope to give her a better transition than I had.

As if?she can read my mind, Abby walks up to me and says, “She’s doing remarkably well for a child coming out of basic isolation, being thrust into the outside world.”

“She’s doing better than I did, that’s for sure,” I tell her as I toss the last of the trash.

“You were on the run by yourself with no one to lean on. She has you and Noah standing next to her and helping her learn. You’ll make sure her journey is different from yours,” she tells me as Am walks in.

“I agree. You and Noah are doing a great job. She’s thriving and learning something new every day. I mean, she’s out here with us and having fun. She could have shut down and just sat in her room all evening,” Am says to me.

“And she asks great questions. For someone who didn’t go to school, she’s very well articulated for her age.” Pam chimes in.

“I worry she asks too many questions. What if someone gets mad at her or makes fun of her?” I ask them as I watch the pure joy on her face as she beats the guys at another race.

“If anyone gives her grief about asking a genuine question about something she doesn’t understand, then they’ll have to answer to all of us. And could you imagine if it was done in front of Joe and Ann? They already look at her like a grandchild,” Abby says.

They’re right. I know they are, but I remember the looks I would get when I would question something.

So much so that when someone said something to me about it, it made me scared to ask the questions I had.

So, instead, I would spend hours at a local library reading books and looking things up on the internet.

It’s how I practiced reading, and now the girls and I share books.

Except the books they read are different from what I was used to reading… Some of them still make me blush, but it’s why I can put some words to my attraction for Noah.

“So you and Noah look pretty comfy, huh? Sleeping in the same room yet?” Pam raises her eyebrows.

I can feel the blush creeping up my neck, thinking about our kiss last night. I shake my head. “No, I still sleep in the same room as Jess.”

“It’s about time he made a move and kissed you,” Pam says.

“Hey, it’s a big change, and they’re navigating at their own pace. Let them be,” Amelia tells her as she knocks her with her shoulder.

“I’m just saying. If he’s making her blush from a kiss, I can’t wait to see what happens after they have sex.” Pam laughs.

“Keep the sex talk down! We have a kid around now!” Am whisper yells at her.

“A little birdy told me the reason for this get-together tonight is to see who Jess vibes with more so Noah can take you on a date?.?.?.” Abby says with a giggle.

I shrug. “Before he kissed me, he said something about being told he wasn’t making his intentions clear and that was going to change. I don’t know what any of that means, but I wouldn’t mind some time with him, just the two of us.”

“It’ll happen sooner rather than later if the look he keeps giving you says anything,” Am says.

“This is totally off topic, but has anyone started the book we’re reading this month? It’s spicy, and I’m loving it so far,” Pam says.

“No, it’s on my list to do after Jess goes to bed tonight, though. I’m excited to read it,” I say.

“Text the group chat if you have any questions, like always. There are some new topics in this book, and we want to make sure you’re comfortable with what you’re reading,” Pam says.

This is why they make it so hard for me to want to leave. Jess hasn’t said anything, but I know she sees that I haven’t unpacked anything yet. It’s hard when I’m unsure of what my next moves will have to be.

But these women are the best of friends who don’t judge me because of my limited experience and the questions I have about how some things work.

“Or she could just ask Noah to explain it to her,” Abby says with a laugh.

“Oh my god. No, I don’t think I could ask him,” I say quickly.

“I bet he would not only explain it but show you as well,” Am adds.

I shake my head with a laugh and look back at the living room just as Sam yells, “I swear you taught her how to cheat, Noah! There is no way you beat me that many times in a row. This game is rigged, I tell you! Rigged!”

Jess looks around with wide eyes as he raises his voice until she sees that everyone else is laughing at him. She leans in and whispers something to Noah, who looks around and whispers something back to her before she also joins them in a fit of laughter.

“I can’t believe Sam is so good with her. I didn’t picture him good with kids,” Abby says, and I glance at Pam out of the corner of my eye to see her reaction.

“Nah, kids love Sam. He’s the first to volunteer to babysit or do anything with the school when they need someone,” Amelia says. “He’s always been that way, even when we were growing up.”

“Probably because he was stinted as a child.” Pam laughs.

“Honestly, I’m just happy she seems comfortable with everyone around, and I’ve noticed Penny hasn’t left her side,” I tell them.

“I’m not surprised. Sometimes, I feel bad that I don’t want children of my own. Penny is so good with kids. It’s like she knows if they’re nervous and just knows what to do. I’ve been thinking about getting her certified as a therapy dog. I think she would do so well with that,” Am says.

“I think that’s a great idea,” Abby tells her.

I look at the clock and realize that it’s almost time for Jess to go to bed. I’m sad we’ll have to end the night soon. Turning back to the guys, I lock eyes with Noah, and the smile on his face makes my heart skip a beat.

Regardless of what he tells me, I feel like Jess and I have taken over his life, but in moments like these, I know in my bones he enjoys us being here as much as we enjoy being here with him.

His eyes flick back to the clock, and he stands from the couch. “Alright, everyone. It’s time to wrap things up. Jess, it’s almost time for bed.”

Jess looks sad for a moment before Sam says, “It’s okay, kid. I have to go home and practice so I can beat you.”

Jess laughs. “Yeah right, Mr. Sam, you’ll have to practice an awful lot to beat me from the looks of it.”

“Because you cheat! I know Noah taught you how to cheat because he’s a cheater,” Sam says and sticks his hand out for a high five.

“We do not cheat. You’re just a sore loser who can’t admit that you aren’t the best,” Luke says as he puts the controllers back on the charging dock.

“Says the king of cheating,” Sam grumbles.

“Alright, Jess, say goodbye to everyone. We’ll see them all soon,” I tell her.

“Thank you all for coming over. I had a lot of fun,” she says to everyone.

No one forces a hug from her, but as they all start to hug Noah and me, she starts to walk up to them for a hug as well, and my heart expands.

Penny sits patiently and waits her turn, and Jess bends to hug her as well.

In The Family, contact with anyone other than your husband was forbidden.

Looking back now, I see how isolating that could be.

I remember falling down and just wanting a hug, but it wasn’t allowed.

Am leans in. “I wouldn’t be shocked if she asks for a dog one day.”

“Let’s take on one thing at a time.” I laugh.

Noah says, “Whatever she wants.”

I whip my head to the side to look at him, and he just winks at me.

Pam laughs as she walks away. “Bye, guys. We’ll plan another get-together soon, but first, a girls’ night.”

“Totally! We’ll talk soon,” Am says, putting the leash on Penny and grabbing Luke’s hand.

“See you guys later. Thanks for having us,” Luke says as he leads Am and Penny out of the house.

“Bye, kiddo. Next time you see me, I’m gonna beat you in Mario Kart ,” Sam says as he walks out the door.

“Let me know if you guys need anything. See you later, Jess. Make sure you keep your skills up so you keep beating the guys at their own game,” Abby says as she follows Sam.

“See ya later, Jess,” Carter tells her, then looks at Noah and me and waves over his shoulder.

Once everyone’s cleared out, I turn to Jess. “It’s time to start getting ready for bed. If you aren’t super tired, you can read in bed with your reading light.”

“Okay! Thank you for letting me meet all your friends. I had a lot of fun tonight,” she says and hugs us.

“They’re your friends now too. If you ever need something and, for some reason, you can’t get a hold of us, you can ask any of them for help,” Noah tells her.

“But they don’t know me well enough to be my friend. What if they get to know me, and they don’t like me anymore?” Jess asks, looking down at her feet.

I kneel in front of her and put my finger under her chin so that she looks at me. “Hey now. None of that. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that real friends don’t just not like you because you’re different or aren’t the same as them. They welcome you just as you are.”

“Okay,” she says, “I’m kind of tired.”

“Okay, off to brush your teeth and braid your hair. Grab a new water bottle if you’d like one. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be in bed soon,” I tell her as I stand.

“Sleep good, pip-squeak,” Noah tells her.

I watch her as she goes down the hallway. “Do you think it’s weird how she asked that question?” I ask Noah quietly.

“Which question?” he asks.

“If they’ll still like her when they get to know her?”

“No, I think that’s a valid question. I think it’s a normal thing to think about as a kid.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

He pulls me into his chest. “Hey, I promise, if I thought something was off about the question, I would tell you. But if it makes you feel better, we can talk to the therapist about it. Okay?”

“Yeah, okay,” I say, tilting my head back to meet his eyes.

“Now, I’m going to give you a good night kiss so you can head to bed because I hear you have a new romance book to start for your book of the month with the girls.”

My jaw drops, and my cheeks heat. “How… how do you know about the book we’re reading this month?” I ask.

He shrugs with one shoulder. “The guys talk about the book of the month and read it themselves, but I don’t think the girls know.”

I just blink at him because we didn’t know about that. He brings a hand up to my jaw and pushes it closed, then slides it back through my hair, angling my head the way he wants. My heart rate picks up as he lowers his face to mine, and my eyes flutter shut as his lips connect with mine.

It’s like all my worries fade away, but my heart races like I’m running outside. As I start to open my mouth slightly to deepen the kiss, he pulls away, and I feel the loss.

With a quick kiss on my lips, he looks at me and says, “Not while Jess is up. Plus, I’m not ready, and I know you aren’t either.”

I just nod because he’s right. I’m not ready.

“You need to head to bed, or I’m going to take you to bed with me,” he says and taps me on my butt, slightly pushing me in the direction of the hallway.

I look over my shoulder at him, thinking I kind of like the idea of going to his bed.

“Don’t look at me like that. Go to the spare bedroom, my Lunabella, and sleep well.” He groans and adjusts himself.

I giggle. “Good night, Noah. Sleep well.”

Turning to walk down the hall, I’ve never felt more for someone in my whole life, and I think I like this feeling.

My smile drops when I see Jess sitting on the bed with her reading light. I don’t know if this feeling is something I can explore or if we’ll have to leave and start somewhere new to stay hidden from The Family.