Page 57 of Stay With Me (Griffin’s Den #2)

FIFTY-SIX

Luna- A Month Later

I check the time to make sure I have everything ready for everyone to come over later.

It’s been a month since everything happened, and it’s been hectic.

We had to get all of Jess’s stuff for school, most of which we ordered online. The only thing we picked out in person was her backpack, but we went to a store in town, none of us ready to venture farther than that.

Jess still isn’t fully back to herself and is going to therapy three times a week. It seems to be helping, along with spending time with all of us. Her therapist says it’s normal for her to pull away as she works through everything, and she told us to keep doing what we’re doing.

I thought I would have some of the same issues, but instead, I feel free for the first time since I was sixteen.

The day after everything, Hunt and his team came to the house to take my statement. What I told them lined up with what Jess said was going to happen. He let me know that they’re all being charged with kidnapping, along with several other charges.

When I asked about Aspen, I was told how badly she was beaten when they found out she was communicating with me and that she was the one who left the window unlocked so I could hopefully get away.

I wanted to see her, but she had opted to go into an intensive therapy program while waiting to testify against everyone else in The Family. We talked to each other on the phone a few times, and she knows she’s more than welcome here at Griffin’s Den when she’s ready.

“It smells great in here,” Noah says as he walks into the kitchen, his hair damp from the shower he took after setting up a trampoline in the backyard.

I check him out from head to toe. When I reach his eyes, he smirks. “We don’t have time for whatever thoughts are going through your head, baby.”

I blink a few times. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I thought I saw a spot on, uhhh, your shirt.” I look back down at the veggie tray I’m putting together.

I feel his arms around my waist and his breath next to my ear. “Whatever you say, Luna,” he whispers as he grabs a carrot.

“Hey, that’s for when everyone is here. If you start snacking, it’ll all be gone.” I smack his hand.

He laughs and backs up. “Just doing a quality control taste test.” He winks before turning around and walking toward the living room.

With a shake of my head, I just laugh as I finish setting everything out.

Within the next hour, the house is full of laughs once everyone arrives.

The girls and I are talking around the kitchen island when there’s a knock at the door.

I look around, confused, as Noah pulls up the camera app and heads to the door. “It’s Hunt. Did he message you that he was coming over?”

Pam freezes mid-bite. “Elijah is here?”

“Elijah?” Am asks with a raised brow since all of us call him Hunt.

“Um, that’s his name. It’s not weird.” She attempts to defend herself.

“It’s kind of weird. I kind of forgot what his first name was,” I say as I wipe my hands on a napkin.

“Hey, man. Is everything okay?” Noah asks as he opens the door and shakes Hunt’s hand.

“Yeah, sorry to drop by unannounced, but I was in town and wanted to give this to Luna. Is now a bad time?” he says as he locks eyes with Pam over my shoulder.

“No, not at all. Come on in.” Noah steps to the side.

“Thanks. I have some good news,” he says as he extends an envelope to me. “Here.”

“What is it?” I ask as I reach for it with shaking hands.

“Open it and see,” he says with a wide smile.

“Um, okay.” I open the metal clasp, and inside is a bunch of paperwork. I pull it out and shuffle through them until one catches my eye.

My heart stops and I gasp.

“What’s wrong?” Noah asks with a slightly panicked tone.

“Um, it’s a birth certificate with my name on it.” I look up at Hunt with tears threatening to spill over. “Is this real?”

“Yup. I had it expedited so you can move forward with getting custody of Jess.” He slides his hands into his pockets.

I set the papers down and give him a grateful smile. “Thank you. For everything.”

“After everything you’ve been through. It’s the least I can do.”

Noah walks up beside me and puts his arm around my waist.

I wipe my tears away. “Do you want to stay and hang out? We have plenty of food.”

“I wish, but duty calls. I have to get to the plane and head back. You guys will hear from me soon,” he says. “And if you’re ever in my neck of the woods, give me a call.”

“We will for sure. Thanks for everything.” Noah shakes his hand again.

Just as quickly as he came, he left.

Noah pulls me into a hug, and Jess’s laugh breaks the moment.

“I swear Noah taught you how to cheat,” Sam says and throws his head back on the couch.

“You’re a sore loser, Uncle Sam.”

We all laugh as I go on my tiptoes to kiss Noah under the chin. “Go save Sam from losing again.”

He shakes his head and walks back to the living room.

I look back down at the paperwork.

“So does this mean we can teach you how to drive now?” Am asks.

“You don’t even like driving. Why would you teach her?” Pam says.

“I don’t have to drive to teach her. That’s the beauty of it.” Am grabs a piece of pita and goes for the hummus.

“I don’t care who teaches me. I just want to learn. I also want to get my GED so I can take college classes,” I say.

“If anyone teaches you to drive, don’t let it be Pam. She hits more curbs than anyone I know,” Sam says as he walks up to us. “Congrats, Luna. This is exciting stuff.”

“I haven’t hit a curb in years , you asshole. I’m a great driver.” Pam defends herself.

Am snorts. “You did have to get several new tires when we first started driving.”

“Not everyone had a mom who taught us how to drive at like ten years old.” Pam counters.

“I know. I’m so glad she did, although it made me terrified of everyone driving in driver’s ed,” Am says with a shrug.

Jess walks up to me and tilts her head to read the paperwork. “Does this mean you can adopt me now?” she asks, and we all freeze.

I blink and look up at Noah before swinging my gaze back to Jess. “You mean to become your guardian?”

She shakes her head. “No, I want you to adopt me?.?.?. Well, if you want to, that is. I don’t think our mom was a very good one, and I want you to be my mom instead. Is that allowed?”

Tears start streaming down my face. “I would be honored. I have no idea what I need to do to make that happen, but I will make it happen if that’s what you want.”

She nods and jumps into my arms. My heart expands in a way I never knew was possible. I look up and lock eyes with Noah. I’m surrounded by love I never thought I would have.

“I love you,” I mouth to Noah.

He winks at me with a smile taking over his face.

“Can I go play Mario Kart again?” Jess whispers, and I laugh.

“Yes, just take it easy on your uncle. Okay?” I whisper back.

“I’ll let him win a few times,” she says with laughter in her voice.

I set her down. “He needs it every once in a while.”

The rest of the night flies by, and before we know it, everyone is packing up to leave with promises to get together again soon.

As I finish putting everything away, Noah walks up to me and leans his hip against the counter.

“Did you have a good day?” he asks.

“Yeah, it was great. Did you?”

“Mmhmmm. I’ll reach out to Melissa tomorrow to find out what our next steps are now that you have identification.”

“I can’t believe she asked me to adopt her,” I admit.

“I’m not shocked. You’re more like her mother than her sister anyway.”

I nod, still trying to process everything.

“Let’s go to bed, my Lunabella. Jess starts school tomorrow, and we all have to be up early.” He comes up and nuzzles my neck.

My body tingles wherever he touches, and I turn around to face him. “I’m shocked she went to bed with how excited she is.”

He bends and picks me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist. “I’m not. We tired her out,” he says, walking us out of the kitchen.

“She did fall asleep without reading today, which isn’t like her,” I say as he pushes the door to the room open.

“I know. Normally we have to remind her that she has to be up early before she’ll put the book down.” He crosses into the bathroom. “Now, let’s shower and conserve some water by doing it together.”

I throw my head back and laugh. “Wouldn’t want to waste water, now would we?”

An hour later, we’re crawling into bed. I’m exhausted from the day. I double-check my alarms and roll to face Noah. “Thank you for loving me.”

“Loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.

Now, go to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.

” I snuggle closer into his side. “Oh, and my mom wants to email you to get to know you. She wants to call, but she’s heading for her last port before she comes home, and cell service is spotty. ” He kisses me softly.

“Um, okay?” I tell him, unsure of what to say.

“If you aren’t comfortable with it, that’s okay. She’ll be home in a few weeks.”

“No! I can’t tell her I don’t want to talk to her. What if she doesn’t like Jess and me?”

He brushes a strand of hair from my face. “There’s no way she won’t love you both as much as I do. Just know she will spoil Jess more than we all do.”

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes. “I might be nervous, but I’m excited to talk to her.”

“We can email her tomorrow. Love you.”

“Love you too,” I whisper, excited for everything to come.