Chapter 2

Noah stumbled back half a step and nearly hit the cabinet behind him.

He blinked, and annoyance quickly flickered across his face.

"Evelyn, what are you doing? I come home and try to make things right, and you have to blow up like this?

"Every time, I'm the one who has to bend. Every time, you're impossible to please. Do you know how exhausting that is?

"I didn't want to stay late either. What, should I quit my job and revolve around you twenty-four hours a day? Would that make you happy?"

The more he talked, the more righteous he sounded.

I watched him quietly, then spoke softly.

"I'm allergic to cat fur. Did you forget?"

He froze.

The tips of his ears flushed with guilt.

"I didn't lie to you on purpose. I just didn't want you overthinking things again.

"Selena had something come up and asked me to take Oscar to the grooming salon for a bath. It was pouring outside. I couldn't just let her stand there alone holding the cat, waiting for a ride."

"You don't have to explain all that," I cut him off. "Just stay away from me."

Noah's expression darkened.

He pressed his lips together and said after a long pause, "I'm going to take a shower."

Soon, the sound of running water came from the bathroom.

I brewed myself a cup of hot spiced tea. The scent of cinnamon and honey spread through the kitchen.

When he came out, I was setting the cup on the dining table.

Noah walked over, acting as if nothing had happened, and pushed the cup toward me.

"Babe, have something warm. Next time, I'll come get you. I promise."

Then he tried to lift the cup to my lips.

I had just turned my head away when the doorbell rang.

Before Noah could reach the door, whoever was outside had already punched in the passcode.

I narrowed my eyes.

The next second, Selena walked in with the cat in her arms.

She had auburn curls, Noah's old cashmere scarf draped over her shoulders, and her wet heeled boots planted on the entryway rug.

She pouted and shot Noah an irritated look.

"The rain is awful. It'll take at least an hour to get back to the West Side. I'm staying here tonight. You don't mind, right?"

As she spoke, she propped one foot up on the shoe bench.

Noah smiled.

He crouched down, unbuckled her boots, then took out his own slippers from the shoe cabinet and set them at her feet.

"Of course not. Stay as long as you want."

"That's more like it."

Selena looked down and stroked the cat.

"Did Oscar get his bath?" Noah asked.

"Obviously. You were supposed to stay with him the whole time. Instead you snuck off home without even telling me and left our boy all alone in there."

The cat meowed as if it understood, soft and plaintive.

Selena immediately clutched it tighter, all motherly concern.

"Some friend you are, ditching your own boy for a pretty face. No Oscar kisses for you for a whole week."

Noah raised both hands in surrender, laughing.

Selena lifted her chin and beckoned him with a crooked finger.

Noah immediately leaned in.

The next second, Selena flicked him on the forehead without hesitation, her tone playful and far too familiar.

"See if you dare do it again."

Only then, as if she had just noticed me, did she blink in exaggerated surprise.

"Oh, Evelyn's here too? Come help me teach him a lesson."

I calmly finished the last sip of my tea, stood up, and went into the study.

The door didn't close all the way, and the voices outside carried through clearly.

"Is she upset? Maybe I should go. I'd rather walk in the rain than put up with dirty looks in someone else's home."

Noah stopped her, his voice low but tender.

"She's only mad at me, not you. Besides, in this rain, if you leave now, I'll just have to drag myself out to drive you home. Do me a favor and take the guest room for the night."

He coaxed and cajoled until Selena finally agreed to the guest room.

Then he pushed open the study door.

The tenderness on his face was gone. All that remained was impatience.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, and the first thing out of his mouth was, "Evelyn, can you not be so difficult?"