Noah (The Mitchell/Healy Family #1)(44)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“It’s not that easy, you know, leavin’ my family. I thought it would be when I left. Now I’m wonderin’ if they’re all right. What if I’m meant to be a rancher for the rest of my life? Shalan, my parents are happy with their lives. They want for nothin’ and we don’t have to worry about anything either. I just don’t know if becomin’ a singer is somethin’ I could get used to. I’m just a country boy.”

“We could be the next Sugarland or Thompson Square.” I was pulling out names, in hopes that he would change his mind. “Please.”

He had no reason to owe me anything. All along I knew we were two people in passing. I never expected anything more, until now.

Noah pulled me into his arms and held me there. I lifted one leg and let it fall over his. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow, okay?”

I closed my eyes, feeling content with having him so close to me. “Okay.”

It had to be, because there was nothing else I could do about it.

Noah

I woke up in the middle of the night to take a piss and noticed my phone was vibrating across the floor. It must have fallen out of my pocket when I’d taken off my jeans.

The number was familiar, so I walked into the bathroom to answer it. “Bells?”

“Noah,” she was crying. “Where are you?”

“I’m in New York. Why? What’s goin’ on?” I was freaking out that something bad had happened to my grandmother or someone else in the family.

“We had a fight.” She began to sob so hard I couldn’t hear what she was saying.

“Bells, calm down. Are you home?”

“I can’t go home like this, Noah. I can’t let them see.”

“See what?” Now I needed to know. I could feel my fists clenching before she even confirmed it.

“They can’t see my face. They’ll call the police.”

I wanted to raise my voice, but knew Shalan was sound asleep in the other room. “Where the f**k are you, Bells?”

“I’m in my car at the state line. I started to drive to Kentucky but didn’t want the family to see me like this. I don’t know what to do. He didn’t mean it, Noah. I swear he didn’t. I made him so mad at me. That’s all. He just lost his temper. I went there to piss him off. He didn’t know it was me. It’s my fault.”

“Send me your damn location. I’m leavin’ now. It’s goin’ to take me a while to get to you. Is there a hotel you can stay in for the night? Does he know how to find you?”

She cried harder again. “No.”

“Can he search your phone? Don’t lie to me either.” I was going to kill that mother f**ker for hurting her.

“I don’t know.”

“Send me the address of the hotel and the room number. Stay put and don’t turn your damn phone back on after that. Do you hear me?”

“Please don’t yell at me.”

“I’m not yellin’.” I couldn’t or else I’d wake up Shalan. “Just do what I say for once.”

She agreed and we hung up. When I walked back out into the room, I saw her lying there, so innocent and beautiful. Shalan wasn’t some woman I’d picked up for a good time. We’d shared so much in such a little time.

When she woke and found me gone it would end anything we’d started. She’d never forgive me for abandoning her, and I didn’t have time to explain how important my cousin was to me, or that I was the only person she could turn to. My family needed me, and it was at that moment when I knew where I had to be.

I gathered my things quietly, and wrote a note that I left on the small table in the room. She’d never forgive me, but at least I wouldn’t have to see her face when she realized I wasn’t coming back. Not only did I need to take care of Bells, but my dad had given me an ultimatum. As much as I didn’t like the idea, I knew I was obligated to return to the ranch, and everything that came with it.

It took the valet around twenty minutes to find my truck and bring it out front, and in that time I swore she was going to come downstairs and find me. I think a part of me wanted her to. I longed to see that beautiful woman again, smiling and touching me in any way possible. I knew it was just an infatuation, but I liked her, probably more than I ever should have let myself.

Once I was on the road, I checked my phone, got the address from Bells text, and set my GPS. It was going to take me a good seven hours to get to where she was, and without a proper night’s sleep it was going to take everything I had to stay awake.

I made it about four hours before I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. Unfortunately, for the first time in her life, Bella had listened to what I’d told her and turned off her phone. Since I couldn’t get a hold of her, I called the hotel that she’d gotten a room at. The phone rang four times after they’d patched me through to the number.

“Hello?”

“It’s me. I need to stop and sleep for a bit. I’m dog tired and I can’t make it without rest. You alright there until I get to you?”

“Yeah. I’m probably just going to sleep all day.”

“Keep your phone off. If anyone calls from the family I’ll let them know you’re fine.”

“Okay.”

I started to hang up when I heard her talking. “Thank you, Noah. I know you’re pissed at me.”

“You’re damn right I’m pissed. This shit has got to stop, and if you’re not willin’ to do somethin’ about it, then I’m goin’ to take matters into my own hands.”

“Please don’t.”

“I’m takin’ a nap at this rest stop. I’ll be there later tonight. Stay put.”

“Love you.”

I sighed, unable to be mad enough to not say it back. “Yeah, love you too.”

We hung up and I turned off my truck, leaving the windows cracked enough that a cool breeze would travel inside while I slept. After getting as comfortable as the truck would allow, I put my hat over my face and closed my eyes.

It would have been nice if I could think of other things aside from killing my cousins ex, or Shalan waking up to an empty hotel room. At least I’d left her with everything I had in my wallet, as well as the room paid for the rest of the week. I’d left my number, but knew she wouldn’t bother calling. I’d let her down, money aside. She wouldn’t have wanted it if I’d asked. In fact, I was pretty sure she’d hate me more for leaving it behind.