Pushing You Away - Noah & Katie (Ex-Con Duet 3)

Noah: Oh boy.

Katie: Is that all you have to say for yourself? You gave her your number?!

Instead of responding, his name pops up on the screen as my phone rings.

“Fangirls Unite, which crazy bitch can I direct your call to?”

Noah barks out a laugh. “Not gonna lie. Kinda like you being the jealous one for a change.”

“Is that so?” I snark.

“Quite refreshing actually.”

“Oh my God.” I groan. “You’re loving this.”

“You’re too easy to rile up, baby girl.”

“Hey, no sexy talk. I’m still mad.”

He chuckles. “Trust me, I didn’t wanna give it to her, but she cornered me at the grocery store when I was buying your birthday dinner. Anthony was there, and she keeps asking me to play with him. It’s not like I could tell her I plan to bang my girlfriend all night and every weekend until the end of time, so…”

His voice lingers, but my breath hitches.

“Hello?” he says into the silence.

“Did you just call me your girlfriend?”

“Well yes, that’s what you are until I make you my wife.”

At that moment, I swear my heart stops as I nearly burst into tears. It’s different hearing him call me his girlfriend and especially wife.

“Katie. Are you having an internal meltdown? Should I come over?”

“Yes,” I blurt out. “Wait, no. I mean…” I clear my throat. “No, I’m not having a meltdown, just a little frazzled.”

“Thank God I didn’t say the L-word.” He chuckles.

I roll my eyes because he’s already confessed he’s been in love with me. Though no telling what hearing those three words will do to me. “What if I bring Owen with me to play with Anthony, and I can use the excuse of having to take him home to bow out early? That way, it’ll be crystal clear we’re hanging out as friends.”

“Except I don’t want Owen around her.”

“He’ll be with me,” he reassures. “I’d never let anything bad happen to him.”

I suck in a breath and sigh. “I’ll think about it.”

“Alright, my stubborn girl,” he taunts. “Now tell me what you’re wearing and climb into bed so I can whisper dirty things to you.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I can’t stop smiling. Just like the past three nights, we stay up late talking and teasing each other.

I don’t remember ever being this damn happy.

Chapter Twenty

KATIE

Gemma: Swing by on your lunch break. I wanna show you the gym’s progress. I’ll feed you pizza!

I smile when I read her message. Of course she’d persuade me with food.

Katie: I have my Friday conference call at 1.

After I hit send, I add an eye-rolling emoji.

Gemma: That gives you an hour if you leave in 15 minutes!

I sigh, unable to deny my best friend.

Katie: Alright fine. Ya twisted my arm. See you soon.

Gemma: YAY!

I finish the email I was writing, then log off my computer. Once I’m in the lobby, I see Loretta and wave.

“Fancy seein’ you here,” I say as she looks around nervously. “You okay?”

“Oh yeah, sweetie. I’m fine. Just someone giving Elliot and me a hard time, so it’s got me a little flustered, but it’s nothing you need to worry about.”

I tilt my head and try to read her. Loretta’s a tough cookie and is always vocal about her feelings, so this is strange.

“What is it? Anything I can do?”

“No, dear. We’re handling it, and it’ll be over with soon.” She nervously smiles just as Missy calls her forward.

“Loretta, your withdrawal is ready. Sorry it took a few extra minutes.”

My eyes widen at the hundreds stacked on the counter. Then I notice the duffel bag Loretta’s carrying.

“You and Elliot goin’ on a gambling trip?” I tease.

She brushes me off with a laugh as she places the cash in her bag, then walks toward the exit.

“Bye, sweetie. See you tomorrow,” she says, and I wave.

I go to Missy and ask to see the withdrawal slip. It’s none of my business, but something fishy is going on, and it could affect my son.

“She’s never taken out that much at once,” Missy says quietly as she hands it to me.

“Twenty grand?” I whisper-hiss.

Missy shrugs.

Something is definitely going on.

I don’t have time to think about it because I need to leave for the gym. It’s a short ten-minute walk, and when I enter, a beaming Gemma hugs me as tightly as her preggo belly allows.

“Just on time!”

“Well…I was promised pizza, so…” I tease.

“Plenty of it on the table,” Tyler says around a mouthful.

“You eat while I show you around,” Gemma says before grabbing me a slice and putting it on a paper plate.

I glance around for Noah, wondering where he is but don’t ask. Even though Gemma knows we’re together, we’re still keeping our relationship on the down low. Tonight we have plans to hang out with Owen, but I was hoping to get to see him here too.