Needing You Close (Ex-Con Duet 2)

I snort at the way he just threw me under the bus, though I kinda agree with him. If he doesn’t at least try, he might not ever get the opportunity, especially if it were up to Katie.

“Babe, just let him,” I try to calm her. “What’s the worst that can happen? She slams the door in his face?”

“Exactly!” Gemma shouts. “And never talks to me again.”

“Maybe she won’t,” Noah counters. “I just want to see her. Please. It’s been so long,” Noah pleads, and Gemma instantly melts.

“Alright, fine. But if she pushes you off the patio or slaps you, don’t say I didn’t warn ya.”

Knowing Katie, she’ll probably do one of those, but I won’t deny Noah the chance to at least try.

Less than an hour later, I’m turning into Katie’s driveway, then park. “Well, this is it.”

Noah crouches down and looks out the front window. “This is where she lives?”

“It needs a little TLC.” I chuckle. “She’s planning to fix it up.”

“She hasn’t moved in yet, but she comes here every evening and weekend to work on it.”

Noah inhales a sharp breath. “Okay, wish me luck. Here goes nothin’.” He pulls the door handle, then steps out.

“You gotta give him credit,” Belinda says. “He wants to mend their relationship.”

“It’s gonna take a lot more than just showing up ten years later with an apology,” Gemma mutters.

We watch intently as he climbs the steps and nervously knocks on the cracked wood.

“Fifty bucks she slams the door in his face before he gets a word out,” I say with amusement. Katie isn’t gonna take his shit, and if I’ve learned anything about her since I’ve been here, she’s fiercely independent and literally depends on no one.

“I’ll take that bet,” Jerry chimes in. “Fifty bucks she tells him off.”

“Fifty bucks she slaps him,” Belinda adds.

“You guys!” Gemma scolds. “Fine. Fifty bucks she lets him inside!”

We wait in anticipation until she finally opens the door.

As soon as Katie sees Noah, she immediately steps back and slams the door in his face.

“Told ya.” I smirk, holding out my hand.

Noah’s head drops, and I feel bad for the guy. He looks so defeated.

“Dammit, Katie,” Gemma mutters. “I was hoping she’d change her mind when she actually saw him.”

“She’s too stubborn,” I remind her. “Y’all are.”

“That’s true,” Gemma agrees. “But still.”

Noah hangs his head as he walks back and slides inside. “Yeah, she hates me.”

I turn and face him. “Give her time.”

He scrunches his nose. “More time? How much more time should I give her?”

“Give her space,” Gemma clarifies as we leave. “She’ll come around.”

“Or here’s an idea…” I arch a brow as I pull onto the street. “She needs help on the new house, and Noah just so happens to be pretty good at fixing shit.”

“Katie will never hire me,” he retorts.

“She works during the day. She can’t say no if she doesn’t know…”

“Noooo….” Gemma shakes her head. “She’ll kill you for sure.”

“Actually, that’s not a horrible idea,” Jerry blurts out.

“She might think it’s romantic,” Belinda adds.

“Absolutely not. She wants to do it all herself.” Gemma shakes her head, crossing her arms.

“Well, if she won’t give me a chance to talk, then I’ll show her how sorry I am instead,” Noah decides. “Start fixin’ things little by little until she notices. She won’t be able to slam the door when I’m already inside the house.”

“This is seriously a bad idea. How are you guys agreeing with this?” Gemma glances over her shoulder, furrowing her brows.

“I’ve pushed her away long enough, Gem. Let me do this,” Noah begs. “I have to win her friendship back.”

Gemma’s shoulders slump as she blows out a breath. “Alright, but on one condition…” she pauses. “She must never know I knew about this plan. Got it?”

Noah smiles victoriously. “Deal.”

I can’t help but grin because it’s about to get a lot more interesting in Lawton Ridge.