Page 88 of Louder Than Words

“Don’t even say it,” I warn, pointing at him.

He holds his hands up in mock surrender. “I haven’t said a thing.”

“You don’t need to! Not with that smirk,” I shoot back, laughing despite myself.

Walking past him, I grab the spatula from the counter and start transferring cookies onto a dish.

Jax finally lets out the laugh he’s been holding in, loud and unrestrained.

I glance at him, catching how he’s clutching his stomach, his shoulders shaking. Before I realize it, I’m laughing too. Really laughing.

But then my phone rings, cutting through the noise and immediately silencing both of us.

I look over and see Nora’s name flash across the screen, and I’d be lying if I said my stomach doesn’t drop. The deja vu feeling nearly takes over, the electric shock down my spine, the way it feels like I was transported into a bubble and everything’s too loud.

It transports me right back to Boston. To keeping secrets, to splintered friendships, and wrecked cars.

What if Gareth told her before I got the chance to?

“Everything okay, Al?” Jax asks beside me, and I jump slightly.

“Uh—yeah. I think so.” I wipe my hands on a towel, staring at the phone like it might explode. “It’s just Nora.”

He raises a brow. “Nora calling makes you jump like that?”

Apparently, now it does.

I take a deep breath and swipe to answer. “Hey, Nor. What’s up?”

“Allie!” she practically sings into the phone. “Please tell me it’s true!”

I freeze. “Tell youwhat’strue?”

“That you got married! Don’t even try to deny it—Gareth already told me.”

Suddenly the room feels like it’s shrinking. “Nora, I was going to tell you, I just—things happened fast and—”

“Oh, stop it.” She laughs. “I’m not mad, babe. I’mso happyfor you. About time you let yourself have something good.”

I blink, taken aback by her reaction. So marrying someone in secret is okay, but screwing them is where she draws the line. Good to know.

My eyes flick to Jax who’s watching me like he’s ready to swoop in with a mop when I combust into tears.

“You’re really not upset?” I ask.

“Of course not, babe! I mean… I know I got upset before, but that was on me. I’ve learned a lot since then. I’mreallyhappy for you and Jax—you both deserve this,” she gushes.

Now I’m wondering if she knows about the baby, but part of me isn’t ready to talk about that yet. Not ready to jinx everything at once.

“Thanks, Nor. We really appreciate that.”

“No problem! Tell Jax I said hi—and I expect a full wedding recap when I visit.”

She hangs up before I can even say goodbye.

Jax’s eyebrow lifts as he watches me gently place the phone screen down on the counter.

“Everything okay?” he asks carefully.