𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝

Chapter Thirty-Eight

B E L L A M Y

My leg bopped up and down as I waited outside the room Noah and a police officer had disappeared in about half an hour ago.

Noah had assured me that he was fine and didn't need me to come with him, but I insisted.

I was uncomfortable in my seat, none of the positions I changed to making it better and I was about to regret my determination to do this together when the door opened and Noah walked out.

"Thank you for coming in today," the officer said, following him into the hall and shaking Noah's hand.

I stood up, ready to go home.

"Thank you for listening," Noah replied, placing an arm over my shoulders and pulling me against his chest.

I smiled at the officer before we walked away, wrapping my arms around Noah's waist.

"How did it go?" I asked when we walked into the parking lot, and I looked up at him.

He sighed, fishing his keys from his pocket and unlocking the car. "As well as you'd expect. They can't arrest him based on my statement."

He held the door open for me to get in, before quickly rounding the front of the vehicle and stepping in behind the wheel. "So where does this leave us?"

Noah's fingers paused as he went to put the key in the ignition, probably being deep in thoughts judging by the frown on his face.

"We'll find a way," he said when he finally looked up, turning on the engine and maneuvering out of the parking lot.

We got back just before dinner, though it felt like later since we had left the long summer evenings behind us. The darkness was coming way sooner nowadays, but it gave me a cozy, festive feeling.

After we had hung up our coats, we turned on some lights and got ready to start dinner, the both of us stopping when Isaac came stumbling down the stairs.

"Everything ok?" I questioned, sinking onto a chair to relieve my back from some pain. This little one was getting bigger every day, and since the ultrasound from last week I've been feeling my lower back a lot more.

Isaac cleared his throat, straightening up in front of us. "I'm...sorry."

Noah and I shared a look.

"You're talking to me again?" Noah spoke, crossing his arms over his chest.

Isaac shifted on his feet, his eyebrows almost furrowing into a scowl, but he stopped himself. "I don't exactly agree with how it's happened," he finally said, and I narrowed my eyes at him.

"But I have to admit that I'm pretty stoked to meet my niece or nephew."

I smiled, a weight lifting off of my shoulders at those words. I walked up to my brother and hugged him, ecstatic that he was almost as excited as I was.

"I believe congratulations are in order," Isaac said, holding out his hand for Noah to shake after he let me go, and Noah pulled him into an embrace instead.

"Thanks, man."

When everyone had let each other go, Isaac sighed. "You'll have the night for yourself," he said, walking around us and grabbing his coat. "I'm at Kelly's tonight."

I lowered back into my chair, leaning forward with my elbows on the table. "How's that going?"

"Really great actually."

He gave us a little wave before he stepped outside, and I watched Noah as he walked into the kitchen.

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