Noah Princeton

Chapter 24

"Hope, tell me something about you I don't already know," Peter said. I looked over to him as I sipped my wine. I set it down and glanced at Noah who seemed interested as well. I look back at Peter. 

"Like what exactly?" He folds his hands. 

"You said your father left your mother when you were 15? Was he married to your mother?" He asked. I gave him a small smile and glanced down at the table. 

"They were engaged. Kevin and my mother were happy. They had everything they wanted or so it seemed. Kevin wanted something more and never spoke his mind to say it. In the process, he not only lost my mother but both of his children for his childish behavior. I would hear my mother cry from the bedroom down the hall asking god as to why she wasn't enough to make him stay. Her biggest fear was that my brother and I would hate her for him leaving. But we loved her more for it. It wasn't her fault that he decided to be unfaithful. Honestly, I wouldn't change a thing about my past if I had the chance. Yes, I may not have the money to buy everything I want but I got a great dad who stepped up. I got to make mistakes when I was young that I learned from." He smiles. 

"You are extremely interesting." I let out a small laugh. 

"So I'm told." 

"I had no idea that your life was so hard," Ivy spoke. I look at her.  

"The struggle of my life made me into who I am today." She nods. 

"You are definitely misunderstood," Eric spoke. I looked at him as he smiles at me. Peter clears his throat. 

"It is a little after 9 which means I should get going." He said standing up. Noah stood up with him. 

"I'll walk you out." I stood up taking care of the empty plates which Eric helped with as Ivy and Noah said bye to their father. I finished up cleaning the dishes by the time Noah walked into the kitchen. I turned around just as he walked up to me. I looked at him to see him looking at me weird. 

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked. He shakes his head as his eyes take every inch of my body in. 

"The more I learn about you the more I actually see you." I give him a small smile as I tuck a piece of my hair behind my ear. 

"I'm honestly an open book. I don't see what's so interesting about me." He let out a small gasp as he walks up to me. He was only a few inches away from me and his eyes held me, prisoner. 

"Would you like to go for a walk with me?" I glanced in the dining room where Ivy and Eric were whispering. Noah's lips turning into a small smile caught my gaze and I looked at him. "They won't miss us much." 

"Where will we be walking?" I asked. He smiled brighter. 

"On the path." I looked at the kitchen window to see a stone path that leads into a bed of huge broccoli trees. The woods were so full of life that it looked like a scene from a movie. I turn back to Noah. 

"You want me to walk with you into the woods? Are you planning on killing me and ditching my body on the way back here?" I asked. He chuckled. 

"If I wanted you dead you would be and I wouldn't hide your body in my back yard. I'm rich, not stupid." I giggled. 

"Lead the way." He grabs my hand and walks out the back door. We walk along with the stones and I mentally count them. I lost count after I got to 100. By then I hadn't realized just how far we had walked. The scene in front of me was beautiful. It was an old yet new tiny house. It was painted with the color of the acacia wood and bark on the outside. The porch as well. The house was beyond beautiful. I was memorized. "Beautiful," I mumbled. Noah looked at me surprised for a second as if he had forgotten I was standing next to him. He looks back at it. 

"When I was in high school my mother grounded me for a whole year and sent me to go stay with my grandparents for the summer. I wasn't allowed to have friends over or video games. She was very strict. But while I stayed with them the first week was hard. I had gotten bored with drawing, painting, cards, knitting, sewing, basically anything you can name I tried. But then my granddad kicked me outside for the day. I walked into the woods hoping to get lost and never have to go back to boredom. I came across this pile of trees that had been cut down by my father and granddad but left there. That's when I got the idea to get rid of it for them. So I built a home away from home. Every year after that I came back to my grandparent's house to work on it whatever I wanted or needed to make it to my image my grandparents gave me. Until they passed away leaving me their house and land. And the one place on this earth that held the only memories of me that no one but them seen." I looked at him and back at the house. 

"You built this?" He smiles at me. 

"This is the first time I have been back here since the day I moved in. Ivy tried to come back here once but I forbid it. I told her if she were living under my roof she was welcome to do as she pleased but following the path was forbidden." I looked up at him. 

"How long has it been since you were last here?" 

"My grandparents died when I was 17. I moved in just a little after my 18th birthday." 

"And you are 25 so you haven't been back here in 7 years?" I asked. He looks at me. 

"How did you know my age?" 

"I secretly stalk you." He smiles. I look back at the house. "Ivy gives out information where it's needed." 

"Why did you need that information?" He asked. I smiled. 

"Because I have something against guys who are younger than me." He chuckles. 

"You aren't going to tell me are you?" I shake my head at him. He sighs. 

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked. 

"Every time I attempted to come back here I was never able too. But every time I am around you I feel this strength that I've never felt before. It's electrifying and hard to explain." I shake my head at him. 

"I know exactly what you mean." He smiles at me.