Twice Loved

Chapter 16: Mason

It'd been three days since I dropped the bombshell on Noah, and for three days it'd been tense between the three of us. Olivia did her best to hide her fear of Noah deserting us, but I saw the sorrow pooled in her eyes when she thought neither of us were watching. Noah acted like everything was fine, but he pulled away from Liv and me constantly and it was only hurting Liv- and me- more every time.

Even though I was hurting too, I was starting to get more pissed than anything else at this point. I tried to keep it together, but the quieter and more withdrawn Noah became, the more the frustration built up in me. He wasn't really dealing with his shit, and it was affecting all of us.

At the moment Olivia was trying to get Noah to play card games with her, but he just grumbled that he didn't feel like it. I watched from the landing above, neither of them aware of my watchful presence.

"Come on Noah, what else are you gonna do? Just play a few rounds of strip poker with me. You know you'll probably win anyway." She nudged him suggestively, but he brushed her off.

"It's not really that much fun if I know I'm going to win, now is it?" His harsh words rang in the following silence, and I heard the wood banister I held onto creak in strain with my tightening grip.

Olivia flinched away from Noah, her face stricken. Noah let out a sigh and rubbed his face. "Liv, I'm sorry-"

"Don't worry about it. I shouldn't have bothered you." Olivia stood stiffly, leaving the playing cards on the couch next to Noah. "I'm just gonna... go."

She walked away and started up the stairs. I moved to meet her at the landing and clenched my fists at the tears I saw falling down her cheeks. She looked up when she noticed my boots, trying to wipe away the tears before she gave me a trembling smile.

I grabbed her in my arms and she wrapped herself around me, letting out the sorrow she was feeling silently. I turned to carry her into my room, pausing to look over the banister. Noah was already looking up to me, his face drawn in shame. I glared at him, holding Olivia tighter to me.

"Stay right the fuck there Noah," I growled. His jaw tightened, but he nodded sharply in acknowledgement.

I carried Olivia to my room and gently set her on the bed before kneeling at her feet.

"I'm doing my best," Olivia said in a cracking voice, fresh tears leaking from her eyes.

"Look at me baby." I cupped her face and forced her to meet my eyes. The pain I saw in her split me open, and I knew Noah was about to get the talking to of his life. "He's hurting right now, and even though that's no excuse for the way he's been treating you, it is not. Your. Fault. You have been more kind and understanding than he deserves, and I don't want you to ever change that about yourself. Okay? You get me?"

She nodded, sniffling, and then reached forward to trace the lines on my face. "He's hurting you too though, isn't he? It's not just me."

I closed my eyes and allowed myself to be comforted by her touch. "Yes Liv, he's hurting me too." I opened my eyes again, a wiry grin forming on my lips with my next words. "But I'm about to whip his ass for it. He needs to get his shit together or this will never work out."

I started to stand, but she gripped my wrists, making me pause.

"Just... go easy on him. I know you're angry, but don't hurt him worse than he already is."

I pressed a kiss to her lips. "Of course not. Yes, I'm angry but I would never touch him or you in anger. Punishment? Abso-fucking-lutely. And that's something he's about to learn."

A grin tilted her lips, and I was happy to see it. She'd experienced my punishments before, so she knew what Noah had gotten himself into. I gave her one last kiss before standing and grabbing a bag from the closet.