Chapter 13 I'm lying on my back on Mitch and Andie's sectional while my two younger nieces, Laini and Harlow, are playing spa. I won't lie; it's nice to lay here after a long practice this morning. If Laini wasn't currently painting my fingernails, or if Harlow wasn't rubbing some strange gunk on my face, I'd probably be asleep. Whatever product is being smeared across my forehead smells like cotton candy and I can only assume it has glitter in it. I'm going to need another shower when I arrive back at the loft tonight. Mitch is on the back deck grilling burgers, and Andie should be home from picking up Paige after dance class any minute now. "Okay, done!" Laini announces. I peel one of the cucumbers off my eye and bring my hand up to see the damage. My nails are painted bright purple. "It matches the purple on your hockey jersey!" Laini says, looking so proud of herself. She runs a hand through her tangled blonde hair, which leaves a streak of purple nail polish. Hopefully that's easy to get out... I smile. "It really does. Good work." She preens, eyeing her youngest sister. "Did ya hear that Harlow? Uncle Noah likes his nails." Harlow pouts, removing my other cucumber and looking down at me with her big, brown eyes. "Uncle Noah, did you like your facial, too?" "Of course," I say with conviction. "Best facial I've ever had." It's not a lie, because this is my first facial. Harlow beams, showing off the gap where she lost her two front teeth. She pops a fist onto her hip. "Best facial he's ever had." I sigh. "It's not a competition, girls. You both did great." Laini and Harlow are what they call Irish twins, born one year apart to the day, and the two have a love-hate relationship-bickering and competing with each other one minute, and best friends the next. It makes me glad Andie is fourteen years older than me, and we never dealt with that. I can't remember a time when I ever fought with my sister. By the time I was old enough to bicker with her, she was in college. "Can we do your hair next?" Harlow asks, already holding a pink brush in her hand. I turn and glance out the window and see Mitch still busy flipping burger patties on the grill. I shrug. "Sure, why not?" I sit up and rest my back against the couch as both girls brush and tug at my hair. Relaxing, I let them do their thing. It's not like I'm going to see anyone I know tonight. I glance around my sister's home. Her and Mitch's historical row house here in San Francisco is smaller than their grandiose home back in Virginia was, but it's really cool. The living room opens up to the dining room, and there's a wall separating the kitchen and a long staircase that leads to two other stories where the bedrooms are. Andie complains about the stairs often. But the one thing that stands out to me is the framed photo of our parents hung at the top of the staircase. That photo has been a constant anchor, and I feel grounded when I look at it. It's been eleven years since we lost them, but it still feels raw sometimes. Like the accident just happened. What would it be like if they were still here? I bet they'd love having grandkids. I smile to myself at the idea, even though there's an underlying feeling of sadness that filters through the happy thought. A few minutes into my hair appointment, the back door swings open and Mitch walks through with a platter full of burgers. He stops in his tracks, staring at me. "Wow." "That bad?" I mock whisper. "Hey!" Laini says, offended. "We worked hard on this!" "Uncle Noah, you look beautiful," Harlow adds, looking at me adoringly. Before I can get up and go in search of a mirror, we hear the front door open. "Honey, I'm home!" my older sister calls out. Paige runs into the room but freezes when she sees me, similar to how her father just reacted. She grimaces. Andie strides into the room next, when her gaze lands on me she bursts into laughter. "Well, aren't you pretty?" She smiles, looking like the grownup version of Laini and Harlow. "I didn't know you'd be here for dinner tonight, Noah! I brought a guest." The blood drains from my face. Ally is right behind her, still in a pink leotard with light gray shorts and a matching zip up hoodie thrown over the top. Her hair's pulled up in a bun, but a few tendrils have come loose, framing her face. She looks just as surprised to see me, but when she clocks my current appearance, a devious grin slides across her pretty face, her pink lips turn up at the corners, and her eyes turn mocking. "Noah, this is Allegra, the girls' dance instructor." Andie nudges her forward. "Yeah, I know," I say, standing abruptly and causing several products and hair clips to scatter onto the wood floor. "Oh, of course," Andie brings a palm to her forehead. "Totally forgot you picked Paige up a couple weeks back." "Yeah, and...Ally's one of my loft mates." "You're kidding!" Andie says, her eyes bright as she looks between the two of us. I can see her wheels turning, and that's never a good thing. My sister doesn't know the meaning of mind your own business. It's not in her vocabulary. "I went to college with Archibald Fisher," Ally offers by way of explanation. Mitch strides forward, kissing my sister quickly before turning toward Ally. "Nice to meet you, Allegra. Sorry you have to put up with Noah's grumpy ass." "You're one to talk," I mutter under my breath. Mitch continues walking until he reaches the dining room table where he sets the tray of burgers down. "Dinner's ready." "What can I get you to drink, Allegra?" Andie asks, sliding her purse off her shoulder and putting it down on the couch. "We have water, Coke Zero, and this brand of probiotic soda that Noah loves." Ally glances briefly at me, amusement still fluttering in her honeyed brown eyes. "Water is fine, thank you." "I'll take a probiotic soda," I say, standing and crossing the room until I'm towering over my sister. She pats my shoulder in a patronizing way. "Great, you know where it's at. You can get one yourself and grab Allegra a water while you're in the kitchen." Andie turns toward the table, then stops and looks over her shoulder at me. She smirks. "Oh, and you might want to clean up while you're at it." She busies herself getting the three girls situated around the table, and I grit my teeth and borderline stomp out of the room and down the hallway that leads into the kitchen. I can feel Ally on my heels, and I whirl around the moment we're alone and standing in front of the fridge. "What are you doing here?" "Why do you even care? It's not a big deal." She inhales a sharp breath, looking up at me with those doe eyes. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, drawing my attention to the fabric that's stretched across her perky tits. Shit. Ally keeps her spine straight, meeting my gaze. We stare at each other for a long moment, like we're waiting each other out, seeing who backs down first. But with every second that passes by with her staring at me with fire in her eyes, I get less angry and more turned on. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. "I'm being a jerk. I'm sorry." I drag a hand through my hair, taking a step back to put some distance between us. "I just didn't expect you to be here, and it's been a long day." Her expression instantly softens, and she looks at me with something like...pity? "It's okay. I'm sorry, too," Ally says in resignation, sighing and crossing her arms. "Andie and I got to chatting after Paige's class, and she invited me. I really like her and the girls. I don't have any friends here, Noah." She holds her hands out at her sides. "And I clearly didn't know you'd be here for dinner, too." I nod. "Well, we're both here now. So, we might as well enjoy the meal." I turn and open the door of the refrigerator, grabbing a bottle of water and handing it to her. "Here you go." She rolls her full lips into her mouth like she's fighting a smile. She reaches for the water bottle, but now I'm annoyed and I want to know why she's laughing. I hold the bottle of water over my head so she can't reach it. "What's so amusing?" Her smirk turns into a grin, and then a laugh escapes her. It rings through the kitchen in a sound of pure delight. It pisses me off. "What's so funny?" "It's just..." She breaks off to laugh again. "It's so hard to take you seriously right now." Thrusting the bottle of water into her hands, I dash out of the kitchen toward the laundry room where there's a half bathroom attached. I close the door behind me and look at my reflection in the mirror. My hair is full of tiny, yellow butterfly clips, my face is covered in pink goop that smells like sugar, and my nails are still a bright, glittery purple. I look like one of those colorful trolls from that movie my nieces love. Quickly, I yank the clips out of my hair, then turn the water on and wipe the pink stuff off my face. Searching all the cabinets, I don't find any nail polish remover. I scrub at my fingers, but the paint won't come off. Giving up, I yank the hand towel from its holder and dry my hands and face off then exit the bathroom. Ally isn't in the kitchen any longer, so I grab a probiotic soda from the fridge and take it into the dining room where there's one seat left at the table...right next to Ally, dammit. I just can't get away from her. I try not to roll my eyes, but it's like holding back a burp-the harder you try to hold it in, the more it hurts. Slumping down into the seat, I take a long swig of my beverage and rest it on the table. "Now that Uncle Noah is done primping," Mitch says from the head of the table with a glance in my direction. "We can dig in." Andie, seated at his right, titters to herself. She's always thought Mitch was much funnier than he actually is. "Does your skin feel amazing, Uncle Noah?" Laini asks from where she sits beside her mother. Unable to stay grumpy with that hopeful expression on her little face, I smile, feeling my shoulders relax. "Yeah, it feels great. And smells like candy." Harlow, who's seated across the table from Andie and Laini, next to Paige, lights up. "That's the best part!" She glances down at my hands that are steepled on top of the table. "And I'm so glad you didn't take your purple polish off. I think your teammates will think it's really cool that your nails match your jersey." Paige shoots me an endearing look that silently says, I'm sorry my sisters are ridiculous. I tip my head in her direction, a silent thanks for the commiseration. The burgers are passed around, and when the platter makes its way to Ally and me, we both reach for the same burger, our hands brushing in the process. A tingle of awareness that's completely unwelcome makes its way over my hand and up my arm. I draw my hand back, letting her have the burger, then take the tray from her and grab one for myself. "So, Noah," Andie says. "Funny how you never mentioned you have a female roommate." I shrug, feigning nonchalance. "Is it? I didn't think it was noteworthy." She quirks a brow, silently calling me a liar. My sister knows me well, and there's no doubt she understands just how much I hated the last-minute change of roommates when Ivan went home to Russia with an injury. I'm pretty sure I even had a conversation with Andie telling her it would be so nice to have one whole wing of the loft and a bathroom to myself. But not anymore. Paige, Laini and Harlow gasp and smile, looking at Ally and me. "Miss Ally, is my Uncle Noah one of your roommates?" Paige asks, clearly excited about this. Ally nods. "The loft has four rooms, and I rent one of them." "Have you used the hot tub?" Harlow asks. Ally smiles. "I haven't yet; is it nice?" "So nice!" Laini breaks in. "Fishy let me use my arm floaties." "Fisher," I gently correct. Mitch snickers. "Fishy. I'm going to start calling him that. Kid needs to bring his ego down a notch." Ally laughs at that. "You have no idea," she says. "But he's got a good heart." Swiveling my head, I study her. I still don't understand the dynamic between her and Fisher, but the comment makes my chest feel tight. It's probably just curiosity. Definitely not jealousy. "What's it like living with three smelly hockey players?" Andie asks before taking a bite of her burger. "Well, two of them are really friendly, but one of them ignores me most of the time," Ally replies with a smirk. Andie narrows her eyes at me, and I don't bother holding back my eye roll this time. Ally chuckles. "But as much as I like my roommates, sometimes I prefer to hang out in my room with Harry Styles." Paige's jaw drops. "You know Harry Styles?" Ally winks at her, and it does something weird to my stomach. "Harry Styles-officially Harry Styles the third-is my cat." My nieces go wild. Harlow's little hands fist in the air. "Oh my gosh! A kitty! I want to meet him!" "I get to meet him first; I'm older," Laini tells her. "Only one year older!" Harlow defends herself. "Calm down girls," Mitch says in his gruff, dad voice. These little girls have him wrapped around their fingers, but he tries not to let it show. "I'm sure you can all meet the cat sometime." Ally leans in, cupping her hands over her mouth like she's telling a secret. My nieces instantly quiet down to listen, all three of them enamored by her. "Harry Styles sleeps with your Uncle Noah every night." My sister's head falls back as she's overcome with laughter. Mitch chokes on his burger and pounds at his chest, coughing a few times before taking a gulp of his water. Paige eyes me. "Really?" "He won't stay out of my room," I admit, then bite a large chunk out of my burger so I don't have to partake in this conversation any longer. After Ally answers a million more questions from the girls about Harry Styles, we're all finished eating, and I'm ready to get home. If Ally is here, I'll go home and lock myself in my room. I help clear the table, and notice Ally jumps in to assist. I admire that she's always willing to lend a helping hand. She's clearly not a spoiled brat, even though her dad has won three Oscars. As I load the dinner plates into the dishwasher, I wonder if Ally has ever been treated differently because of who her father is. Has she ever been called a nepo baby? When I'm finished with the dishes, I stride back into the living room where the girls are seated and watching a movie about princesses. Mitch is in the center, with Paige and Laini nestled into his sides and Harlow on his lap. One of the girls has placed a tiara atop his head. I don't laugh. He's still my coach, and I'm not about to piss him off and end up with extra drills during practice tomorrow. Andie and Ally are sitting at the table chatting like they're lifelong friends. I need to get out of here. "Thanks for dinner, I'm going to head home." "Oh, can you give Allegra a ride home?" Andie asks. "She rode here with me and was going to take the subway back. But since you're going to the same place..." she trails off. Ally looks at me with an apologetic grimace. Our loft isn't exactly close to Mitch and Andie's place. Which means thirty minutes in my small space surrounded by Ally's perfume while she's wearing a tight leotard is my worst nightmare. Or my naughtiest fantasy. Either way, I'm screwed, and I can't refuse. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!