Chapter 7
Noah decided to come home with his mom and sister because he wanted to support Summer and his dad during this crisis, but also because he wanted to keep an eye on Adam. Just because he'd been mingling with his guests didn't mean that he was not keenly aware of the sparks that were flying between his mom and her ex-husband.
He'd seen them last summer when he visited and warned Adam to stay away.
But, of course, Adam didn't listen.
Who was Noah kidding? Even if he had, his mom wouldn't have let him.
Noah hoped that marriage to a good man like Rey would be enough of an Adam deterrent, but it wasn't. Sharon had nearly destroyed it all when she backed Adam after that poisoning incident. Fortunately, Rey forgave her and they were able to work it out. But things were shakier than Noah realized given what he saw tonight.
"Good thing we aren't in the air, huh?" he asked, cheekily. "I don't know what's worse. Being in a plane crash or waiting to find out if your mom died in one after eloping."
Noah knew he was being an ass, but he wanted to see what their reactions would be. "Noah!" his mom yelled. "Why would you say that? Especially in front of Faith?"
Noah gestured toward Faith. "Come on, mom. She's not a kid anymore. Don't you think she deserves the unvarnished history of Adam and Sharon?"
"Noah, come on," Adam pleaded in a low voice, clearly concerned about losing the goodwill he'd bought with Faith the last few weeks.
"You know, I'd like to hear it," Faith responded as she sat up in the chair and crossed her legs underneath her. "I know Noah's just being a dick, but you kept so much from me. I think I deserve to know what really happened, not just what Billy published."
Noah felt bad when he saw that his mom was crying, but hoped that this was the reality check she needed to finally put this relationship to an end. She always claimed to want to do what was best for Faith but never lived up to it, not really. Maybe now she would.
Noah was shocked, however, when Adam sat up straight in his chair and replied with, "What do you want to know?"
"Adam? What are you doing?" Sharon asked in an urgent, hushed voice as she swiped tears from her eyes.
Noah saw Adam turn to his mom. In a soft voice, he answered, "Haven't you ever wanted to tell our side of the story?"
When she nodded, he added, "Well, now's our chance."
Noah hadn't expected Adam or his mom to be willing to talk about everything, so he sat back in his chair, relaxed, and waited with baited breath to see how in the world they were going to spin their disastrous, toxic relationship to his little sister.
This ought to be good.