Crazy Stupid Bromance (Bromance Book Club #3) - Lyssa Kay Adams Page 0,24
He couldn’t make the old man understand that Noah had no interest in meeting with his financial planner. Noah preferred his own investments, the kind that weren’t tied to propping up the fossil fuel industry. Noah had tried to explain it once, that there was a growing industry of socially conscious investing, but Marsh had scoffed, called it leftist bullshit, and told him he was throwing his money away.
“I’ve made some progress,” Noah said simply, keeping the details to himself. A petulant part of him wanted to ram his most recent earnings report down Marsh’s throat. Or maybe the paid in full note on his mother’s house. Or the zero balance on Zoe’s tuition bills. She would earn her Ph.D. next spring without a penny of debt.
That was enough for Noah. He didn’t need Marsh’s approval as long as he had theirs.
And Alexis’s.
Through the glass door, he could see her and his mom laughing over a scrapbook on the counter. Probably pictures of him from when he was a kid. From before his father died. There weren’t a lot of pictures taken afterward.
Noah finished his beer. “I’m going to see if they need any help inside.”
At the sound of the door against the metal track, they turned and stared. Zoe and his mom wore matching expressions of shock.
“She just told us about the kidney transplant,” his mom said.
* * *
* * *
“So, how does that even work?” Zoe asked fifteen minutes later at the dining table. She swallowed half a mushroom. “The transplant, I mean.”
Alexis, who sat to Noah’s right, sipped her wine. “I’m still learning about it, but it looks like I would have to go through two rounds of testing to make sure I’m compatible. And if I am, then I’d have to go through a bunch of other tests before the surgery can be scheduled.”
“How long does that take?” his mom asked.
“Normally, about six months, but we don’t have that much time. Elliott probably needs the transplant by Christmas.”
“Oh my gosh,” his mom said. “That soon?”
“He had two other donors fall through.”
“So if you’re not a match . . . ,” Zoe said, letting the unfinished part dangle like the fork in her hand.
Alexis glanced at Noah before answering. “I don’t know.”
The way she said it made Noah’s heart ache, because Alexis did know. It was quite possible Elliott would die, and dammit, Noah hated that she had that kind of pressure on her shoulders. He knew her well enough to know that if she wasn’t a match, she’d consider it a personal failing. Noah wanted to rest his hand on her neck, give it a reassuring squeeze, but Marsh was already watching them.
“This must be such a shock for you,” his mom said. “And after everything else you’ve gone through the past few years.”
Marsh made an indecipherable noise. Noah sent him a warning glare, which Marsh returned as he sawed off a chunk of meat.
“So what are you going to do?” Zoe asked.
“I’m not sure,” she said.
Zoe snorted. “You’re a way better person than I am. I’d tell all of them to fuck off and leave my internal organs alone.”
“For God’s sake, Zoe,” their mom admonished.
“What?” Zoe shrugged. “I’m just saying that Alexis is basically a saint for even considering it. She’s never even met him, and she’s willing to—”
“Wait,” Marsh said, cutting Zoe off. “You’ve never even met your father?”
“Marsh,” his mother said quietly, firmly.
“It’s okay,” Alexis said, stiffening as she straightened. “It’s not something I’m ashamed of. The truth is, no, I never knew my father. I still don’t really know anything. How they met. When they met. Why he left.” She swallowed hard at that last part. “But it looks like he’s been living just two hours away for most of my life.”
“Where’s that?” Marsh asked.
“Huntsville.”
Marsh lifted an eyebrow. “He work for the military?”
Alexis shook her head and started to answer, but Noah interjected. He knew where Marsh was going, and he wasn’t going to let him do it. “He’s an engineer,” Noah said.
“For NASA?” Marsh asked casually. Too casually.
“No,” Alexis said. “Some tech company.”
Marsh leaned back in his chair and reached for his beer. “Most of the tech companies down there are defense contractors.”
A heavy silence fell across the table. Alexis looked at Noah. Noah looked at Marsh. Marsh looked back. Zoe looked at her mushrooms.
His mom sat up straight. “Does anyone want more squash?”
* * *
* * *
Less than an hour later, after a hasty rendition of “Happy Birthday” and even