Brenna loved the hammock in the yard at the Onset house. She was sharing it with Noah who was asleep. He enjoyed naps even on his days off.

It was just warm enough not to be cool. The light breeze rustled the leaves. Above her was a canopy of waving green. The rise and fall of his chest made her feel sleepy. Even when the screen door banged, he didn't stir. He had told her he could sleep anywhere.

Mia walked over and smiled when she saw them together. She whispered so she wouldn't disturb Noah.

"Come on, Bren. Let's go for a walk."

"You're recovering."

"I'm better. I've been back at work."

"In a little bit. He won't sleep for long."

Mia walked away. Brenna had a book, but she was content to watch the trees and Noah's face as he slept. She resisted the urge to kiss it.

He opened one eye. "Are you watching me?"

Before she could answer his arm fell across her and pulled her into him. He nuzzled her neck, and she laughed.

She heard her father's voice. "I guess he's awake."

Embarrassed, Brenna buried her face in Noah's shoulder until she gained control of her laughter. "Are you ready to get up? Mia wants to go for a walk."

"Yeah."

Brenna ungraceful sat up and slipped off the hammock. "Your turn."

"How?"

"Here grab hold." He swung his legs around and she pulled him. He landed against her.

"Next time I get up first." He put his hand on her hip.

Mia said, "They are so cute! I thought Aidan and Sage were, but you win, Bren."

"Thanks. I think." Brenna still worried about scaring him away.

Mia bounced when the three set out for a walk. "You would never know she had surgery."

"She's young and healthy. She healed quickly."

Brenna loved when he sounded like a doctor. They walked to the Old Stone Bridge. As teens they used to sit on the bridge watching as the boats motored underneath it.

On the way back, Mia turned to Noah. "Did you ever figure out your wish?"

Brenna asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Noah, didn't think he made a wish. I told him whatever was on his mind would have been his wish."

"Even if it was a ham sandwich." Noah laughed.

"Great! My sister and my boyfriend have private jokes."

Noah took her hand."I remembered what I was thinking." He looked at Mia who was a few steps ahead. He lowered his voice. "I wanted the pain to go away."

"Has it?"

"It is. I don't carry it with me like a badge of honor. Did your wish come true?"

She nodded. "I made two wishes. The first was in May and then I worried I asked for the wrong thing. When we were at the fountain together, I wished that you would want a relationship."

"I think it came true."

Mia turned to look at them. "Of course, it came true the fountain is magic!"

"Mia, how long have you been waiting for your wish?"

"Three years, but I'm not in a hurry. I trust the fountain."

"She has enough faith for all of us. Maybe I should go wish for Molly to forgive me."

"I'm meeting Derek and Greg after work on Monday. You can come."

"Maybe."

"I want you to come."

"Why?"

"Because I like you by my side."

"Yup, more adorable than Aidage. Sadan. What are you two? Brenoah. That works."

"Noah, don't let my sister scare you away."

Mia said, "Don't worry she won't tell me anything intimate I tried."

"Sisters talk about sex?"

Brenna covered her red face with her hands.

"I told her my first time was awful too and I was glad I was drinking."

Brenna stopped walking. "Mia go! Walk back to the house!"

She turned to Noah whose jaw was hanging. "You told her?"

"No, I told her I was bad at sex and she said that about her first time and I agreed. But I told her it was when I was in college. I've never ever told a soul and looking back at it now, it wasn't so horrible. It was just that I didn't know you and now I do."

"I know and here we are talking about it again."

"It will always be how we first met and for that reason it was a special night. I would have been just another dehydrated patient to you."

"I don't know. I can't imagine not falling for you at first sight."

"I can't control Mia's mouth. I'm sorry."

"She's fine. She makes me not miss being an older brother."

"Noah?" She didn't want him getting sad.

"Bren, I'm fine because of you."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

They kissed on the side of the road. Brenna didn't care who saw them.

When they walked into the yard, Maggie smiled. "You're back."

Brenna rolled her eyes. "Mia was acting thirteen."

"I was not!"

"Okay, fifteen."

"I'm sorry, Brenoah. I'm just excited for you two!"

"She's a hopeless romantic." Brenna smiled.

"Hopeful not hopeless." Mia was always the optimist.

They served dinner outside at the picnic table with a vinyl red checkered tablecloth. Brian grilled steaks and there was fresh corn, salad and Portuguese Bread. The bread was special to Onset.

The conversation focused around Noah, and Maggie asked the inevitable question.

"Do you have siblings?"

Brenna took his hand and looked at him. He gave her a half smile. "I had a brother, but it has been just me and my mom for half my life."

Brian asked, "Your father."

Brenna squeezed his hand. "Passed too."

"Noah has lived with a lot of sorrow, but he's dealing with it."

"Brenna's helped a lot. She was patient when I was hesitant about a relationship. It was never that I didn't care. I was afraid to care too much."

"Sounds like you understand yourself, son. Oh sorry, do you mind?"

"No, I was emotional the first time you said it, but I like it."

"If you need any fatherly advice, I'm your man."

"Thank you."

Brenna squeezed his hand. As soon as they stood from the table, she pulled him aside.

"Did you mean it because my father will hold you to it?"

Noah shrugged. "I'd rather go to him than Bill."

The worst part of being in Onset was Noah sleeping in Aidan's room while she was in the bunk room. Brenna had warned him, because even Sage had to sleep in with the girls.

They kissed goodnight and Brenna didn't want to let go. "I want to show your parents respect."

"I know, I know."

"See you in the morning."

"Okay."

Mia was waiting up for her. "Are you still mad at me?"

"No, but you're lucky Noah is a nice guy and likes you."

"What was the big deal? He knows you had a first time. Do you wish it was with him?"

"No, I don't wish it was with him." Because it was.

On the way back to Boston, they rode for a while in a comfortable quiet. "Now that it's September, I think I'll stay home on weekends."

"Can I admit I'm glad? I missed you when you were gone. I was thinking we could swing by my place, so I can grab clothes for tomorrow."

Brenna's dropped jaw turned into a smile. "A sleepover on a school night!"

He chuckled. "If you don't want to."

He only slept over on nights he didn't have to work in the morning. "No, I do. I want to watch you shave."

"I enjoy watching you dress."

"I'm not dressing at six-thirty so you can't watch me."

"Fine. I'll wait until my day off."

"Are you planning on staying over every night?"

"Well, you have the cat, so it makes more sense."

"You know if you want to spend every night together, I could save a lot of money on my rent."

The minute the words came out she regretted them. She wanted to backtrack, but Noah stopped her. "Is it what you want?" He squeezed her hand.

She nodded, but he didn't see since he was driving. "Yes, I want to, but I understand if it is too soon."

"Let's collect some data."

"Another experiment?" She laughed.

"Nope. We'll keep track of how many times we don't stay together in the next month."

"And?"

"And if my hypothesis is right, then it may not make sense to wait."

Brenna just smiled. She saw her future with Noah. It was bright and full of love. Everything was perfect.

"Oh, no!" She forgot one thing. "If we live together Molly will never forgive me!"

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