Chapter 150: Luna gets an extra move with her mothers-in-law.
Sarah kept looking at Luna, who was equally being watched by Noah.
Luna remained completely serious in front of the table, and for several seconds no one said anything until, finally, Sarah spoke.
"So, what did you want to tell me?"
Noah raised a hand.
"Before that..."
Luna cut him off.
"I’m Noah’s girlfriend."
Noah closed his eyes.
’Of course she had to say it that directly.’
Sarah blinked, looked at Luna, then at Noah, and back at Luna.
"His girlfriend?"
"Yes."
Noah slowly lowered the tray he was holding.
"This was going to be explained a little more calmly."
Luna turned toward him.
"You told me the same thing when Yume went to your house."
Noah fell silent, and Sarah narrowed her eyes.
"Yume."
Noah felt another complicated conversation approaching, and Sarah continued.
"So you’re another one of the girls Noah didn’t tell us about."
Luna answered without hesitation.
"That’s right."
Noah’s eyes widened.
"Don’t say it like that!"
"But it’s true."
"But you could help a little."
Luna looked at him.
"I don’t want to lie to your mother."
Sarah smiled slightly.
"I like her."
Noah looked at her.
"Mom."
"What?"
Sarah turned her attention back to Luna.
"How long have you two been together?"
Luna hesitated.
"For a while."
Noah looked at her.
"That’s what we said with Yume, and it didn’t work either."
Sarah crossed her arms.
"Exactly."
Luna nodded.
"Then I’ll answer more clearly."
Noah raised a hand.
"Maybe there’s no need..."
Luna gave an answer, so Sarah listened in silence and Noah watched his mother’s expression slowly change.
She didn’t seem angry with Luna; the problem was still the same, him.
Sarah looked at him.
"So you’ve been dating her all this time."
Noah sighed.
"Yes."
"And you didn’t say anything."
"Sorry."
"And you were also with Yume."
"Yes, that’s true."
Sarah stared at him, and Noah lowered his head a little.
"I know."
Sarah exhaled slowly and then looked at Luna.
"Did you know about Yume?"
"Yes."
"And does Yume know about you?"
"She does now."
Noah corrected quickly.
"That’s already settled."
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
"I hope so."
Luna answered with absolute seriousness.
"We have an agreement."
Sarah blinked.
"An agreement?"
Noah raised his hands.
"We don’t need to get into that."
Luna continued.
"There’s a calendar."
Noah turned quickly.
"Luna."
Sarah started to smile.
"A calendar?"
"Yes."
"Luna."
"With individual days."
"Luna!"
"Rules to avoid sabotage."
Noah brought a hand to his face while Sarah began to laugh, and Noah looked at her.
"I’m glad this seems funny to you."
Sarah shook her head gently.
"I’m not laughing at you."
"It sounds pretty close."
Sarah looked back at Luna.
"So you have it organized."
"We’re trying to."
"That’s more responsibility than I expected."
Noah lowered his voice.
"I didn’t expect to end up with a spreadsheet either."
Luna heard him.
"It’ll work better once it’s finished."
Noah sighed, and Sarah smiled, but then she looked at her watch.
"Well."
Noah recognized that way of speaking immediately.
"Well what?"
Sarah picked up her bag.
"Finish your shift."
Noah frowned.
"That’s what I was planning to do."
Sarah looked at Luna.
"What time do you get off?"
Luna answered.
"In about forty minutes."
Sarah nodded.
"Perfect."
Noah felt a bad feeling.
"Perfect for what?"
Sarah smiled.
"Come have dinner at our house."
Noah’s eyes widened while Luna stayed still, and Sarah continued.
"Since you’re dating my son, I’d rather get to know you properly."
Luna looked at Noah, who looked back at her, and for a second he thought Luna would turn down the invitation, but then she answered.
"I’d like that."
Noah lowered his head.
’Of course.’
Sarah smiled.
"Then it’s decided."
Noah raised a hand.
"Shouldn’t we tell Mom?"
"I’ll text her."
"And Ava?"
Sarah shrugged slightly.
"She lives there."
Noah closed his eyes.
’Exactly why I asked.’
The last forty minutes of the shift were especially long for Noah.
Luna seemed completely normal, too normal.
She waited tables, cleaned, organized orders, and showed no sign of nervousness.
Noah, on the other hand, kept glancing at the clock, and when they were alone for a moment near the counter, Noah approached.
"Are you sure you want to go?"
Luna looked at him.
"Yes."
"You can say you have things to do."
"I don’t have any other commitment."
"You can make something up."
"No."
Noah sighed.
"Luna."
She continued arranging some cups.
"What?"
"Ava is going to be there."
"I know, so?"
"And you know how she reacted with Yume."
"Yes."
"Then..."
Luna looked at him.
"I’m not worried."
Noah frowned.
"You should be."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I’m not going to argue with your sister."
Noah watched her.
"That’s what Yume said before telling her she’d take care of our future kids."
Luna fell silent and then asked.
"She said that?"
Noah pointed at her.
"Don’t use that information."
"I wasn’t planning to."
"Your face says you were."
"My face is just like that."
Luna kept working, and Noah sighed.
’This is going to be a very long night.’
When the shift ended, Luna changed and left with Noah.
They walked to the station, and Noah was quieter than usual, so Luna noticed.
"You’re worried."
"Yes."
"About your family?"
"Mostly."
"Your mother already accepted me."
"Sarah talked to you for ten minutes."
"They were enough."
Noah looked at her.
"That sounds way too confident."
"I just answered honestly."
"That can also be dangerous."
Luna didn’t answer, and they boarded the train.
During the ride, Noah thought about every possible way the dinner could get complicated.
Ava could provoke Luna, Emma could start asking questions, Sarah could mention the engagement with Aria, Luna could explain too much.
Anything was possible.
When they arrived home, Noah opened the door.
"We’re home."
Emma appeared from the kitchen.
"Welcome."
Then she saw Luna and her expression changed.
"Ah."
Luna straightened a little.
"Good evening."
Emma smiled.
"So you’re Luna."
Noah blinked.
"You already know?"
"Sarah told me."
Noah looked toward the living room, and Sarah was sitting there; she raised a hand.
"I told her the important parts."
Noah suspected that meant too much, while Emma approached Luna.
"Nice to meet you."
Luna gave a small bow.
"The pleasure is mine."
Emma smiled.
"Relax, you don’t need to be so formal."
Luna lifted her head.
"Understood."
Noah muttered.
"She’s not going to relax."
Luna looked at him.
"Noah."
Emma let out a small laugh.
"Come in."
Luna entered, and Noah closed the door.
Ava still hadn’t appeared, but Noah didn’t know if that was good or worse.