What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 72

Finnian shot a complicated look at Miles's car before turning to Noelle. "Do you want to ride with me?"

"Sure!" Noelle instantly ducked into the backseat, telling Julian, "Scoot over, Julian."

Julian flashed a mocking grin. "Call me your big brother, and I'll make room."

"In your dreams." Noelle settled into the middle seat just as Finnian got in.

Her smile grew lighter. She glanced at Julian. "I only have one brother, and that's Finnian."

Finnian looked at her with a soft expression. "Stop messing around. I don't want to be your brother."

Noelle let out a giggle. "Then what do you want to be?"

"He's your boss," Julian immediately interjected.

"Boss. How boring," Noelle said, laughing again.

In the SUV behind them sat two men and a woman. The woman was Noelle's best friend, Heather Shaw.

Heather stared at the second SUV, a flicker of annoyance passing through her eyes.

The four SUVs set off, flanked front and back by six security vehicles.

The campsite was at Shaw Mountain Resort, owned by Heather's family. The highest peak featured a massive, developed clearing while preserving half of the original forest—an ideal spot for camping.

The convoy arrived around eleven in the morning.

Today, Kaia wore a simple beige windbreaker and dark hiking pants, her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her face was completely bare of makeup, looking fresh and natural.

Noelle wore a chic, high-end outdoor outfit in bright magenta. It was eye-catching. With her hair braided in a side plait, she looked effortlessly energetic and relaxed.

Once on the mountain peak, the group naturally fell into a rhythm of setting up tents, starting a fire, and prepping for lunch.

Noelle had clearly come prepared. She, Julian, and the rest took charge of most of the food prep. She moved with practiced ease, laughing and chatting, completely owning the role of hostess.

She had even meticulously packed adorable children's tableware and healthy snacks just for Brynlee.

Kaia wasn't particularly close with Finnian's friends, keeping things to polite acquaintanceship. She spent most of her time with Brynlee. The little girl had brought her own mini-tent. After Finnian helped set it up, Brynlee grabbed Kaia's hand. "Mommy, I want to go find pinecones! Let's go explore the woods!"

Kaia was here for her daughter, so whatever Brynlee wanted, Kaia agreed.

Mother and daughter walked toward the adjacent pine forest. The wind rustled the trees, the sky stretched wide and clear, and the distant, overlapping mountains looked magnificent.

"Brynlee, look what I found!" Miles's voice suddenly called out from behind them.

Noelle looked at Finnian with a beaming smile, exactly like the teenage girl whose every whim Finnian used to indulge.

"Alright." Finnian walked over, took the fresh lamb skewers, and started grilling.

Nearby, Heather and Julian exchanged a knowing look and smiled.

The other two men were Quentin, who was currently separated from his wife, and Chad, the youngest and most outgoing of the group.

"Remember when we used to come up here all the time? Feels like a lifetime ago," Quentin remarked nostalgically.

Julian snapped his fingers, holding his drink. "Oh, right! Remember that time capsule we buried eight years ago? Who remembers exactly where we put it?"

Noelle's eyes flickered. "Oh, yeah! But I have no idea where it is now."

Lunch passed with everyone laughing and joking. In the afternoon, a few of them set up a card game.

"Kaia, do you want to play? I'll give you my seat. I'll take Brynlee for a walk." Finnian turned and asked Kaia. He knew she liked playing cards and was incredibly good at it—her ability to count cards was unmatched.

Noelle instantly threw her hands up in mock surrender, laughing in exaggerated panic. "If Kaia sits down, I'm out! The way she wins is downright terrifying."

Julian looked skeptical. "Is it really that scary? I'm pretty good myself. Come on, Dr. Chavez, play a few rounds with us."