“Where are we going?” Tilly hops up next to me.
“I’m going to head home and call Noah,” I tell her, and she beams.
“Really?”
“You’re right?—”
“Obviously,” she interrupts, but I keep going.
“It’s too late for me to avoid this. I’m all in already, so whether I find out today or next week, the outcome will be the same no matter what.”
“I’m glad you’re seeing things my way, but I still think you should give him hell. He said he’d be back last night, and he wasn’t.”
“You’re right.”
“Damn, I’m on a roll.”
"If he really wants to be with me, he needs to tell me. I'm over here thinking about leaving Cheerful for him. What's he doing?"
"You should ask him."
"I'm going to," I say and lift my chin with confidence.
"Good, then turn around."
"What?"
Tilly grabs my shoulders and spins me around, and that’s when I see Noah headed straight for me.
"Go on," Tilly says and gives my ass a playful smack.
I got this, I tell myself as I march toward Noah. His expression appears irritated, but with him, you can never be certain if he’s actually irritated or just ready to be away from people. I don't know why, but it's one of the many things I adore about him. I think because when I get a smile or chuckle from him, I know it’s real. He doesn’t pretend, and when his happiness is directed at me, it takes me straight to cloud nine.
I meet Noah halfway, but before I get to say a word, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me in for a kiss. My body does what it wants, and I melt into him. The kiss is intense and claiming as he lifts me into his arms, and when he pulls back, we both have to catch our breath. Did he get taller and more handsome?
"We need to talk," he says as he puts me back on my feet.
"Hey, I was going to say that,” I tell him. "And I'm going first." I lift my chin again, and Noah's eyebrows rise.
"All right," he agrees, and his lips pull up on one side.
"I don't like that you didn't come back last night. I had to sleep all alone, and it was terrible. You’ve ruined how I sleep, which means I'll never get a good night's rest again. I hope you’re happy.” I poke his chest. “I’ve been here considering leaving Cheerful, and you're all snuggled up at home." I put air quotes around “home.” Wow I’m animated right now. "You told me about your bare, sterile apartment, and it sounds terrible.”
“It’s the worst,” he agrees.
“But it wouldn't be that terrible if I was in it and we were going to bed together every night."
Noah's expression turns soft as lines form around his eyes. "You'd leave Cheerful for me?"
"If you asked me to. I know more than anyone a home is more about who's around you than where you are. I could make a home anywhere as long as we’re together."
"I'd never ask you to do that," he says, and I let out a small gasp. When I try to step back, Noah's arm comes around my waist and halts my retreat. "I really am shit with my words.” His grip on me tightens as he looks into my eyes. “What I mean to say is that I wouldn't ask you to do that because I love you, Molly. And I know how much you love Cheerful. So if anyone's moving, it’s me. I'm staying here, and I'll get you to fall in love with me."
“You love me?”
“How could I not?” He seems shocked I would even ask this.
“Told you so,” Tilly says from somewhere behind me, but I ignore her.
