Noah gives me a brilliant smile, the bags under his eyes far less visible than they used to be. “How is it that you remember to say those words to meevery singleday, for the last six months, even when you were making me grovel and work for mymistakes?”
“Simply because I love you,” I tell him honestly. “You made a mistake, punished yourself for it more than I ever could, and you didn’t just say that you won’t do it again, youshowedme by working on yourself. And I know from experience, it’s never easy.”
An understanding, memories of the past, and promises for our future pass between us as we lose ourselves in each other’s gazes.
“I love you, baby,” he sighs, tilting his head to the side. “Did I tell you that?”
I feign a dramatic eye roll. “No, you haven’t,” I lie just to hear him say it again.
“Oh, I haven’t?” Cocking his brow, he regards me, his voice dropping an octave. “How scandalous?! Let me remedy that.”
Before I have the time to react, he hauls me closer, disintegrating any distance between us, and dives right in as he showers my face, neck, and any visible skin, really, with open-mouthed kisses.
I burst into giggles, my breath catching. “Your beard…it…tickles…haha…Noah!” I try to fist his shirt to stop him, but my hands are squished between our bodies.
“I thought I didn’t tell you I love you,” he teases,a playful lilt in his tone. “This is me doing that, Rainbow.”
“Ah…hahaha…please, stop!” I sputter between bouts of laughter as my body squirms in his hold.
Finally, when I’m out of breath, he pulls back, a rogue strand from his styled hair falling over his forehead.
“Fine, if you insist.” This time, he’s the one to roll his eyes back.
I smack him lightly in his chest, laughing at his playfulness and loving that he’s come so far from the first time I met him. He’sstillbroody, but he smiles often now.
“Let’s go before we arrive late at the event you’re a chief guest at,” I remind him, unwrapping his arms from around me, turning his body, and pushing to move forward—well, he lets me do all of that to him.
We head out of his bedroom, and Millie rushes to us in the living room of the penthouse, freeing herself from her sitter’s hold.
Bending down, I pick her up, happy that she has gained weight since we found her. “We’ll be back soon, Millie,” I tell her in a baby voice, ruffling her bright fur.
She nuzzles in my neck, purring in response.
I put her down when her sitter, Lola, pads closer to us, a teenage girl we met in a park one day when we took Millie for a walk. It was love at first sight for Millie and Lola.
“I’ll take good care of her, Andie,” she assures us with a smile.
Noah grabs a fifty-dollar bill and gives it to her. “You always do, Lola. Enjoy,” he appreciates her with a wink.
“Thank you, Mr. Miller,” Lola squeals as she accepts the money.
“How many times do I have to tell you to call me, Noah? I’m not that old,” he sighs, shaking his head.
“I mean…I won’t call you young, either, with the few grays I spotted in the morning,” I tease him, keeping my expression poker.
Noah’s eyes widen, a horrified look on his face as he touches his hair. “No.”
Lola and I share a look before we both burst out laughing, clutching our stomachs.
Noah’s hand falls beside him. “Ha. Ha. Very funny,” he deadpans, turning on his feet and walking toward the door.
“Stay safe,” I tell Lola, squeeze her shoulder, and follow my boyfriend in his home, whichbecame mine too two months ago when we moved in together.
As a permanent teacher, I’m still saving up to buy my old apartment from Ezra, but for now and hopefully forever, this is my home—with Noah.
He’s hiding my slippers inside each of his socks. I stare at him, puzzled. He finds my questioning gaze on himself and answers, “For when your feet start to hurt in your heels. Can’t see you in pain.”
Uh…swoon.