I shift over to kneel by him on the couch. Brushing his hair back I look down at his stress-strained face.
“It might have been good, great even. But the best location is the one that ends up working for us. Besides, you didn’t have me helping you find a place. I’m Portland through and through. I know this city better than almost anyone, and I promise we will find a new space. Give me a month. If we can’t find a place in four weeks then we’ll worry about reassessing things with Tom.”
Noah rolls his head over and kisses my hand. “I don’t think I would have survived this weekend without you.”
“Not to mention, I give great head,” I say, leaning down to kiss his cheek. “It’s great stress relief and I can’t say any of our coworkers would have been quite as comfortable with that part of the job.”
Noah laughs and swings his arm around, pulling me into the seat and tickling my sides. I kick my legs and he squeezes tighter as I squeal. Quieting, he looks down at me and smooths some of the hair out of my face. “No, I can’t say they would have. And it’s a shame, because I give great head too.”
I slap his chest playfully, and he grins, the serious edge gone from his eyes.
“Will you stay here with me? Tonight?”
Part of me wants to, but I bite my bottom lip and shake my head. “I can’t.”
His face falls a little but he doesn’t let it last. “I understand.”
Sitting up again, I rush to clarify. “It’s not that I don’t want to.”
“But if you did, you’d have to tell Kara.”
I nod, searching his face. “Are you mad?”
“No. I told you we could take this at whatever pace you wanted, and I meant it. You’ll tell her when you’re ready.”
Grateful for his patience, I lean forward and kiss him—the act more gentle than I’ve ever managed. As we break, he smiles.
“But will you have dinner with me? Here. Tomorrow. You can come over after work, and tell Kara I’m keeping you late at the office again.”
I sit back, making a face as if I’m considering it, even though I already know the answer.
“Only if you order Dominos.”
After losing ourselves in a lusty make out session, and his promise to text me later, Noah finally unlocks his car and lets me out in front of my house. I lug my duffle, and the tote of wine from Cheryl that he insisted I take, up the worn porch stairs and pull out my keys. The door swings open before I have a chance to unlock it, Kara standing there beaming at me.
“Oh my god, I knew it. You had sex!”
I stutter, discombobulated by her immediate attack, and nearly fall over when I see Henrietta and Nan sitting on our worn, floral couch behind her. Even if I was going to tell her, now is definitely not the time. Confusion sputters as I step inside and drop my bag. Noah’s car has incredibly dark windows, so there’s no way she could have seen our kiss.
“Hi to you too, roomie.”
I cross over and hug Nan before sinking into the green velour chair under the window.
“You’re not denying it,” Kara says, flitting in and plopping herself onto the footrest we use as extra seating when we have guests.
“I’m also not confirming it. Because it's an entirely inappropriate conversation while we have company.”
“I knew it.” Kara beams.
“Don’t mind us,” Nan chimes, sipping on her tea. “We are just as eager to hear.”
“There’s nothing to hear. Now, what trouble have the three of you been getting into while I’ve been gone? How did the store launch go?”
“It was fine,” Kara says, waving her hand. “Sold out in an hour.”
“That’s great!”
Henrietta leans over and whispers something to Nan who chuckles and nods. I narrow my eyes.
