“Thank God,” Gwen sighs. “These old walls definitely have ears.”
“You got a place downtown? How close is it? Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask warily.
“I wanted to be closer to you,” Noah smiles.
“Plus, it’s cheaper,” Gwen mumbles into her wine glass. Everyone’s attention immediately shoots towards her
“What?” she sasses. “It is.”
“I know someone else who’s cheap …” Rex starts to say.
“Oh shut up,” she says, shoving him slightly.
“If you wanted to touch me that bad, sweetheart, I can come a little closer,” Rex says. Walking directly towards her, he tries to cage her in between him and the counter. Huffing a little, she pushes around him and makes her way into the living room.
“We’re still on for you to help with that addition at the club right?” Rex asks Noah.
“Sure thing,” Noah grins. “As long as you spread the word about who did the work.”
“Well this calls for a toast,” Michael suggests, raising his glass. “To friends. The old and the new. Glad you’re sticking around, buddy.”
We cheers, and Noah continues to thank his friends as one by one they tell him how happy they are that he is staying. I escape to the balcony. He quickly follows. As I turn around to meet his gaze, he swoops me up in a big hug and doesn’t let me go. At first, I giggle in his arms, and fight back playfully. Soon, I become quiet, and grab hold of him tightly.
“I didn’t know you had plans to leave,” I whisper into his chest.
“Darlin’, you should know by now that I could never leave you.”
He kisses me on the top of my head.
“I’m glad you’re staying. But I never thought you had any intention of leaving.” I pause for a moment, hopeful my statement sinks in. “It would have broken my heart if you left,” I admit in a whisper.
“Just the thought of leaving you broke my heart. That’s why I knew I had to stay. I can barely leave your side for less than a day, Eva. How could I move and suddenly be thousands of miles away?”
I lean in to kiss him, but my heart is still shaken from the thought of him possibly leaving, and I pause. I hadn’t thought him leaving me was ever an option, only me possibly leaving him one day.
He senses my indecision, and grabs me close, then quickly crashes his lips against mine. I open up to him, let his tongue press seductively against mine, but for a brief moment, I don’t feel the same in his arms. Something has changed, and I want desperately to change it back, but I don’t know if I can.
The thought of Noah leaving rattles me so much that I remain quiet most of the night.
The trio—Rex, Michael, and Trevor—leave shortly after 2:00 am. Noah and I sit in silence, nestled into one side of my couch. He strokes the top of my head as I stare off in deep thought.
“Well,” Gwen says, pushing herself out of her seat in the chair across the room. “I think I have had all I can for one night.” She steadies herself on her feet, then glances our way. “Thank you for my party. I believe I will drag myself to bed and leave you two love birds alone.”
“Goodnight,” I call out after her.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she teases as she walks to her room.
As she leaves, and Noah and I are left alone, a million thoughts rush through my mind and make me nauseated. The fact that I’ve been left alone with them all night has made them multiply like the plague. A mind plague that has prevented me from enjoying the evening like I should have.
There is a wall building between Noah and I, and all I want to do is break it down.
“Your silence was not anticipated,” Noah whispers, interrupting my last thought.
I sense hurt in his voice. He never gets up, never stops running his fingers through my hair, and waits patiently for a response.
“I’m just tired,” I lie.
I want things to be great between us. Sensing that we might be upon our first argument makes me sick to my stomach. I don’t want to ruin our new relationship buzz. Even though I know everything can’t be perfect forever, I don’t want our kind of perfect to end.
