Noah met me there, greeting me with a kiss on the forehead.
I could get used to this.
“Are you sure you’re okay with leaving for so long?” he asked while opening the trunk.
In the broad sunlight of the day, Noah’s skin looked as tan as ever, glowing beneath the sun’s warmth. The veins in his forearms pulsed as he effortlessly lifted my luggage into the trunk, each movement as smooth and natural as I remembered. Even after seeing every inch of him—countless times—I still thought those forearms were the sexiest thing I’d seen.
“Spending three months with my boyfriend and his coolsister while gathering content for my blog?” A playful grin tugged at my lips. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
Noah wrapped an arm around my waist and drew me into his chest with a possessive yet tender grip. “I’ll never get tired of hearing you say that.”
“What, my blog?” I mumbled into his chest, still half-laughing.
“While I’m immensely proud of your blog,” he whispered, his breath warm against my skin, “no, that’s not it.”
“Your cool sister?” I teased.
“Macey.” His voice dropped, just a little, and the sound of my name in his mouth made my stomach flutter.
“Oh,” I exaggerated the syllable, dragging it out in mock surprise. “My boyfriend.”
He hummed softly in response, the vibration of it sending shivers down my spine. “Say it again.”
“My hot boyfriend, Noah.”
His response was instant, a sharp intake of breath followed by a low, guttural, “Fuck.” He pulled back just enough for our foreheads to press together, the gentle pressure sending a wave of warmth through me. “Do you think Daphne would mind if we went back to your room for half an hour?”
Before I could answer, the car beeped, loud and sudden, startling me out of the moment. I laughed, my shoulders shaking as I shook my head. “Yeah, I think she’d mind.”
As we climbed into the car, Noah taking the wheel and me sliding into the passenger seat, Daphne poked her head between us, her eyes wide and exaggeratedly disapproving. “If I have to see that every day, we’ll need to get some doggy bags for all my vomiting.”
Noah pressed a button to start the car as I watched, fascinated. “Once a drama queen, always a drama queen.”
“I’mthe drama queen?” Daphne leaned back in the middleseat and crossed her arms. “Who nearly cried when I told him to leave the LEGOs at home?”
“I did not nearly cry,” Noah scoffed. “I was just thinking of ways to keep us entertained.”
“Oh, I’m sure you and your new girlfriend will find plenty of ways.” She smirked.
I forgot what sibling arguments looked like. “Let’s hold on the fights until day three at least,” I said, then turned to Daphne. “Maybe we can find a hot partner for you this summer.”
“Please,” she said just as Noah yelled, “Not happening!”
Noah turned up the radio as we fell into comfortable silence. I opened up Instagram. While the growth in my followers count had slowed compared to the last few weeks, it was still increasing.
I gave Noah’s profile@noahhansa quick glance. His most recent post about taking a few months off was still up, and it had been met with positive reception. The comments poured out their understanding and encouragement for taking breaks from social media.
When he returned to his account in the fall, things would be different. I knew he was a little bit worried about what people would think—it was inevitable for us all—but he knew he had the support of the people who mattered the most to him.
I held up my phone for a selfie. “Everyone, smile!”
This would be the first photo to mark the rest of the summer, and in a way, the start of our futures. And I couldn’t imagine starting the journey next to anyone else.
30
NOAH
3 Months Later
