“Happy to oblige…” I say instead of pointing that out.
“There’s a secret dating trope, right? In books?”
My heart sinks, because it’s a blatant reminder that he agreed to this to help me with book research, even if I could swear sometimes it feels like more.
“We’d fail miserably at secret dating after tonight,” I point out. “There’s fake dating, where they think we’re together when we really aren’t, but I think we failed at that too.”
“Then what trope would we be?”
Unrequited love? She falls first, who knows if he’ll ever fall? Teaching the rookie? Jock-meets-wallflower?
“Friends with benefits?” I try instead, since it most accurately describes what we have going on.
“We are friends, right?” Noah sounds vulnerable instead of teasing.
“Of course.” I swallow, but the moment feels charged. Heavy. “You’re my second favorite Callahan, which has to count for something.”
He chuckles, but then goes serious and waits until I’m looking at him.
“You’re my favorite James.”
I can’t read his smile, but the butterflies in my belly are going crazy, because that’s all I’ve ever wanted. Not to be the favorite overall, because every James I know is awesome, but to be someone’s favorite.
“First name or last?” I ask teasingly, hoping he can’t hear my heart.
“Both.”
He takes a step closer, and the kiss feels different, like it means more, but I’m probably projecting. As much as it feels like he wants me, which is not easy for me to believe, at all, it also feels like he isn’t going to let himself have me. Which I try not to see as me not being worth the risk, but what else could it be?
He kisses me again, and I stop thinking about what I wish I had, and focus on what I do. Then Noah gets down on his knees, holding me up when mine turn to jelly, and I forget my own name. Forget everything but the way he makes me feel.
Alive.
Taken care of.
Wanted.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Savannah
Can You Move In?
I wake up with Noah’s arms wrapped around me, feeling safe, warm, and happy. The sun is barely up, and his alarm is set for 7:30, so even though I really need to pee, I ignore it and let myself enjoy however long I have left of this before he realizes how very not casual I feel about him.
* * *
When Noah gets up, I brush my teeth, then let the guys fight over showers while I put my jeans back on and go downstairs. It sounds like Colt is still sleeping, and no one else is down here, so I peruse the familiar cupboards until I find everything I need to make peanut butter protein pancakes with a Greek yogurt coulis. I don’t usually have breakfast, or strive for an inordinate amount of protein when I do, but I’ve spent enough time around athletes to know what’s on their approved eating plans. Unless hockey is completely different from baseball and football, but they stuffed their faces with liquid sugar and pastries last night, so I’m sure it’s fine.
“Hollywood, that smells amazing!” David comes down the stairs, followed by Michael and Noah. They stop when they see it’s me.
“Savannah.” Noah smiles at me. “I thought you ran out.”
“That’s not my style,” I argue, only slightly making a dig at him. “Breakfast?”
“Can you move in?” David asks, serving himself off the island.
“The basement is free,” Michael informs me.
