I cringe as the word pumpkin comes into my head.
“What?
“Paul called mePumpkinthe day we all went out to dinner together and I almost threw up. So skip that one.”
“Weird choice, I think I’ll just stick with Auddie,” he says as we walk into the building towards a row of oversized fish tanks.
“You don’t have to.” I blush, fixating on the colorful fish swimming around in front of us.
“Hmm, okay. Can I call you baby?” He leans towards me, whispering in my ear. My face brightens all the more. “I’ll take that as a yes. What about Auddie Girl? Is that one okay, too?”
An involuntary whimper escapes my mouth, shocking both of us.
Noah wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Reaction noted. I’ll save that one for our private moments, I guess.”
“Shut up!” I groan through a laugh.
“What? I’ve been calling you Auddie Girl in my head since I was like seventeen, so it’s already a private nickname.”
Something about Auddie Girl feels like I'm his in every possible sense.
“It’s your turn to be grilled.”
“Grill away, baby.” He sends a wink in my direction and my cheeks hurt from smiling.
I look at the fish swimming around in front of us as I nervously ask, “On the road, do you want to sleep in the same bed as me?”
“Yes, always, yes!” he says quickly, smiling down at me.
“And if someone asks who I am, what would you say?”
We move towards a tank full of seahorses, but I’m not convinced either of us are paying much attention.
“My girlfriend. If you’re into that sort of thing.” He gives me a sheepish grin.
“I think I can work with that.”
Holy shit, I can’t believe I’m Noah’s girlfriend …
When we get back to the hotel room, hand in hand, Connor hugs us both. “Thought I was going to die waiting for you to return. ‘Bout fucking time the two of you couple up.”
We all laugh before Noah and I tell him about our time exploring the aquarium.
“We gotta head out soon, you wanna come ahead with us? We have space on the bus since some of the guys went sightseeing. I know Sam’s wife is coming on the bus,” Connor tells me.
I nod. “Yeah, might as well. Let me just change first.”
“No worries, the van leaves in twenty minutes, but I was going to bug Derek and Sam about some stuff before we head out. So, I’ll see you downstairs.Twenty. Minutes.” He shoots a look at Noah that basically translates to “hands to yourself,” and I can’t help but laugh.
I have a sneaking suspicion Noah and I would need much more than twenty minutes.
As soon as the door closes I move towards my suitcase, pulling out Noah’s jersey and a pair of jeans.
I feel him watching me but I’m afraid to look up.
“How long do you need to get ready?” his voice cuts in, and I realize he’s moved to be beside me.
“Like five minutes. Why?” He’s quick to pick me up into his arms, throwing me onto the bed, igniting a girlish giggle from me.
