7. Noah
CHAPTER 7
NOAH
The sun is only beginning to rise when I finally wake. Jet lag has never hit me like this before, but the time off has thrown me out of whack, and it looks like my body will need some time to adjust.
Maddie sleeps peacefully in the bed beside mine, mouth hanging open and a puddle of drool forming on her pillow. I didn’t even hear her come to bed. That’s how hard I slept.
Having not traveled out of the states before, I can’t imagine how exhausted Sabrina was. Yet she insisted on taking Maddie out so I could rest. Sure, it’s her job, but she just as easily could have cued up movie after movie for my daughter while she dozed on the couch. Instead, she jumped in with both feet.
I slip out of bed and shuffle over to Maddie. Smiling, I push her hair back and bend to kiss the birthmark beside her ear.
Annie’s diagnosis almost shattered me. If not for this little girl, I don’t know that I would have made it after she was gone.
In the kitchen, I find the room service menu and scan the QR code. Thank fuck the kitchen opens so early. I desperately need food and coffee after being out for so long.
Without hesitation, I place an order for way too much food. What can I say? I want options.
As I turn the TV on, I scratch my stomach and survey the room. It looks far more lived in than it did before I went to sleep. Maddie’s shoes lie in one corner, both turned on their sides, and there’s a blanket in a pile on the floor. Already, crayons litter the top of the coffee table, along with her favorite coloring book.
Damn, my kid knows how to turn any place into a home.
Maybe her ability to adapt is why she’s handled losing her mom as well as she has.
Settled on the couch, I scroll through the channels. Before I’ve found anything that looks even remotely interesting, the door to the suite beeps.
Puzzled, I stand quickly. Room service shouldn’t be letting themselves in. Fisher usually has a key to my room, but I can’t imagine why he’d be coming by this early. I figured he’d be passed out for at least another hour.
Sabrina eases quietly into the room, closing the door silently as if not to disturb the other inhabitants of the suite. It all goes to waste when she turns around, catches sight of me, and screams.
Hand to her chest, she attempts to catch her breath. “Dammit, Noah. Give a girl a little warning next time.”
Her skin is damp with sweat, and she has her hair tied back with a scrunchie. The matching black running shorts and bra clinging to her every curve are doing things to me that they really shouldn’t.
I clear my throat, banishing the lust threatening to worm its way through me. “Sorry. I didn’t know you were gone.” With a sigh, I drop back to the couch. “You really shouldn’t be out running by yourself so early.”
She shrugs. “I’m still alive, aren’t I?”
My stomach clenches. “Not even funny.” I pick up the remote and focus on the TV again. “I ordered breakfast if you’re hungry.”
“I am actually. But,” she sniffs her arm and grimaces, “I should shower.”
God, she’s so fucking amusing even when she’s not trying to be.
“All right.” Angled back, I kick my feet up on the coffee table. “Food should be here when you’re done.”
I eventually settle on a reality show I’ve never seen before. I have no idea what’s going on, but I’ve always been a sucker for this kind of stuff. Annie used to poke fun at me for it. Damn, what I’d give to have her sitting here with me now, giggling over my choice of entertainment.
But no number of wishes can bring back the dead.
She’s gone, and life goes on, regardless of how painful it is.
I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t had Maddie. For months after Annie died, she was the reason I forced myself out of bed in the morning. Even tennis wasn’t enough to motivate me. Sure, I’d practiced plenty, but competing was virtually impossible. Not when my speed and stamina and drive had all disappeared.
Once I’ve tipped the server and closed the door behind him, I put the deadbolt in place and move the food to the long dining table. Then, without preamble, I pile a plate with fruit, eggs, and toast. To start, at least.
As I’m pouring a cup of coffee, the door to Sabrina’s room opens and she appears, freshly showered and smelling like that warm floral scent again.
I hold up my mug. “Coffee?”
The smile she responds with is small and a little tentative. “Yeah, please.”
I pour a second cup, and when she takes it from me, she wraps her fingers around it and pulls it close.
The smile dancing on her lips this time is full of mirth. “Cute of you to think I drink it without sweetener.”
“Ah, you’re one of those people.” I take a long sip. It’s decent for hotel brew.
“You bet I am.” She sets her cup on the table and snags three creamers from the bowl in the middle. She dumps them in, followed by three packets of sugar.
“Three of each, huh?”
She pulls out a chair and plops into it. “It’s my lucky number.”
“Three?” I shudder in an exaggerated way. “I hate odd numbers.”
Amusement lightens her eyes a hue. “An odd fear to have, but who am I to judge?”
She peeks under one cloche and forks a pancake, then spoons scrambled eggs from another before dousing both in syrup.
I can’t help but wrinkle my nose. “Now who’s the strange one?”
With a shrug, she uses the side of her fork to cut a hunk of pancake. “Plain eggs are gross.” She holds the utensil aloft and points it at me. “Thanks for getting my hair products back.”
I wave a dismissive hand. “You’re welcome.”
“I don’t know what that guy’s problem was.” Despite her words, the hurt in her eyes tells me she does.
Fuck. The sadness there makes me thankful I got the guy fired. “He’s always been a dick. Don’t take it personally.”
“I just wanted you to know I appreciate it. My hair is thankful too.”
With a laugh, I spear a piece of pineapple. “You’re welcome, and your hair is as well.”
She picks up her coffee and takes a sip. When she closes her eyes and exhales, it looks like she’s experiencing some sort of heavenly enlightenment. It occurs to me then, how early it is. “Have you slept at all?”
She lowers the mug and opens her eyes. “About three hours. I’m exhausted.” Attention averted, she cuts another piece of pancake. “But my body can’t seem to sleep.”
“You should try.”
“Maddie will probably be up soon. It’s fine. I’ll deal with it.”
“Jetlag can be rough. Some people never get used to it, but the first time is always the worst. Go back to bed after you eat. Practice isn’t for a few hours, and my first game isn’t until Monday.”
“How long does all of this last?” She circles her fork in the air.
“If I make it all the way to the final, then it’s fifteen days, though most are fourteen.”
Her mouth forms a perfect O. “That’s longer than I thought.”
I shrug. “There are a lot of players.”
“Will you fire me if I admit to knowing nothing about tennis?” Her lips quirk up on one side. “I could identify a racket and a ball, but that’s it.”
I lean back in the chair and bring my mug to my lips. “Nah, I’m stuck with you now.”
The sound of her responding laughter makes my stomach flip. Fuck. I lose my balance and my chair comes slamming back down into the carpet.
“Or is it that I’m stuck with you?” she counters, a mischievous glint in her dark eyes.
I shake my head, my shoulders tensing. “I guess we can agree that we’re mutually stuck.”
For the rest of breakfast, I watch my words and my thoughts, unwilling to allow my body to react to this girl. After we’re finished, I assure Sabrina one last time that I’m more than happy to keep Maddie with me for the morning so she can nap.
My little girl is still sleeping deeply when I enter our room. I grab a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, then sneak into the bathroom to change.
Once I’ve returned to the main area, I snag my phone from the dining room table, discovering I have a text from Fisher waiting.
Fisher: How’s it going with Sabrina? Liking her any better?
My throat tightens.
Yeah, and that’s a problem.