Chapter Thirty-Seven
Evie
I have a boyfriend.
I have a boyfriend!
Noah and I have our first official date at the Edenbury teen club, and as I drive to his house to pick him up, I’m a little nervous. Very excited, but nervous.
When I told him I wanted to pick him up in my car instead of him picking me up in his, I could tell he was hesitant.
After all, he can’t stand to be in my “dumpster car,” as he puts it.
But he told me he’s trying not to be such a neat freak, and that this is a step in the right direction.
What he doesn’t know, though, is that I have a surprise for him.
Before I got in my car, Lily couldn’t stop telling me over and over how excited she is for me and Noah.
Liam and my parents weren’t that shocked when I told them yesterday that we’re together.
Noah told me his mom suspected he had feelings for me and she must have told the rest of the Musketeers.
I’m pretty sure they were all waiting for us to come to our senses and just admit we liked each other.
So now I’m only a few feet away from my awesome boyfriend’s house and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. And my heart hasn’t stopped pounding.
Noah’s sitting on his front steps when I pull up before his house. He looks up, smiles, and my heart melts. Because Noah Barrington is the kindest, sweetest, hottest guy I’ve ever laid eyes on. And he’s all mine
Wow. All mine.
He leaps off the stairs and rushes over to me, his smile growing.
He looks just as excited to see me as I am to see him.
We video chatted before our date, but it seems we still can’t get enough of each other.
Am I always going to feel like this? I hope so because it’s the most incredible feeling in the world.
Lowering my window, I wave, giving him my own wide smile. “Hey, hubby.”
“Hey, wifey,” Noah says as he approaches the car. “How are you this fine Saturday evening?”
“Ten times better now that we’re together.”
His smile widens and he bends to kiss me, but then he pauses as he takes in the car. “You cleaned up?”
I shrug. “It was about time I did. Some things were just so…” I shiver in disgust. “You were right that it was a dumpster. I want you to be comfortable in my car.”
Cupping my cheeks, he places a slow, sweet kiss on my lips. “Thanks, Evie. But you didn’t have to do that. I’m letting go of my need for order and cleanliness.”
“I know, but my car needed to be cleaned out, anyway. And then I’ll start clearing out the basement. Want to help?”
“You bet. But how will you paint if the room is too clean? You said you need the mess.”
I shrug. “I’ll have to get used to it. It’s fine, Noah. Don’t worry.”
After giving me another sweet kiss, he gets in the car and buckles himself in. Scanning the car for a bit, he chuckles. “I’m so not used to this.” He glances in the back seat, where I left a bag of snacks. “I see you still have your snacks.”
“Yep. Can’t let go of my gummy worms. Are you ready for our first official date?”
Noah slides his hand into mine. “I’m ready to begin our wonderful journey of life together.”
I smile at him, my cheeks a little warm. “You think we’ll be together forever like our parents?”
Resting his hand on my cheek, he strokes it. “I know we will.”
After another kiss, we head for the club. We talk about everything—like our upcoming gig tomorrow, and our families being so excited for us, about school and the future. I can talk to this guy for hours and hours and it’ll never be enough.
We reach the club, which is packed. Noah holds my hand tightly, like he doesn’t want us to get separated in the crowd, and I hold on just as tightly because I don’t want to let this guy go.
This guy who only a few weeks ago was my biggest enemy, the guy I thought I couldn’t stand, and now he’s the love of my life.
Noah turns to me with a smile. “What are you thinking about?” he shouts over the loud music. The band that is performing is pretty good, but they have nothing on The Rock’n Jocks.
Squeezing his hand, I pull him to me. “Just how crazy all this is. Us being together, I mean. Crazy in a good way.”
He nods as we find a corner where there aren’t that many people dancing and gently twirls me around until my back presses against his chest. His lips trail along my ear as he whispers, “Want to dance with me?”
Turning around, I place my hands on his chest, feeling his heart thumping. “I’d love to dance with you. But let’s do it right this time. No running away.”
His smile is sweet. “I’m not letting you go, Evie. Ever. As long as you’ll have me, I promise to never leave your side.”
I bend forward to kiss him. “I’m not letting you out of my sight, Mr. Rockstar. Even when you’re famous and girls are throwing themselves at you, I’ll make it known that you’re mine.”
Wrapping his arms around me, he holds me close and we sway to the beat of the soft music. “Girls might throw themselves at me, but you’ll always be the only girl I see.”
I stretch my neck and kiss him. We spend a few minutes making out, not paying attention when people knock into us. We’re in our own bubble, and nothing and no one can burst it.
I lower my head to his chest and he rests his head on mine as we continue to sway.
I think back to the night of my birthday, how amazing it felt to dance with him in the gazebo.
And of course I think about the almost kiss and how I fled from him.
I was confused and scared. But I’m not confused or scared anymore. I know exactly what I want.
Noah sweeps his lips across my cheek as we continue to share this special, magical moment.
I’ve waited eighteen years to fall in love and I’m happy to say the wait was worth it.
I’m happy I’ll get to experience new things with my amazing man, and I can’t wait to embark on the path called life together with him.
It sucks that we won’t see each other every second of every day when we go off to college.
But we’ll only be an hour away from each other.
It’s funny how only a few weeks ago, when he decided to attend Astor University, I was happy to attend a college so far from him.
But I’m glad we’ll be together now. Because I don’t think my heart could handle being apart.
“What are you thinking about?” Noah whispers, his lips near my ear. It sends a shiver through me.
“Just about college and the future.”
“Our amazing future,” he says. “I can’t wait.”
I press my lips to his cheek. “Me, either.”
We don’t say much as we continue to enjoy this moment. I want to stay like this forever, but even though we can’t, I know there will be many, many more opportunities.
After a few minutes pass, Noah lifts his head. “Want a drink?”
“Okay, sure. Thanks.”
He pecks my lips with another sweet smile that melts my heart. “See you soon.”
I watch the other people dancing, some with partners, some with friends, and I’m uplifted by how happy and excited everyone is. There’s just something about the vibe in this club that makes you not want to stop dancing.
The band thanks us for having them and walks off the stage, letting the next band perform. My eyes widen when I spot, Elliot, Wyatt, and Mateo walk onto the stage and set up.
What the…?
My eyes nearly fly off my face when I take in the last member to walk on the stage with his guitar slung across his chest. Noah.
What are they doing up there? And why aren’t I up there, too? And last I checked, our gig is tomorrow, not today.
Smiling at the audience, Noah walks up to the mic. “How are you all doing tonight?”
The crowd cheers. I just gape at him.
Noah’s eyes meet mine and he gives me his signature sweet smile. “Thank you for being here tonight. We’re The Rock’n Jocks—maybe you’ve heard of us?”
The crowd erupts in more cheers.
Noah grins. “Thank you, thank you. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for you guys. So thanks!”
They cheer again.
Noah’s eyes meet mine again. “Tonight, I’d like to dedicate this song to a very special person.
This girl has been a thorn in my side all my life.
She drives me up the wall and sometimes she makes me want to tear my hair out.
” He chuckles. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
She changed my life. Enriched it. She’s made me a better person.
She’s my world and I want everyone to know that.
” He points at me, and everyone looks over each other, searching for who he’s talking about.
“I wrote this song after our special moment in the gazebo. I didn’t mean to write it, but I guess my heart wrote it for me.
I was so shocked and confused that I hid the pages in my desk drawer.
But I’m not confused anymore. I want to share this song and let the whole world know how I feel about my magnificent girl.
My darling Evie Hastings, the love of my life, this is for you! ”
When everyone realizes he’s referring to his co-lead singer, their applause practically shoots through the roof.
Noah winks at me, then nods to Elliot for a beat and they start jamming it out.
My heart nearly explodes out of my chest when Noah starts singing the song.
It’s about a dark-haired girl with paint in her hair whom he can’t stop thinking about.
A girl who’s a complete mystery to him and he’d like to unwrap her like a gift.
He’d like to get to know her. She’s the girl of his dreams. They fight and argue and can’t stand each other most of the time, but he’s hers.
Completely hers. And he wants her to be his.
Everyone is captivated by the words, no one uttering a single thing and most hardly moving or dancing.
I just stare at him as he moves around the stage, confidently singing into the mic.
This song is very different from our usual ones.
It’s soft and romantic and oh my gosh, it’s the most extraordinary thing I’ve ever heard in my life.