Chapter 16
NOAH
My feet hit the floor before my alarm went off.
Hurricanes of butterflies exploded in my gut, the whooshing and excitement of last night not dimming one bit.
Em kissed me. Em wanted me. The forever-friend.
I laughed, unable to believe what happened.
I’d acted like a jealous ass, and she kissed me. Fuck.
I scrubbed my hand over my face, replaying the moment her lips touched mine and how the heat of her mouth sent shudders through me. My blood heated thinking about it, and every part of me ached for her all over again. But for every hope, there was a pit of nerves clawing their way up my spine.
She could regret it. Hell, maybe she did already.
And I wouldn’t blame her. I had Miles. I had the lawsuit.
I had parents who saw my life as one long mistake.
They’d always been critical of me. Are you sure you want to play football?
That’s not a real career. Why don’t you date?
Something wrong with you? Their words circled my head like a warning: You can’t handle a child and the team.
Maybe that was why Nat chose me. They were negative.
I blew out a breath and forced myself to stand up straighter. No spiraling. Not yet. Last night had happened. She’d kissed me back—really kissed me—and that meant something. I had to show her I wasn’t going to disappear this time. I’d do this right. Slow. Whatever pace made her feel safe.
I tugged on sweats and a hoodie, grabbed Sassy’s leash, and slipped out of my room quietly.
The condo was still dark. Em’s door was shut, the soft glow of her nightlight bleeding under the edge.
Miles’s room was silent except for the white noise machine humming away.
I walked down the hall, Sassy trotting beside me excited to be let out.
I’d never say it to Em, but I hated the thought of her walking Sassy alone outside before the sun came up.
I’d gladly do this for her every night and day. I wanted to do this for her.
Outside, the air was sharp and the sidewalks were empty except for the guy who always jogged with terrible form around the block. Sassy wagged and sniffed her way down the street, stopping every few feet to inspect something only she cared about.
My mind wouldn’t quit.
I’d always been the friend. The safe dude.
The guy who drove people home and carried their crap and didn’t make moves because I didn’t want to mess anything up.
In college, girls trusted me with everything except the part where they wanted me.
I learned to live with that. I made peace with it.
Then when I got big with the NFL, girls wanted me, but it was for fame.
Sure, I had fun, but none of them were Em.
Em had never been some girl. She was…the fucking one. And now I couldn’t screw up the one chance I had. I refused.
Back at the condo, Sassy bounded inside and immediately nudged her bowl.
I fed her, made breakfast for Miles, then pulled out the pan again and made something for Em.
I moved quietly through the kitchen and started packing lunches.
Miles’s was easy—fruit, crackers, a sandwich the way he liked, and the granola bar he swore made him faster.
I hesitated before grabbing a second container and started filling one for Em too.
She always said she’d grab something later, but later usually meant nothing except coffee.
If I could make her morning a little easier, I was going to.
She always said she hated having to tell guys to do things for her, and I knew her.
I was sealing the lid when soft footsteps came down the hall. My heart thudded as they neared the kitchen, and that was when I heard a soft, “Noah?”
I turned.
She stood there in the doorway, hair sticking up on one side, eyes half-lidded behind her glasses, drowning in pajamas she definitely didn’t intend to be seen in. My hoodie hung off one shoulder. She looked warm and soft and sleepy in a way that knocked the air clean out of my chest.
My brain short-circuited. That was the only explanation.
“Morning,” I said, and my voice cracked like I was fifteen. Great. Real smooth.
She blinked, her pretty eyes all sleepy. And I swore they lit up while she stared at me. “You’re…up early.”
“Yeah.” I held up the container like a shield. “Packing lunch. I gotta head into the stadium all day. I let Sassy out for you, so she’s good.”
Em smiled, her eyes crinkling on the sides as she neared me. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know, but her and I have an understanding.”
On cue, the dog rested her head on my foot. Something tugged at my chest, the same possessive feeling I had about Em shifting toward Sassy. I didn’t want the dog, or Em, to ever leave this apartment.
Em jutted her chin toward the counter, bringing my thoughts back to normal. “That for Miles?”
“And you.” The second the words left my mouth, heat climbed up my neck. “Only if you want it. You don’t have to. It’s there if—yeah.”
She stared at the container, then at me, then back again, a cute little line forming between her brows. “Wait, you made me lunch?” Her voice was tiny and very awake now.
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling every inch of embarrassment prickling under my skin. “Just figured you’d have a long day. Thought it might help.”
A slow, warm flush crept across her cheeks. She didn’t hide it.
“That’s…really nice,” she said quietly. “Thank you, Noah.”
Hearing my name like that—soft, careful—did something to me I wasn’t prepared for. My chest tightened, and I had to glance away before I did something stupid like stare at her mouth again.
She padded closer, still sleepy, still tugging at the sleeve of her hoodie. “Miles still asleep?”
“For now. I’ll wake him in a minute.” I forced myself to keep my voice steady. “You can go back to bed if you want. I know you were up.”
She shook her head, yawning into her hand. “No, I’m up. Maybe not upright mentally, but physically I’m here.”
I huffed a laugh, relieved she sounded like herself. “Barely.”
She narrowed her eyes playfully. “Careful. I’m emotionally fragile in the mornings.”
That shouldn’t have hit me as hard as it did.
I wanted to pull her in, kiss her forehead, ask how she slept, ask if she thought about last night as much as I did. But I couldn’t push. Not yet. Not when the air between us was so new and fragile and full.
So I kept my hands on the counter and swallowed the urge.
“You look tired,” she said, softer now.
“Long night,” I admitted.
Her gaze dipped—slow, knowing, deliberate. “Same.”
My pulse kicked hard against my ribs. I hoped she didn’t notice.
An awkward silence settled over us, but not the bad kind. The kind that meant we were thinking a lot, maybe the same thing, maybe not, but both of us were too unsure to say it out loud.
I cleared my throat. “I, uh… gotta head in soon. Wednesdays are heavy.”
She nodded. “Big practice day.”
“Yeah.”
Another beat of quiet.
I wanted to kiss her again. God, I wanted to. She was right there—sleep-warm, soft-eyed, wearing my clothes like she belonged in them. But I wasn’t risking pushing her before she was ready.
“Lunch is on the counter,” I managed. “If you want it.”
“I do,” she said gently. “Thank you again.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, tired but warm. It landed square in my chest. “Hey,” I said, nearing her and fighting every impulse to kiss her. “Do you have plans tonight?”
That wrinkled appeared again. “What do you mean?”
“I want to spend time with you,” I said, cupping her face and running my thumb over her bottom lip.
She sucked in a breath, eyes widening as I licked my lips.
Her skin was so damn smooth and soft. “I can’t take you on a nice date or a fancy dinner.
Not with Miles now, but I can cook for you. Put on your favorite show.”
“Noah,” she said, smiling as she leaned into my hand. God, my hand almost covered her entire face. She was so fucking cute. “I don’t want a nice date or fancy dinner. That’s not me.”
I couldn’t stop the smile. “Yeah, you’re more ramen in the library or pizza on paper plates on the floor, aren’t you?”
Something flashed across her face, and I couldn’t catch what it meant. I wasn’t sure if her expression was embarrassment or worse. But I didn’t get a chance to react. Small, loud footsteps thudded down the hall, and Em slipped out of my hand, her face pink with a blush.
“Uncle Miles! I rode a dragon with mom! She-she-she was there and told me she loved me.”
Fuck. Every mention of my sister was physically painful in my gut. And Em sucked in a breath, reaching out to grip my forearm in warning. Sassy’s tail thumped hard on the floor as Miles skidded to a halt in his Batman pajamas and messy hair.
“Hi, girl!” He bent down to pet her, and Sassy was overjoyed. Her tail thumped harder as she got up and kissed and snuggled Miles to the point he giggled. “She loves me! Uncle Miles, watch me! She loves me! Em do you see this!”
“I sure do!” Em crouched and grabbed Sassy gently by the collar to remove her from Miles’s lap. “You know, people say that dogs are the best judge of character.”
“Judge?”
“Yeah, like they determine who really good people are and they only love and snuggle the good ones.”
“Like me?”
“Exactly like you.”
Miles beamed and hugged Sassy hard. I moved to stop it, but Sassy took the hug and laid her head on top of Miles’s shoulder. Em met my eyes, her gaze softening with emotion as Sassy seemed to hug Miles back.
God, my eyes prickled seeing how this damn dog was bringing Miles’s joy back to life. There was no way he could handle Sassy leaving. I cleared my throat and moved to him, holding out a fist. “Hey, buddy, you gonna be good for Ms. Em today?”
“Oh yes. Adventures, right?”
Em grinned like a Cheshire cat, and they both giggled.
“Okay, good. No trouble. I hear Santa is taking notes all the way in September,” I said, ruffling Miles’s hair.