Noah
Ihope this isn’t stupid.
It’s been so damn long since I’ve been in a relationship, but I know I want to do whatever I can, whenever I can, to make Chance smile.
So hopefully, this will do that, even if I feel slightly ridiculous.
I walk into my office and find Chance going over game footage to prepare for Friday. He looks up at me with those sparkling eyes and a bright smile. “Morning.”
He was in my bed only hours ago, but I’ve missed him since that time. I want to lean in and kiss him, but it’s too risky at school, so instead I say, “Good morning.” Then I hand him the white box I’m holding.
He takes it, looking slightly suspicious as he lifts the lid. Then he barks out a loud laugh. “No. Way.”
“Happy Halloween.” I know it’s his favorite holiday, so I stopped by the local bakery this morning to pick up a half dozen of their special holiday donuts.
They’re decorated for Halloween. One looks like an eyeball. One is a decorated jack-o-lantern. Another a spiderweb. They went all-out.
“This is fucking awesome,” he says excitedly, and for a moment, I think he’s going to stand up and kiss me. And I want that badly.
I don’t want to worry about kissing my boyfriend.
Goddammit, when will this end?
“Thank you, Noah.” His voice pulls me from the melancholy he must have realized I was falling into. “It means the world to me.”
“They’re just donuts, I say, but I’m smiling again.
“Halloween-themed donuts.” His eyes sparkle, and I love that.
“Well, it is your favorite holiday.”
“Yes. We still on for tonight?” he asks, and I’m about to answer him when I hear footsteps outside the door.
“Oh, you two have plans tonight?” I look over to see Anthony standing at the door, his eyes falling on the box in Chance’s lap. “Festive.”
“Uh, yeah . . .” Chance holds the box up in offering. “You want one, sir?”
Anthony studies the donuts and takes one, looking almost childlike in his delight. “Don’t mind if I do.” He takes the chair next to Chance. “So, you boys have plans tonight then?”
I stiffen because it shouldn’t feel this way, but it seems like a trap. But Chance thrives at this kind of stuff. “We do. Can you believe Noah here hasn’t seen the original Halloween movie?”
Anthony chuckles. “I can’t. It’s a classic.”
Chance nods in agreement. “It is. So we have to fix that.”
I’m still holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop, but Anthony isn’t acting weird at all. Neither is Chance.
It’s only me who’s frozen in my spot.
“It’s so good to see you two getting along,” Anthony says, munching on the donut. “I knew it would work out.”
“You did?” I finally ask, surprised because I wasn’t happy when he told me about my new assistant coach.
“I did. You’re a damn good coach, Noah. And so is Chance. I knew this would be the perfect match.”
He stands from his seat, finishing off his donut. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity,” Chance says earnestly.
“You earned it, son,” Anthony says with a smile and then a wave in my direction before leaving my office.
I feel a little uneasy, but it’s clear Anthony is fond of Chase, which makes me feel a little bit better.
We eat donuts and go over game tape after that. But the entire time, I can’t stop staring at his damn lips and craving a taste of him.
“I’ve never seen the original Halloween, huh?” I ask as we finish up with plans for the game, and he laughs.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to say, so I resorted to giving you shit. Seemed fitting.”
I look at his mouth and then force my gaze up to his eyes—which are sparkling knowingly. “It worked. Thank you. I uh . . .” I grip the back of my neck, feeling pretty damn useless. “I’m not good with that kind of stuff.”
“Lying?” he asks with a grin. “I’m fully okay with that as your boyfriend.”
I still can’t get over how good that sounds. “I don’t want to hide it anymore. I’m so damn tired of it.” The conversation turns sour quickly. I know he’d rather joke and tease, but it’s not that funny anymore.
I want to be free to kiss him wherever I want, and it’s not fair to him to hide away to protect my reputation in the town.
“I know you don’t. Let’s get the football season finished at least. Maybe even get these boys to state.”
I nod slowly, but I still feel like I’m letting him down. He moves to me and lifts my chin with his hand.
“Noah,” he whispers.
I look at him, hating myself for not being able to give him the world. “I’m so sorry. I want—”
“I want that too,” he interrupts. “I want it all with you, but we have time. Lots of time because I’m not going anywhere.”
“Thank you for being patient with me.”
He quickly glances behind him, then turns back to me, leaning down and placing a hard kiss on my lips before pulling back. “Always.”
“I won’t make you wait much longer,” I say firmly as he drops his hold on my chin, but he only smiles at that.
“You brought me Halloween donuts.” He’s grinning wide. “How difficult was that for you to order?”
I feel my cheeks pinking, but I just grunt something incoherent, and he laughs it off.
“You’ll have to tell me all about it tonight,” he says, and once again, I feel light and happy because I know he’ll be in my bed tonight. After watching many, many horror movies, I’m sure. And I really can’t wait for it.
He may be fine with hiding, but I’m not.
I have to find a way to tell everyone very soon that this man is mine.
And I’m his.