24. Veronica #3
I stand and kiss Trinity’s forehead, my hand slowly leaving hers as I walk over to Noah, coming into his side as his arm holds onto my waist. He turns his head to me and kisses my temple. “What’s going on?” I ask quietly.
Noah gulps thickly before talking. “She has an infection.”
“Oh, okay. Can we treat it?” I ask, feeling hopeful.
The doctor gives me a despairing look as Noah faces me and cradles the back of my head with one hand, the other still around my waist. He brings my head down to his shoulder, kissing my forehead with a sigh. “There’s no point…”
“Why not? Why would you say that?” My voice cracks, emotions clogging up my throat. I don’t move; I need his comfort just as much as he needs mine in this instant.
“Her organs are failing…” Those words are like a direct stab to my heart. I turn my head into him as the tears that have been on the verge of falling since we walked in finally let loose.
“I’m sorry,” Dr. Daltonsen says softly.
Noah nods against me. “I knew it was a matter of time.” I lift my head and look into his sad, heartbroken eyes.
Dr. Daltonsen steps closer, placing his hand on Noah’s back. “We’ll continue to treat her, give you both time to come to terms. But you should know that it won’t be long despite our best efforts.”
He squeezes my arm then retreats. “I’ll leave you both. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call. Again, my sincerest apologies.” He turns and exits the room.
We stand there for a moment, not wanting to pull away, not knowing how to accept this.
Eventually, Noah takes my hand and brings us over to Trinity.
He sits down in the chair and pulls me into his lap.
And for the next two hours, all we do is sit there in complete silence, staring at the young girl who lost her life too early.
The car ride home is silent, so are the next few hours in the penthouse.
Noah busied himself with drinking the minute we stepped out of the elevator, then went up to his room after a few heavy glasses.
I’m not taking it personally; I understand he needs his space right now, so I busy myself with cleaning, since it is still my job here.
It’s four in the afternoon when Gabe finally gets home.
He had some photoshoots and a commercial to do with some sponsors, so he’s been out of the house most of the day.
And I think it was for the best. Noah still doesn’t seem to want to tell people about his sister, and I’m not sure how we could have hidden his current mood if Gabe had been home.
“Damn, Vixen!” He comes up behind me, wrapping me in his arms and kissing my neck. “My girl is sexy as fuck!”
I giggle and turn to face him, throwing my arms around his neck and legs around his waist as he lifts me. “I missed you today.”
A heart-stopping grin reaches his ears. “Yeah, baby?” I nod. “I missed you, too. I always miss you the second I step out.” He brings his lips to mine, showing me just how much he missed me with his mouth. I moan and wiggle in his hold as heat begins to bloom in my core.
When we finally come up for air, my gaze falls on Noah who stands on the opposite side of the kitchen island, watching us. Gabe sets me down on the ground, and I pad over to Noah barefoot.
My hands slide up his chest, one going into his hair as he rests his on my hip. His hair is still damp from the shower he must have taken recently. I pull him down to me, claiming his mouth like Gabe did to me seconds ago.
Since I temporarily moved in last week, I’ve been sleeping in Noah’s bed, and every night, we fall beneath the sheets all together.
A mess of tangled limbs, sweaty bodies pressed up against each other until we give in to exhaustion.
And in the morning, when the sun rises, it’s only Noah and I in bed.
I hate waking up without Gabe, but I also love my little intimate moments with Noah, where he cuddles me and kisses every inch of my body.
Where we talk like normal lovers about everything and anything.
It makes every kiss shared between us feel different, deeper, as if we share something that’s just between me and him.
I love it. But I wish I had this with Gabe as well.
When I pull away and look into his deep chocolate eyes, all I see is love shining back at me. My heart dances in the most beautiful way every time he looks at me like that. Who knew this would be waiting for me on the other side once I finally gave into them?
Is this what the girls feel when they look at their partners? This warmth that keeps on growing, this need to have them at your side? To have all their little smiles, little touches, little whispers?
Because if it is, then I was wrong about Victor.
I never loved him the way I thought I did.
What I had with him never felt all consuming.
Never felt like he was my reason for breathing, my reason for existing.
I never felt a fraction of what I feel for these two men who worship the ground I walk on.
Which only leaves me with one realization.
I’ve fallen madly, head over heels, irrevocably in love with Noah Adler and Gabriel Ellis.