Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
AUDREY
The Hurricanes miraculously pull out a win even after all the injury drama.
Chrissy and I hold hands outside the arena where the players exit.
I’ve filled her in on the whole thing and sent Nicole home with Davide.
I’m not usually touchy feely like this with other ladies, but her hand is the only thing keeping me from bolting right now.
I don’t want to make a scene in front of all his teammates, but my fingers itch for his touch.
I know there’s so much to talk about. I know he and I are on the same page, but I need to figure out which paragraph.
I think I knew the second I got in the Town Car earlier today that he was going to take me back.
The standard I had been holding myself to was choking me.
I couldn’t breathe through the pressure of keeping Noah at arm's length and my family happy. I couldn’t think straight.
My mind was a jumble of clients’ Instagram posts and the lingering feeling of his mouth on mine.
I was jumpy, wondering what my family would demand of me next.
I cared so much about what they thought when they didn't think that much of me. So I’m finally putting myself first for once in my life.
Noah approaches us dressed in his slacks, carrying his bag. He gestures toward where his car is parked. “Shall we?” I nod and follow him like a little puppy. I turn to glance at Chrissy who is giving me an enthusiastic thumbs up. I shoot her a small smile.
The drive to Noah’s house is contemplatively quiet. I’m chewing on the inside of my cheeks as he navigates us through the darkened Houston streets. He turns to me. “I can practically feel you overthinking.”
I set my hands on my knees. “I know. I’m not trying to be like this. It’s just a lot all at once.”
He returns his eyes to the road as he drives through his neighborhood gate.
“What else do you want to know?”
“You sent me the ticket for today.” It’s not a question.
“Yes.” He smirks at me, the streetlights coming and going over his face. “And the gifts. Don’t forget those.”
“Right.” I blush, knowing I have many of those gifts on right now, including the black lace lingerie set. “Which means…?”
“That I want to be together. No matter what. I’m sorry for the way I left things after the BBQ.
I was just surprised. Not by you, but by the timing of it.
We weren’t anything serious yet, and according to you we would never be, but you’re giving me these pieces of you that I didn’t deserve to have.
I’m glad you gave me the time to figure out what I want.
I work hard to keep myself level-headed, and I didn’t want anything I said to hurt you, so I needed to take time to think. ”
We pull into his driveway, and he puts the car in park and turns in his seat to look at me fully.
“And what do you want?”
“I want you. Us. I want to give this a shot.”
“And you’re good with no kids?”
“I can say wholeheartedly that, right now, I am open to not having kids. I understand that as time moves on I might change my mind because I haven’t thought about this as much as you have, but I’m willing to ride this wave with you now.
I promise that if anything changes there will be an open and honest line of communication about it.
” I lean into his words that are breaking my heart free of its chains.
I put my hand in his upturned one. “I would never want you to be unhappy. Even if that means being with someone else.”
“The book I read said we should pick a later date and revisit this then, but…” He squeezes my hand and continues. “We have a lot of missed time to make up for—and I want to start making up for all the hours I couldn’t touch you over the last two weeks…starting right now.”
In a blink, Noah’s pupils blow wide with attraction.
I move my hand to his thigh and let it rest. I tighten my fingers a little on either side to feel the strength hidden there under his dress slacks.
Noah makes a strangled noise. “If you keep touching me like that, we aren’t going to make it inside before I see if you are wearing that lingerie I sent over, babe. ”