Chapter 15 Noah
Fifteen: Noah
Time of your Life - KAYKO
My mouth goes slack when she steps out of the bedroom two hours later. She’s wearing a black mini dress that hugs her body perfectly and is leaving little to my imagination. Her makeup is done and her hair is curled in a cascade down her back.
But, it’s the red lipstick that gets me—that has me readjusting my dick in my pants.
“Ready to go?!” Connor calls out.
Internally, I say, “I think I’d rather stay here … with her.” Out loud I say, “Yup. Let’s go!”
We all pile into a taxi van and head towards the club. I’m grateful the four of them don’t seem to realize how quiet I am on the ride but as we get out of the van, Audrey looks at me with a worried expression.
“You okay?”
How do I tell her every hormone in my body is on high alert for her right now? That I want to press her against the brick wall and taste her lips. That I’ve never felt so out of control?
“Yeah, I’m good,” I lie, giving her a reassuring smile before following Connor towards the main entrance. Patron’s Palace is a multi-level club that is always packed on game nights.
It's busy and I fight the urge to reach out to grab Audrey’s hand as we move towards our teammates in the VIP section.
I’m not huge on going out to clubs, but Audrey’s presence—and her outfit—might change my mind.
I try not to react as my team members greet her with eager expressions, especially as they take in her dress.
I know she’s met a few of them in years past and knowing Connor, he’s made it clear: hands off.
A figure bumps against me, drawing my attention away from Audrey. Kristen from earlier is smiling up at me. “Ohmigosh, so sorry!” Her hand reaches for my arm as she giggles. “Oh, heyyyyy, Noah!”
“Hi, Kristen.”
I go to move away from her, towards Audrey and the rest of the team, but Kristen steps in front of me again.
“Wow, you remember my name!” she squeals. “Wanna buy me a drink?”
I try not to groan at her fluttering eyelashes or the fact that she already has a drink in her hand.
“Maybe later. I have people waiting for me …” I go to move around her again, trying to scan for the others, but Kristen takes that as an opportunity to hug me.
What the fuck?
I don’t want to assume she usually acts like this, or that she’s had too much to drink, but her need to be so close in my space is too much for my taste. Especially when I’m eager to be back with Audrey. I remove Kristen’s arms from around my waist. “Sorry, Kristen. My friends are waiting for me.”
She steps back far enough that I can step away. I see Audrey’s gaze fixed on Kristen, a scowl on her face.
Is my Auddie Girl jealous?
I try to keep my expression neutral as I move towards the group. I sit down in the oversized booth, beside the prettiest girl in this place.
“You okay?” I lean into her so she can hear me over the music.
“Yeah …” she lies, taking a long gulp of her drink. “Totally cool with girls throwing themselves all over you. Yup. Not an issue at all.”
Before I can respond, she stands, grabbing Selena and Fiona’s arms, zipping towards the bathroom.
Connor shifts over in the booth with a perplexed expression. ”What the fuck was that?”
I lean back, shaking my head with amusement. “Oh, I assume your sister realized she’s jealous of other girls being all over me and is currently panicking because it means we need to talk about our feelings.”
Connor chuckles. “Fuck, you two are going to give me gray hair, aren’t you?”
“Don’t look at me, I think she’ll be doing that all on her own.”
A few minutes later the girls exit the bathroom, but instead of coming back to the booth, they head out to the dance floor and Audrey is sporting a very determined expression.
What are you up to?
Audrey closes her eyes, throwing her hands up in the air in a carefree manner and drawing the eyes of a few men nearby.
When someone taps her shoulder, she opens her eyes and smiles at them, but I don’t miss the way her eyes dart towards me momentarily. Neither does Connor.
It’s like she’s hoping I jump across the bar and claim her like a caveman, but she knows me better than that. She’s panicking and I have to let her.
“Man, is she testing the waters right now? I love my sister, but goddammit, don’t punch some guy out for looking at her the wrong way.”
I take a sip of my beer, completely unphased. “I won’t, you punched the only guy that I want to. I’ll let her have her moment.”
The man slips his arms around her waist and she moves in sync with the music, while he moves as if he’s in a much more intimate setting.
Maybe her having a few one-night stands or other relationships is what she needs. She’s only ever been with Paul, so I don’t want her to jump from him to me as a rebound. Not unless she’s certain.
Because once she's mine, there’s no way I’m letting go.
I know in my heart that I won’t be a rebound for her, but I want her to figure things out on her own. From the look on her face, I can tell she’s not connecting with whatshisface. She locks eyes with me, then frowns as she steps away from him. The frown doesn't fade until she reaches me.
Her hands fall onto her hips and I take a sip of my beer, trying to disguise the smirk on my face. I haven’t seen her this riled up since someone started a rumor that I kissed another girl under the bleachers when I was in grade eleven. “You good?”
Connor gets up from beside me. “I’ll let you two talk. I don’t need another drunk ‘miscommunication mishap’ on my hands, I’m out.”
“Am. I. Good?” she huffs out.
“Yes, that was the question.” Her reaction is highly amusing, and now I’m really turned on.
“What about this is funny? None of it feels funny to me.” She throws her hands up in frustration, moving towards me. When she’s close enough, I gently pull her onto the leather couch beside me.
I lean into her, near enough to smell her floral perfume and the wine on her breath. It’s intoxicating. “All of it, Auddie.”
She shifts so her face is inches from mine, her warm breath tickling my lips, as if she’s hoping I’ll kiss her. “Wh-why?”
“Because … you were trying to make me jealous. But here’s the thing, I can’t be jealous of any man in this club. Do you want to know why?”
Her eyes widen and her lips part slightly.
Fuck, I want to kiss her so much.
Focus, Noah.
I work up the courage to place my hand on her bare knee, trying to stay composed as fireworks surge through my skin.
“Because you didn’t wear any of their numbers today, you’re not going to sleep in their bed tonight, and none of them have ever watched A Walk to Remember with you.
” I brush my finger across her cheek. “Have your fun, be single for a bit. Have the time of your life. If that’s what you want or need.
But you know I’ll be here waiting on the other side—all the while getting reacquainted with all my favorite parts of you.
” My finger grazes her scarlet-colored lips. “And learning some new ones.”
There’s a stunned expression on her face, as if she’s trying to make sense of my words.
“Auddie, it’s on your time, your terms … I won’t force this. I won’t rush it. But I’m here. I’m choosing you.”
The couch is uncomfortable, but I don’t care. Knowing that tomorrow night I’ll fall asleep in the bed where she currently lays is good enough for me. After our conversation, she stuck by Selena and Fiona most of the night, seeming to avoid me as much as possible. I’m not sure if I scared her away.
The sound of a door opening startles me and I squint to read the time on the stove, 3:47 a.m. Gentle footsteps move down the hallway towards the kitchen, so I close my eyes expecting a light to turn on. Instead, the sound of Audrey sighing and the creaking of the coffee table fills the space.
I keep my eyes shut and try to slow my breathing, wanting to see what she says or does first.
“Noah?” Her voice is scratchy, vulnerable—but my eyes stay closed.
“I’m sorry about tonight, that was beyond immature.
I don’t know what came over me. Watching that girl wrapped around you had me seeing red.
And my brain was like, ‘He’s not even your boyfriend, who cares?
’ But I do care. Still, for me to go and dance with other guys instead of you wasn’t the right move.
I know that. It’s why I stayed with the girls the rest of the night.
I was kicking rocks because I acted childish—which was also not the mature way to make it right.
You’ve had my whole heart for so long Noah …
so much of my grieving post-breakup had nothing to do with Paul. ”
Her hand lands on mine, sending electric currents through me as she continues, “Connor told me it’s his fault you called and told me not to go to school in Texas.
Maybe we each hold our own blame, but that was a long time ago now.
I know you said you used to love me, and maybe somewhere along the line, you can learn to love me again.
For now, I hope you’ll forgive me first.”
I wrap my hand around hers and she gasps.
“Hi,” I whisper, opening my eyes.
In the darkness, I can barely make out her features, but I know part of her is panicking and wishing she could run away right now. This was clearly supposed to be a trial run for an apology she’d give me tomorrow.
“I didn’t m-mean to w-wake you,” she stammers after a beat of silence.
“You didn’t, I’ve been restless all night,” I admit.
“You can take your bed back,” she offers, looking down at the ground.
“I’m fine here. Carry on with what you wanted to say.”
She lets out a soft laugh. “It was going to be ten times easier if you were sleeping.”
I drop my hand from hers, turning to lay on my back with my eyes closed.
“What are you doing?” I can hear the smile in her voice.
“Fake sleeping. Duh.”
She exhales, and it sounds like she shifts on the coffee table. A hand lands on the side of my face. “You’re too sweet, Noah Benson.”
My lips twitch but I don’t reply with words, just the sound of fake snores.
She stifles a laugh before speaking again, “The worst part of my breakup wasn’t realizing I settled for someone who never held a candle to you—never gave me butterflies.
It was realizing that I was the liar in the relationship long before Paul was, because I never loved him. Not the way I loved you.”
Her words make my eyes open, but her hand lands over my face.
“Close your eyes so I can get through this, okay?” she pleads as a smile fills my face.
“Yes, ma’am.” Fuck, she’s cute.
“You always felt like a safe space to me and he just felt … subpar. My heart shattered when you left, and it had nothing to do with me being a hormonal teenager. When Paul told me it was over, I expected to cry; but when the door slammed, my first thought was you. I’m embarrassed to admit how often my first thought has been you over the last few years. ”
She sighs, so I whisper, “Can I open my eyes for a second?”
“Fine.”
I sit up, and put a hand on her cheek as her profile outline comes back into view.
Her eyes are watery and when a single tear escapes, I wipe it away.
“Auddie, there are a million things I’m sorry for.
I don’t know where we go from here officially, but I know you still have some stuff to work through and figure out.
I don’t want you rushing into something you’re not ready for.
I chose you too late, I know that. But here we are, back in each other's lives and for now, that’s good enough for me.
It’s a lot for me too, trying to figure everything out.
It feels like no time has passed, but I also know there’s almost seven years of Auddie I barely know. ”
“Yeah.” Audrey runs a hand through her hair anxiously, and a part of me worries she’s shutting down, I know she wants to internalize.
“You wanna get some sleep, circle back to this tomorrow or another day?”
She nods slowly. “Kinda.”
When she moves to stand, I let my hand reach for her. “I meant it when I said, ‘your time, your terms.’ I’m patient so don’t try to run before you can walk.”
Her hand squeezes mine. “Goodnight, Noah.”
“Goodnight, beautiful.”
The creaking floor lets me know that she’s moving away from me and long after I hear her bedroom door close, I stare unblinking at the ceiling.