Chapter 23 Audrey
Twenty-Three: Audrey
With You - Tyler Shaw
I’ve spent the better part of the morning trying not to jump across the diner table to kiss Noah.
The kiss this morning was far better than I could’ve imagined.
I was worried that if I didn’t stop, we’d never come up for air.
But honestly, I could’ve spent all day in bed with him—getting to know the adult version of him in ways I’ve only imagined.
But I also love experiencing this side of him. Walking down the street side by side playing tourist is a great trade-off, especially when he suggested we go to the aquarium.
I haven’t been to one in forever so when the building comes into view, I begin to feel giddy.
“Hand holding?” Noah asks, suddenly.
“What?”
“I’m just trying to figure out what you like.” He scratches his neck nervously.
Why is he so cute?
“You can hold my hand,” I tell him confidently.
His hand finds mine instantly, shooting fireworks through my skin. “What’s your thought on hugging in public or me holding you against me?”
I turn around so I’m in front of him. “Noah, you can touch me however you want, whenever you want.” He flashes me a wicked grin, earning a playful smack. “Behave yourself, that's not what I meant.”
Okay, maybe a little bit.
“Sorry, Auddie. I’ll be good.” He squeezes my hand as we buy tickets. “Alright, back to all the questions I have.” He smirks. “Forehead kisses?”
“Always.”
“Nicknames?”
I cringe as the word pumpkin comes into my head.
“What?
“Paul called me Pumpkin the day we all went out to dinner together and I almost threw up. So skip that one.”
“Weird choice, I think I’ll just stick with Auddie,” he says as we walk into the building towards a row of oversized fish tanks.
“You don’t have to.” I blush, fixating on the colorful fish swimming around in front of us.
“Hmm, okay. Can I call you baby?” He leans towards me, whispering in my ear. My face brightens all the more. “I’ll take that as a yes. What about Auddie Girl? Is that one okay, too?”
An involuntary whimper escapes my mouth, shocking both of us.
Noah wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Reaction noted. I’ll save that one for our private moments, I guess.”
“Shut up!” I groan through a laugh.
“What? I’ve been calling you Auddie Girl in my head since I was like seventeen, so it’s already a private nickname.”
Something about Auddie Girl feels like I'm his in every possible sense.
“It’s your turn to be grilled.”
“Grill away, baby.” He sends a wink in my direction and my cheeks hurt from smiling.
I look at the fish swimming around in front of us as I nervously ask, “On the road, do you want to sleep in the same bed as me?”
“Yes, always, yes!” he says quickly, smiling down at me.
“And if someone asks who I am, what would you say?”
We move towards a tank full of seahorses, but I’m not convinced either of us are paying much attention.
“My girlfriend. If you’re into that sort of thing.” He gives me a sheepish grin.
“I think I can work with that.”
Holy shit, I can’t believe I’m Noah’s girlfriend …
When we get back to the hotel room, hand in hand, Connor hugs us both. “Thought I was going to die waiting for you to return. ‘Bout fucking time the two of you couple up.”
We all laugh before Noah and I tell him about our time exploring the aquarium.
“We gotta head out soon, you wanna come ahead with us? We have space on the bus since some of the guys went sightseeing. I know Sam’s wife is coming on the bus,” Connor tells me.
I nod. “Yeah, might as well. Let me just change first.”
“No worries, the van leaves in twenty minutes, but I was going to bug Derek and Sam about some stuff before we head out. So, I’ll see you downstairs. Twenty. Minutes.” He shoots a look at Noah that basically translates to “hands to yourself,” and I can’t help but laugh.
I have a sneaking suspicion Noah and I would need much more than twenty minutes.
As soon as the door closes I move towards my suitcase, pulling out Noah’s jersey and a pair of jeans.
I feel him watching me but I’m afraid to look up.
“How long do you need to get ready?” his voice cuts in, and I realize he’s moved to be beside me.
“Like five minutes. Why?” He’s quick to pick me up into his arms, throwing me onto the bed, igniting a girlish giggle from me.
He pulls his phone out of his pocket, placing it on the bedside table before laying down beside me.
Noah presses his lips to mine, they are warm and as our mouths part the smallest amount, it feels like we’re testing each other.
I let my tongue slip into his mouth and he lets out a groan as his mouth forms into a smile.
After way too many make out fantasies, this one takes the cake.
It’s not all hot and bothered for each other—it’s us saying hello for the first time, clutching each other as if we never want this to end.
Neither of us let our hands roam, as if we’re ensuring we focus on just this—our first true make out.
Music starts to play from Noah’s phone and he pulls back, frowning.
“Did you seriously set a timer?” I chuckle.
He sits up with a sheepish smile as he adjusts his shorts. “Maybe.”
“That’s kind of super cute, No!” I hop off the bed, not wanting to make us late. “How much time do I have?”
“Exactly five minutes.”
I let out a long laugh as I grab my clothes and move towards the bathroom.
Holy crap. Noah and I just made out for fifteen minutes.
When I see myself in the mirror, I laugh again. My hair needs a quick brush and my lips are swollen but I wouldn’t change anything about it, because I haven’t been this happy in a long time.