Chapter 26 Noah
Twenty-Six: Noah
Fall Into Me - Forest Blakk
Audrey’s breath is hot against my neck, her hair and limbs are covering my body as if trying to mark their territory. As if I could forget that she’s mine.
Nothing could've prepared me for how in sync our bodies would be or how intense it would feel to watch love swirling around in her eyes without us even having sex.
My imagination didn’t do the real thing justice.
Having her bouncing up and down on me, feeling her wetness through her underwear, her leaning into my touch made me want to go all night, but I also know we need to pace ourselves.
I don’t want our first time to be at a hotel, I want it to be her and I alone.
She curled up against me soon after she came, and we slept fast and hard too.
Her fingernail grazes across my lower stomach, making my whole body wake up to her.
“Good morning, Noah,” she whispers, running her finger across my length.
A low growl forms in the back of my throat as she repeats the motion at the exact same time my stomach growls.
Audrey giggles into my neck, before kissing my jaw. “Hungry?”
Starving.
“Yeah, kissing you uses a lot of energy apparently,” I tease. “I can only imagine how I’ll feel once we–”
She cuts me off with a poke to my side. “Shut your face, mister ‘let’s wait.’ It’s already hard enough when you’re basically naked next to me, don’t make comments like that or I’ll hop right on you.”
I groan, laying back on my pillow. “Don’t say things like that.”
“You started it!” she chimes in. “But anyways, let’s grab breakfast before we have to leave for the game. Can’t have the star play poorly because I didn’t feed him.”
We both laugh before I peek around her to check the time. “Oh, crap. We only have an hour until I need to head to the bus. Apparently we slept in, it’s almost eleven.”
Audrey stretches her body, popping her head up. “Damn. Let’s get going then.”
We slowly untangle from each other, getting out of bed and reaching for clothes.
“So what’s your week looking like?” Audrey asks as she steps into a pair of jeans.
“Well, I take possession of the house on Thursday, so hopefully you’re up for lifting couches over your head.”
“It’s my favorite hobby, ya know.”
“So, you’re staying for the season, yeah?” I ask awkwardly.
Audrey pulls her hair up into a messy bun, giving me a sheepish grin. “That was the plan … but a part of me thinks I want to stay long term … and not just for you and Connor. I mean, yeah, obviously you two, but I think a fresh start would be good.”
“You won’t hear me saying otherwise,” I tell her, slipping pants on.
Audrey lets out a quiet laugh, zipping up her suitcase. “I’d sure hope not.”
“Especially if I get to see you half-naked all the time.” I smirk.
“Oh, behave you horndog!”
Once we’re both organized, we head down to the hotel dining room. Connor is sitting at a table with a plate full of food that makes my stomach growl again.
“You go sit with Connor, I’ll grab us food,” I offer, kissing her forehead and moving towards the buffet.
I fill both our plates with various things before joining the two of them at the table.
Silence fills the space for a moment before Audrey clears her throat.
“So … I think we should address some things.”
Connor and I both eye her with confusion.
“I have some rules, I guess,” she starts, moving her eggs around her plate.
“I don’t need you two discussing our ‘adult activities.’ If Noah and I fight, we won’t make you the middleman.
When I’m on the road with you, Noah and I will talk to the team manager about getting our own room, but we won’t flaunt our relationship.
Lastly, I’m going to get a job. Before either of you protest, remember it’s my life.
When you’re at training or having guys’ nights, I’d like my own thing to do as well.
This applies whether I’m staying past the season or not. ”
Connor nods slowly, as if he’s letting her words sink in. “That’s all good with me. What kind of job are you hoping to get?”
Audrey frowns slightly. “That's the issue, I kind of lost my passion for most things because of Paul. Besides sappy movies, I don’t really have hobbies. I’ve started crocheting a bit again, but that’s it.
A part of me would love to work with kids, but I don’t have the schooling for it.
I didn’t love my job and even though I’m good with numbers, I want something new.
If I’m having a fresh start, I want to truly lean into it. ”
I rack my brain for things she used to enjoy growing up, as Connor assesses, “I assume you’d kill me if I tried to convince Skippy to make up a job title for you?”
“Yeah. I want separation from you guys, I’m sick of you already,” she jokes.
I see Daisy moving out of the corner of my eye and it gives me an idea. “Would you be open to working with someone who technically isn't on the team but has a connection?” I ask.
Audrey chews her lip. “Depends, why?”
I clear my throat, leaning my elbows on the table. “Well, I know our physical therapist is looking for a new nanny. She mentioned that her current one is moving next week.”
Audrey looks towards Connor, smiling. “Daisy?”
He nods, before looking at me. “That would be perfect. Auds missed half of the World Series last season because she was too busy giggling with Poppy.”
I always knew my Auddie Girl would be good with kids.
“Shit, I’m all about spending time with Poppy, she’s such a cutie!” Audrey exclaims, spotting Daisy from across the room. “I’ll go bug Daisy right now, see if she’d consider it!”
Audrey walks away quickly with a pep in her step.
I eye Connor. “Thanks for staying with Adam last night.”
He grunts, shaking his head. “You’re welcome, but I don’t wanna hear a damn thing about your night.”
I chuckle. “There’s nothing to tell. But at least tell me how good of a big spoon Adam is.”
Connor laughs along with me. “Dude, what makes you think I’d want to be a little spoon?”
“Because you’re a little softie lap dog. I’m sure you love being a little spoon.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He snorts, taking a sip of his coffee.
Audrey returns a few minutes later with a wide smile on her face. “I’m going to have coffee with Daisy on Friday to chat more about options, but she seems really interested in the idea.”
“That’s so exciting!” Connor replies, high-fiving his sister.
“It would be part-time so I’d maybe want to find something else to fill my time, but it’s a start!”
As the two of them talk, I realize this could become my new normal—me and my two best friends back together.
It’s everything I could ever ask for.
We win our game, but this time there’s no chance to officially celebrate. We head right to the bus after the game.
As soon as we get to Connor’s, Audrey disappears onto the back porch with a notebook, asking us both for some space so she can make a list of activity ideas to do with Poppy and to brainstorm what she wants to do with her life.
I smile at her retreating figure as she carries a mason jar with twinkle lights outside with her.
Connor and I sit awkwardly at the dining room table trying not to bug her. We talk about the move and who’s coming to help while she’s outside.
“So, when do you think she'll move in with you?” Connor jokes.
“Whenever she’s ready, which could very well be tomorrow,” I tease before chuckling and shaking my head.
“As much as I’d love to have her move in tomorrow, I think having space for her to grow without me is important.
I want her to rebuild herself, not just around us as a couple, you know?
I don’t want to rush into the whole ‘move-in, marriage, babies’ thing yet. I want to take our time.”
“Ah, but you want that, huh?” Connor says matter-of-factly with a wide smile.
“Obviously.”
I fidget with my fingers. “I think to the outside world it might feel like we’re moving too fast. It might look like we are to you too, for all I know.
But we’ve held each other’s hearts for a long time and even when we were apart, she was always in my heart and mind.
I get the feeling it was the same way for her too.
I’m sure parts of us are feeling like giddy children let loose in a candy store, but it’s also like we both know we want the one type of candy and don’t pay attention to anything else. ”
Connor snorts. “Weird analogy, dude. But I get what you’re saying.
And for what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re rushing.
I think she deserves happiness and since I know you’d give that to her and that you love her, I have no need to be overbearing.
But I swear, Noah … you make her cry and I’ll call my dad to come lecture the fuck out of you. ”
We both let out loud laughs at the same time the back door opens.
Audrey gives a small smile as we both sit taller, anxious to hear what she has to say.
“I had a crazy idea …” She sits down at the head of the table, putting the notebook down in our direction on the table.
“I thought I was the one with crazy ideas,” Connor challenges.
Audrey rolls her eyes before looking over at me.
“Remember my fourteenth birthday, when I wished to have a romance movie and apparel store some day? As I was plotting activities I could do with Poppy, I thought about stickers and it made me think about how Selena always says, ‘I wish that was on a T-shirt’ and I was like, ‘I could do that!’ So, if I made movie themed stickers and shirts that said ‘I’d rather be watching a rom-com right now’ or one of the million other ideas I have listed.
” She’s fidgeting with her fingers as she talks.
Connor and I both look down at the long list of product ideas filling the page.
“This is a cute idea, Auds.” Connor nods. “I’d definitely want to get mom a mug that says ‘Hot Mess Express,’ I think she’d get a kick out of that.”
Audrey laughs. “Right? She was my inspiration.”
I look down at the list where baseball? is written.
“Are you going to make Noah Benson stickers?” I ask with a playful smile.
She rolls her eyes. “I was thinking I could name my shop ‘Take Me Out Apparel and Accessories.’ I could have baseball items to fit the theme but I could also lean into my obsession with romance movies and have items for my fellow romance loving friends. A double meaning of ‘take me out to the ball game’ but also ‘take me out on a romantic date’ like in all the movies.”
My face hurts from how big I’m smiling, because the giddiness in her voice and the way her eyes are shining let me know that she’s excited about this new career path.
“Audrey, this is awesome!”
Audrey clasps her hands together, and she’s wearing a determined expression. “Cool. First things first, we need to go to the craft store to get supplies. Then you two will be my unpaid interns while I try to create magic to see if this is even something I can do.”
“You know it’s something you can do,” I reassure her.
“You used to spend hours crafting and creating. And you know there will be lots of people willing to support this journey. My mom’s friends and even strangers are always asking her where she got the tote bag you made her.
I’m sure she’d have customers lined down the block before you even open, wanting their own Audrey Mendez Original. ”
She gives me a bashful smile.
“We should go before the store closes! I’ll drive,” I offer.
“Great, but to set some more ground rules: I’m paying at the store, deal?”
“Deal,” Connor and I echo.
Three hours later paper is scattered everywhere while the kitchen table is overflowing with stickers, T-shirts and a few mugs sporting various lines from movies.
“This was fun, but I’ll need to find a way to make money off of it.” Audrey smiles.
Connor hands her a five-dollar bill, before picking up a sticker that says “I’m Kansas Royalty,” and placing it on the back of his phone case. “There, your first sale.”
I lean onto the table picking up one that says, “The problem isn't finding out where you’re gonna go—it's figuring out what you’re gonna do once you get there,” and hand her five dollars as well. “And there’s your best sale.”
Audrey smacks my arm, but pockets the money anyway.
The three of us clean up before Audrey yawns. “Okay dorks, I’m going to bed now. We had a big weekend and have an even bigger week ahead—kicking Noah to the curb and all.”
Connor chuckles. “Yeah, thank God. Worst roommate ever!”
I smirk, wrapping my arm around Audrey’s shoulder. “I think at least one of you two are going to miss the heck out of me.”
“Sure won’t be me,” Connor retorts.
“Might be me then!” Audrey replies playfully.
It’ll definitely be her. Especially since I plan to make out with her until we both fall asleep tonight.