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I don’t believe everything I’m hearing on the news, and I don’t distrust Noah either.
But I do know he checked in with his real name and everybody saw me.
It’s only a matter of time before all that’s all over the news and Noah and I are in more trouble than just trying to explain to my Dad why I left without a proper reason for a few days with a stranger.
The most handsome, lovable stranger I’ve ever met, and the one I plan on sticking by no matter what.Chapter SixteenNoahI don’t know what I’ve done wrong. Maybe it was all that business with that stupid maid that set Faith off. Who knows?
But like it or not, our romantic breakfast, along with the day in bed I had planned for us both is interrupted by her insistence that we leave.
Immediately.
I guess it hurt her more than she let on, and I do try and explain once more that I have no interest in the maid, that I was only just trying to surprise her with a taste of things to come.
What I thought was our new life together.
Sort of how I’d like to surprise her most mornings or evenings, whenever she gets home, or just because, whenever I feel like spoiling my girl.
That’s all.
Stupid god damned Barbie-slut maid.
I’ve got a good mind to-
“Please, don’t make a scene, Noah. Let’s just go, okay?” she says, reading my face as we’re about to go.
“Uh, okay, sure thing,” I tell her. I don’t want to make a scene either, not if it’s gonna upset her.
The front desk is all apologies, even offering to refund some of our stay, but I wave them off, more worried that my Faith isn’t happy anymore.
What just happened back there?
Everything was fine, even after that stupid maid… right up until-
The TV, those news reports. Something’s got her spooked.
The thought flashes across my mind that maybe her old man isn’t the local preacher after all.
Maybe she’s mixed up in some business she doesn’t know how to get out of.
Maybe I’m up against something bigger than just a preacher?
Cheesing a grin at the valet as he brings my truck around, I forget that idea.
Faith’s been totally upfront with me so far, and I think I’ve been the same with her.
Haven’t I?
Once we’re out of the city and heading back on the turnpike to the highway, I ask her.
“Faith, if I’ve done anything to upset you…?”
“It’s not you, Noah,” she says, reaching over to grip my knee.
I notice she’s not sitting right next to me though and it hurts.
I look for a place to pull over, stopping before we even start again, but I just have to know what’s wrong.
Arterial roads and freeways, highways aren’t meant for pulling over on so I just ask her.
“I thought you said you loved me, Faith. And I sure as hell know I love you, so what the hell happened just now?” I ask her, nearly shouting, confused, and angry to see her so upset.
I see her chewing her lip again, and wanting to do the same I stop myself.
“Please, Faith?” I implore her. “What happened to make you this way? We were doing great. Right up until-”
“I trust you, Noah. I really do, but…” she starts to say.
And I get it, a flood of memories and emotions grips me. Maybe she knows, somehow.
I don’t know how though.
I’ve spent a lifetime trying to forget. I paid for what I did.
Spotting a rest stop, I pull over.
If Faith Holding is gonna have Noah Templeton and all his demons, she may as well be introduced.
I should’ve told her, but how? And why on earth would I bring up the past. It’s not the kind of conversation that excites romance.
I notice Faith looking behind us still as I pull off the highway, sure she has her own secrets too.
Everybody does.
“Faith, ever since the hotel you’ve been looking over our shoulder like you expect something or someone to be following us,” I observe.
“I don’t want any secrets between us, but I don’t see either how something that happened before you were even born could make you so jumpy, without me even telling you either,” I continue, noticing her confused look as she tries hard not to look around behind the truck again.
“I don’t know what you mean...” she starts to say, but my look says it all.
“You first then” I demand. “What’s gone and got you so spooked? Tell me, Faith and I’ll tell you about the ghosts that follow me,” I tell her, calmer, almost relieved I’m halfway to telling her already.
“You first,” she blurts out, looking more worried than ever suddenly.
I’ve never been one to beat around the bush so much, but with Faith, I really do want things to be just perfect, like her. And it pains me to see her worried about something I’m sure is in her imagination.
