Fuck, all I want to do is pull her to bed, curl my body around hers and hold her to me. It’s where she belongs, wherewebelong.
“Night, Noah,” she wets her lips before she pulls the bottom one between her teeth.
“See you, cricket.”
I stare at my text thread with Sidney, the room around me dark save for the light coming from the screen of my phone. It’s one a.m. so she’s going to be asleep now, but I’ve been warring with myself since I got home earlier. I would never usually question texting her, even if we had just been together; our messages date backyears.
I rub at my sternum, locking the screen with a groan and drop my cell onto the pillow beside me. I need to get some damn sleep and stop obsessing over her and this. The thing is, I can’t tell if anything has changed for her, iffeelingshave changed. She’s as she always has been, minus the sex and flirting. But even that feels natural for us.
God, I’m so fucked.
So utterly fucked, I may as well get her name tattooed across my forehead.
Grabbing my cell, I reload the thread and allow my thumbs to fly across the screen.
Me: Remember to eat breakfast, cricket.
Sleep well. Love, Noah.
Running my hand down my face, I lock down the screen and pop it on charge before I throw my head down onto the pillow and stare up at the dark ceiling.Somewhere in my apartment a clock ticks, and sounds travel up from the city below, despite the late hour. We’re in one of the busiest cities in the entire world; it never truly sleeps.
My phone pings from the bedside table, and I’m not sure I’ve ever moved quicker. I snatch it from the side, almost dropping the thing but manage to keep a grip on it so I can swipe it open.
Sidney: Can’t sleep?
Me: Something like that.
Why are you awake?
Sidney: I’m not awake by choice.
Me: Tell me what you need.
Three dots appear as she starts to type her reply, and then they disappear again. That happens four times before a response comes through.
Sidney: I’m okay, Noah. Gonna try and get
some sleep. See you tomorrow.
Love you, good night.
Me: Love you too, Sid.
Fuck.
Somehow, I manage to fall asleep, though it was far from restful, and by the time I’m rolling into the office at eight thirty the following morning, I’m sipping on my fourth coffee of the day.
Lauren pops up from behind her computer screen, “Mr. Calahan!”
I think I grunt a good morning, but I can’t be sure.
She follows me into the office, the clip of her heels like a drum inside my head. Funny thing is, if I opted to stay at Sidney’s, even if I slept on the damn couch, I’d have woken rested. But it’s getting harder not to climb in beside her, and we are just not ready for that. If I push too hard, this will all collapse from under me.
“Something you need, Lauren?” I rub my brow, trying to ease the headache forming behind my eyes.
“I was actually just wondering about the gala.” She fidgets from foot to foot, looking from me to the windows and back, her nervousness making her restless.
“What about it?”
