Page 108 of I Never Stopped Loving You

My mind is back to racing again. Why do I always have to overthink things? Why can’t I just enjoy when things are going well and I finally feel happy? As I lay here against his chest listening to the sounds of him sleeping, I can’t stop replaying some of the things he’s said in the last twenty-four hours.

Because you were always meant to be mine, Willow. We were always meant to be together.

I just got you back. There's no way I'm letting you go.

I’ve always felt it, Willow. You’re my little rabbit and always will be.

A soft knock followed by the nurse's voice, has Noah sitting up.

“Sir, we have a private room available. We’ll get you moved there shortly.”

“Thank you,” he says, and she nods before walking out of the room.

“I’m going to tell Jenn what’s going on. Plus, I’m sure Jeremy wants to say bye.”

He seems to hold onto me tighter, and I can’t help but laugh.

“I’m not leaving, Noah. I just need to go tell her.”

“I know.”

He reluctantly lets me go and my traitorous body instantly craves being wrapped in his arms again. What the actual fuck is wrong with me?

I lean to kiss him on the cheek, but he turns and presses his lips to mine. Fire burns down my body and I nearly forget what I was getting up for again, but thankfully, my phone goes off breaking his spell on me.

“Hurry back,” he says as I turn to walk out the door.

“I will.”

I take my time walking back to the waiting room. His words just keep replaying in my mind because they don’t make sense. Of course, most were said after sex when we were both in that post orgasmic bliss…all except the last one.

I just got you back. There's no way I'm letting you go.

Three days. It’s been three fucking days. How does that equate to getting me back? Unless…

I stop in the hallway and close my eyes for a moment, recalling the way he called me little rabbit. He said it with such love from the very first time, not just some cute nickname. It was familiar, but I couldn’t remember why.

“Willow, is Noah okay?”

Jeremy’s voice reminds me I’m standing in the middle of a hallway trying to piece together fragments of my childhood to find out if the man I’m falling for is someone from my past. But if he was, then why wouldn’t he just tell me? Then again, I was a child when I left. Most of my memories have been blocked out because of the trauma that happened throughout my childhood and especially that horrible night…At least that’s what my therapist told me.

Before I left Texas to move to Michigan, she warned me that visiting places known to me in my childhood could start triggering memories. What if it’s from being around a person from my childhood? Could that have the same effect? I want to outright ask him if he knows me, but what if I’m wrong? What if I’m reading into this far too much like I always do? What if he truly does just feel a connection with me, and little rabbit is just a cute pet name he thought of that first day he met me?

That’s the logical answer. The one that makes the most sense.

“Yeah. They’re moving him to a private room.”

“Why? And why were you just standing here with your eyes closed? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Just a slight headache,” I lie as I rub my temples.

It’s not a total lie. My head is starting to hurt from overthinking all of this.

“Why are they moving him to another room?”

“The nurse said it was the only way I’d be able to stay.”

“Ah, yeah, I figured that would happen. Listen, Jenna and I were going to grab a bite to eat. Noah isn’t allowed anything until they clear him, but we can bring you something back if you’d like or you can come with us.”