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I snorted, instantly thinking how much he must have hated taking these photos. I didn’t have to be there to know that he absolutely wished he could’ve been doing anything else.

But he did…look good. Great, actually. I didn’t think he could wear anything that would take away from his features.

And then, just as quickly as I admired him, my chest ached and the pit in my stomach grew.

I missed him.

“Corny sign,” I mumbled, still unable to look away.

“Yeah! What a weirdo!” Alex said with a laugh.

Chapter twenty-three

Something More

NOAH

Isat on the couch looking at the window for her arrival. Delane had sent me a text about an hour ago, that she’d be returning from the airport soon, and stopping by to see me.

Any minute now, and she’d be here. And I honestly couldn’t wait.

My whole demeanor felt different as I waited for her. I peered over the sill, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. The wind had the trees swaying gently.

I squinted.

“Look at you,” Damian chided from behind. He was hovering over my shoulder, shaking his head. “You’re acting like a puppy waiting for his owner’s return.”

Momentarily taking my eyes away from the window, I turned and slugged him. Damian cooed, holding his arm in mock pain.

“Ow, you’re so mean!” he whined, still smiling.

I frowned at him, knowing that I really hadn’t done a thing. “Yeah, well, you deserved it.”

“Is that her?” Damian gasped abruptly, pointing out the window.

I lurched to my feet, scanning the outdoors. “She’s here?”

There was nothing to be seen at all. Damian ran from the room, chuckling.

I growled, fists clenching. “Dammit, Damian…” He was making me look like an idiot.

A flicker of motion outside the window stopped the thought short, pulling my attention back. I shot upright, watching with apprehension as the small blue car drove up into the drive way, circling until it reached the paved walkway that led to the entrance of my home.

It’s her. Had to be.

Sprinting for the door, I almost knocked Damian off of his feet as he tried to re-enter the living room. I didn’t look back over my shoulder when he stumbled, and I didn’t apologize. I dashed outside.

I made it out just in time to see her show up. I stopped a few yards away, my heart going way too fast. The passenger door flew open and she basically stumbled out, looking completely out of it. She kept looking around like she was trying to find something.

Me?

I hesitated for a second, then stepped into view. The second she saw me, we both just… froze.

And then it hit me—what if this wasn’t what I thought? What if she came all this way just to tell me she didn’t want anything to do with me anymore? What if during our week apart she met someone else? What if this was going to be our last time seeing each other?

I clenched my jaw, trying to ignore how sweaty my hands suddenly were.

Why was I this nervous? And why was I thinking of the absolute worst case scenarios?