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Unfazed by my non answer, Savannah continues, “Maybe we could order some Thai food? I could devour a Pad Thai right now.”
My brows shoot for my hairline at her having remembered my favorite cuisine.Maybe she’s just guessed. “Yes, Thai food sounds good,” I mumble.
Savannah scrolls through her phone, pulling up a food delivery app. She searches through it as I find us a movie to watch. I don’t really know what she likes now, so I pick a couple, add them to the watchlist and wait for her to finish ordering.
“I’m orderin’ for you, is that okay?”
I turn to face her, taking in how comfortable and right she looks sitting on my couch. “Sure, I eat anything. Just let me know how much it all comes to and I’ll transfer you the money.”
Her brows shoot toward her hair line as she looks at me. Moments later, she wipes the look from her face, twisting her lips as she looks back at her phone.
“What was that look for?” I demand.
She refuses to meet my gaze, but her cheeks have gone a rosy hue. Briefly, I wonder if the coloring appears only when she’s embarrassed or if she blushes during more intimate times.
Christ, what is wrong with me?
Clearing my throat, I say, “Savannah? I’m not going to put a movie on until you tell me, so unless you’re content to sit in silence as we eat, spill.”
I can see her mind whirling as she tries to think of something to say. An excuse.
“I can pay for dinner, Noah.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I drop my chin to my chest. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just I’m forcing you to eat again and based on that, I should foot the bill.”
Savannah folds her arms over her chest, at the same time snuggling into the couch. “Well, it’s not a date, so you don’t need to pay.”
Right. It’s definitely not a date. We’re just two friends sharing a meal. Alone in my apartment.
Clearing my throat, and refusing to acknowledge how right she is, I turn to face the TV, flicking to the watchlist screen. “I found three movies. An action, a horror and a comedy. You pick which one to watch.”
“Can you play the trailers?”
“Sure,” I reply, bringing up the first trailer and pressing play.
We end up choosing the comedy and, when the food arrives, we stuff our faces until our eyes are heavy-lidded and our stomachs are full.
Some of the tension of the last few months eases as the night goes on. Listening to the sound of her laughing has my chest feeling light and an easy smile forming on my lips.
I don’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed.
Nights in with Sutton were few and far between. One or both of us was always busy with something or other. It had been a long time since we made an effort for each other.
When I go to bed that night, my body is loose and languid. I hadn’t realized that the tension I’d been carrying for the last few months was from overworking myself. My relationship with Sutton and how far it was fractured, was another excuse I subconsciously used to work late into the night.
As my head hits the cool pillow, I fall, almost instantly, into a deep, dreamless sleep, at least until I’m woken by the front door slamming shut at four. I still need to figure out where Savannah goes this early in the morning, but that’s a problem for later.
With my eyes still closed, I roll over, reaching out for Sutton. My hand hits the cool sheets, reminding me of my singledom. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks with work. We finalized the takeover of Dew and Olsen, which was eventful to say the least.
Today is the first time I’ve had to actually come to terms with the fact that I’m single. It’s going to take time to adjust to the thought but I’m not as heartbroken as I thought I would be.
I guess that’s what happens when you’ve been mentally breaking up with someone for a long time. Berating myself for getting too in my own head, I turn back over, closing my eyes and forcing myself to go back to sleep.
TWENTY-THREE
Noah
It feels like a matter of minutes since I drifted back to sleep but the sound of my phone vibrating across the bedside table pulls me to the surface. My movements are slow as I fight my way through the grogginess, reaching for my phone. With half closed eyes, I connect the call, bringing it to my ear.
