The little girl who used to annoy the shit out of me has become the epitome of love. She is the most real thing I have ever felt in my entire life.
She’s the other half of my soul.
I pull back, and my eyes lock on hers.
She must see something on my face because she asks, “What? Did something happen?”
I shake my head as everything I feel for her fills my heart to the brim, and then I murmur, “I love you.”
Carla blinks at me, and then she whispers, “What did you just say?”
My lips curve up as I take in her shocked expression. Lifting my hands, I frame her face. I press a tender kiss to her parted lips, then repeat the words. “I love you, Carla.”
Watching the words take root inside her is like watching a flower bloom. Then in typical Carla-style, she lets out a shriek, and throwing her arms around my neck, she bounces with happiness.
Carla stills, and she tightens her hold on me as her body jerks. “Oh my God, Noah. Thank you,” she whimpers against my neck. “Thank you for loving me back.”
I wrap her against me and press a kiss to her temple.
When she pulls back, she wipes happy tears from her face.
“Why the fuck are you crying?” Jase suddenly growls near us, startling the shit out of us.
“I got good news,” Carla says, smiling at her brother. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to pick up Mila.” Jase’s eyes snap to me, then he says, “Can I have a moment alone with Noah?”
Carla places her hands on her sides, and tilting her head, she scowls at Jase. “No, you cannot. Whatever you have to say to him, you can say in front of me.”
I have to suppress a grin at her spitfire attitude.
“Fine,” Jase huffs. He crosses his arms over his chest as his gaze locks on mine. “Imagine my surprise when I just saw you kissing my little sister. Care to explain?”
I wrap an arm around Carla’s shoulders and pull her against my side, all while not breaking eye contact with Jase. “We’re dating.”
Jase’s eyebrow lifts slightly, then he grumbles, “Are you now?”
Knowing how protective Jase is of Carla, I say, “I love her. I’ll take good care of her. You have nothing to worry about.”
He stares a moment longer at me, and then his features relax because he knows I won’t just say those words if I don’t mean them.
The corner of his mouth begins to lift. “You know how lucky you are to have her, right?”
My mouth curves up. “Yes, I do.”
Jase looks at Carla. “I’m impressed.”
“Why?” She frowns at him.
“You didn’t settle for a guy you could walk all over,” Jase explains.
“Pfft,” Carla huffs. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Jase bursts out laughing, then he gestures to the restaurant. “Let me just find Mila, then we can have an early dinner together.”
“Sure,” I answer on our behalf.
Chapter 15
CARLA
There are no words to describe how happy I am. The only wish I ever had is coming true. It’s been ten days since Noah and I became official, and every moment with him is still surreal.
Whenever I walk into a room, and he’s there, butterflies erupt in my stomach. For a split-second, I’ll hesitate, the old feelings of having to keep my distance from him surfacing. But then his eyes will lock on mine, and they’ll fade.
Noah’s mine. I can touch him at any time. I can kiss him.
Walking into the library, I whisper a line from The Little Mermaid, “Who says that my dreams have to stay just my dreams.”
A soft smile plays around my mouth as I set my bag down by an empty table, and glancing around, I notice Noah sitting a couple of tables away from me. My gaze takes him in as he concentrates on what he’s reading.
Damn, he’s hot.
I let out a happy sigh and go get the books I’ll need on ethics. I set them down on the wooden surface as I take a seat. Opening my laptop, I glance at Noah, and when I see him leaning back in his chair, watching me, I grin at him.
I try to focus on my work but feeling Noah’s eyes on me makes it near impossible. I glance at him again, and it makes the corner of his mouth lift.
I begin to contemplate whether I should ditch getting my work done when a girl approaches Noah.
I lean back in my chair, ready to enjoy the show, as she sits down in the chair next to him.
I wish I could hear what she’s saying, but she seems to be whispering. Noah shakes his head, and it makes her pull a pleading face. Then he nods in my direction, and she turns her head toward me.
I lift a hand and wave my fingers at her. “The position of annoying talking animal has already been taken,” I impersonate Donkey from Shrek.