And I’ve only known him a week.
Wow, has it only been a week since I ran Noah off the road?
Can you fall for someone that fast? I wouldn’t know. I dated Mathis for a year before I fell in love with him, and now, as I watch Noah read his daughter a story and feel the tightening in my chest, I’m not really sure I was ever in love with Mathis. Because this, what I’m feeling tonight, I never felt with him.
“The end.”
I take a deep breath when Noah shuts the book, determined not to think too hard about things. Just go with the flow. See what happens. No matter what, I can’t regret a single second spent with him thus far. Even when he was being an ass.
After our spaghetti dinner, Noah gave Nova a bath while I cleaned up, and then we watched a movie—her choosing of course—and then it was bedtime. We sat out on the porch swing, and Noah and Nova pointed out constellations, laughing at my inability to find any of them, and now here we are.
Lucky for me, Noah left the door cracked, probably not expecting me to eavesdrop on their nighttime routine, which is exactly what I’m doing. Nova worships her father, and it’s impossible not to watch the two of them together.
“That’s my favorite story,” Nova says, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
Caressing Nova’s face, Noah leans down and kisses her forehead. “Why do you like that story so much?”
“Because the princess marries the prince.” Nova yawns, curling up against the side of her dad. “You’re my prince, Daddy,” she says, her eyelids bobbing several times before finally shutting.
Sliding off the bed, Noah drops to his knees, nuzzling his face against Nova’s. Her eyelids open, a faint smile pulling at her lips.
“And you’ll always be my princess,” he whispers.
That thing I was desperately trying not to do? Well, it just happened. I press a hand to my chest, trying to hold on to anything and everything I have left of my heart, but it’s too late.
I’ve fallen, and fallen hard.
I just hope this beautiful man is there to catch me.
Deciding to give them some privacy, and myself a much-needed breather, I step away from Nova’s door and walk into the living room. I grab my sketchpad from my purse and curl up on the couch. My pen meets the paper as our evening on the front porch, watching the sunset and looking at stars, fuels my imagination. I’m halfway through a dress design when my phone vibrates, signaling a text.
Charlotte: How was dinner?
I have found such a good friend in Charlotte, and I love that she’s checking up on me. She’s the only person here that I really talk to, and she knows how nervous I was about tonight.
Me: Great.
Three little dots bounce on the screen, and I sit down on the couch, waiting for her message to come through.
Charlotte: That’s it? Just great? Come on, throw me a bone. Or a boner. Either will do ; )
Me: There aren’t many details. We ate, we watched a movie, and Nova just went to bed.
Charlotte: Ooooh…the child is in bed. Now it’s time to get freaky.
Laughing, I shake my head. This woman seriously needs to get laid.
Me: There will be no getting freaky!
Charlotte: You’re no fun.
“I agree with Charlotte.”
I whirl around at the sound of Noah’s voice behind me. He walks around the couch and sits down next to me.
“What’s this?” he asks, motioning toward my sketch pad.
“Just a design I was working on.” I hand him the pad, and he examines it. “Were you reading my texts, sir?”