Page 12 of Catching My Dreams

It was testing Noah’s limits, too. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been genuinely happy. No, that was a lie. He knew the exact time he’d been happy last, relaxed even.

But that high had lasted less than an hour, chased away by the very person who’d brought him blissful relief. Ella’s ugly accusations and icy glare had extinguished any joy he’d felt when she’d returned his impulsive kiss with the kind of zeal that couldn’t be feigned.

For less than an hour, he’d had everything he’d ever wanted, but it—she—had slipped through his fingers in the blink of an eye because of one stupid, ill-timed question.

“That’s great,” Noah told his mom, trying not to dwell on all the what-could-have-beens. “Are you hungry? I can make some pasta or put one of those casseroles in the oven.”

“Why don’t we have the mac and cheese?” his mom suggested.

“Sounds good. I’ll get it ready.” Whichever one of his mother’s friends had made and dropped off nearly a dozen frozen casseroles for the third time in four months knew their way around a kitchen, and their macaroni and cheese was drool-worthy. “Can I bring you anything? Tea or water, maybe?”

“Some tea would be wonderful.”

“You got it.”

“Noah,” she called out before he could leave the room. “Thank you.”

“It’s just tea, ma,” he teased. “No need to throw me a parade.”

The exasperated look she sent him was as familiar as the blinding smiles she’d used to give him. “You know what I mean. Thank you for taking such good care of me. I know it’s been tough with your classes and football.”

Noah could feel a lump forming in his throat. He didn’t think he was doing nearly enough.

“Of course. I mean, I kind of owe you for all those years you fed and clothed me,” he forced out through his tight throat, the words lacking the humor he’d intended.

“Don’t forget all the diapers I had to change,” she replied, her tired eyes lighting up with amusement. “And all the tantrums I had to put up with. Honestly, now that you mention it, I should be asking for a lot more than tea.”

Noah scoffed. “Who are you kidding? I was an absolute angel.”

His mom laughed like that was the funniest thing she’d ever heard. “Oh, sweetie, you were a nightmare.”

“Was not!” Maybe a teeny-tiny part of Noah knew she was right, but he wasn’t about to admit it.

“It’s okay, though,” she assured him. “You became better with age. You’re only a few more cups of tea away from becoming somewhat tolerable.”

“Tolerable?” he repeated with a scowl.

“Somewhat tolerable,” she corrected.

He stumbled back, his hand clutched to his chest. “I won’t take any more of this abuse. You’ve gone too far this time.”

Noah stormed out of the room to the sound of his mother’s evil cackling before turning back and peeking his head through the doorway.

“Chamomile or peppermint?”

4

It was ten a.m., and Ella wanted the day to be over. Needed it to be over. She looked over her shoulder again, searching through the sea of college students. She didn’t see him, but that didn’t mean Brett wasn’t there. She could feel his eyes on her, could feel him following her like he did between all of her classes.

Ella was almost certain it was just her imagination, but that weight of eyes pressing unwelcomely against her skin had become her constant companion since that day in the basement. Brett knew where she lived, knew where she went to college. He probably knew more about her and her routines than her own parents did. Maybe more than anyone.

“He’s not here,” she whispered to herself before turning her head forward, but her mind wouldn’t be tricked by empty words of reassurance. Her palms were still damp with sweat, and her stomach was tight with anxiety.

As Ella walked into the Bunn Intercultural Centre and toward her usual coffee spot on campus, she tried to wipe the frown from her face. She was meeting two of the girls who were on the cheerleading team with her, and though they got along well, she wasn’t close enough to them to feel comfortable being the grumpy version of herself in front of them.

She reserved that delightful version for Asher and her gran. And Noah, seeing as he was often the one who brought out that side of her.

“Hey, Becca,” Ella said in her most believably cheerful voice once she arrived at More Uncommon Grounds and found the two women already waiting for her. She hugged the red-haired beauty before giving the same treatment to the gorgeous blonde. “Hi, Jasmine.”

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