Page 117 of Echoes of Us

“Att…” His eyes were wide.

“What if he relapses? I can’t break up with him. I said I would, but I won’t be able to. I love him too much,” I confessed.

Colin’s face softened. “I don’t know, Att. Don’t you think you should slow things down?”

My chest tightened. “Are we going too fast?”

He nodded.

Shit. I knew I couldn’t do it. I wasn’t putting the brakes on. Now he was going to burn through me and leave me. I was never going to stop loving him. I was sure of that. I looked at him again, running my hands through my hair. Noah was smiling. I fucking loved his smile.

Colin’s hand found my arm. “Att, he loves you too. I’m not saying he doesn’t. He looks really happy. You just can’t be doing this with him.”

I relaxed a bit. “I won’t. It was just this time, just for his birthday. I want him to get better. I need him to get better. He needs to,” I said quickly. “I won’t do it again.”

“That’s okay.”

I turned towards Noah. The colorful lights illuminated him, and he looked perfect. What was it about him? I couldn’t look away. He had me completely mesmerized. “How do I slow things down?”

“I’m not sure.”

I leaned closer to him. “We’re practically living together, and we’ve already had sex. I don’t know how to slow things down. I can’t control how I feel about him,” I admitted, seeing his eyes widen even more.

“Shit,” he mouthed.

“Do you think he’s going to break up with me?”

“No, Att. Noah loves you too.” He grabbed my shirt anddrew me closer so I could hear him. “We’ll figure something out, okay? Tomorrow, we’ll figure it out.”

I relaxed at his words. “Thanks, Col.” I hugged him.

“Don’t disappear on us, Att. Let me help you.” He hugged me tighter.

“Thanks,” I repeated, moving back to look at him. “Don’t tell Ezra, but I think you’re my best friends,” I confessed.

He grinned. “Right back at you, big guy. I feel like we should do shots. Do you want one?”

“Sure, why the hell not at this point.”

We walked towards the bar, got the shots, and I glanced down at my watch—two minutes to twelve. “Oh shit.” I downed the shot and placed it on the table.

“What?” Colin asked, making a face after drinking his.

“It’s almost twelve. Come on.” I grabbed his arm and dashed towards Noah. He was talking to Holly, holding a glass.

I reached for it and placed it on the table. He looked up with a smile.

“Hey, we’re supposed to be toasting with that,” Holly complained.

“In a minute.” I grabbed Noah’s hand and led him away. I guided us towards the couch and sat, tugging his hand to get him to sit beside me.

“What is it?” he asked with his easy Noah smile, the one that was always right around the corner.

I grabbed the side of his face and leaned into his ear. “I love you, Noah. Happy birthday.”

He grinned before I kissed him. I didn’t let him lead the pace this time. I held him firmly and kissed him like he always demanded I did. I let my lips slide slowly over his, tilting his chin backward to deepen it. I could taste the champagne on his tongue and something that I knew was just Noah. He moved closer to me, and I grabbed his waist under his shirt, pushing him back on the couch and forcing him tosubmit to the kiss. He breathed out through his nose and melted, letting me do whatever I wanted. I kissed him slowly until I started feeling dizzy from the lack of oxygen and the way his lips always made me forget about everything around me.

I stopped and let my eyes rake over him. His lips were still parted, and his eyes closed. He opened them slowly and stared at me, the corners of his lips tugging upwards into a smile.

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