Page 114 of Forever and Ever

He winks at me, and I laugh. Whether my dad comes around with Noah or not, it doesn’t mean he’ll go easy on him. After all, Monica knew Carson almost her whole life and Dad still makes him work for his approval.

“Speaking of the boyfriend.” Dad narrows his eyes as he spots Mom and Noah walking toward the room through the open door.

“Play nice.” I pat him on the arm.

“For you, Mija.” He leans down and kisses my forehead, “I will make him work his ass off.”

I start laughing so hard that it hurts all over.

“I’ll take these smiles as a good sign,” Mom says, walking into the room.

Dad stands to meet her near the door and Noah walks over to my bedside smiling.

God, he looks so good with that grin, that it warms all the way to my heart.

“Hey, beautiful.” He leans over to give me a chaste kiss on the forehead, probably because my parents are standing right there. Because the Noah I know would climb in bed with me and kiss me so hard I’d be panting in a matter of seconds if we were alone.

“Hey, yourself.” I reach for his hand. It feels like it’s been weeks since I’ve held it, even though I know it was only this morning.

Noah sits beside me on the bed, and I lean against him. For as much of a fight as I put up for him to stay in Denver, I’m thankful right now that he didn’t. There’s no one else I’d rather wake up to than him, sitting there looking at me like he wouldn’t let anything bad happen.

Mom gives us a warm look, but Dad just glares at Noah, and I can’t help but smirk in return. It’s better to have a room of people in your corner looking out for your best interest, than not.

“We’ll give you some space,” Mom says.

Dad doesn’t take his eyes off Noah. “But we’ll be back.”

They disappear and Noah finally settles down next to me. He lays on the bed and turns to face me, balancing on the edge so I don’t have to shift. When he lifts his arm for me, I let him slip it under my head and I curl against his chest.

“You never mentioned how terrifying your father is.” Noah chuckles.

“Didn’t I?” I grin.

He brushes a strand of hair off my face and looks down at me. “It’s good to see you smiling though.”

“I think we came to a mutual understanding.”

“Good.” Noah kisses my forehead again.

“They said it went well.”

Noah nods. “They did. You relieved?”

“Yes. Not that it means I won’t have to deal with it again the future, but at least for now.”

Noah’s hand rests on my arm and his fingers are tapping away like they always do. He probably doesn’t even notice, yet, I find such comfort in it.

“And if that’s so, we’ll deal with it,” Noah says, resting his head on top of mine and holding me.

I feel my eyes getting heavy again, comforted by the fact that whether I wanted Noah here or not, I’m glad he is. Noah would be by my side through anything.

“Stay with me.” I nuzzle against his chest, feeling myself already drifting.

“Always,” Noah says, planting a kiss on my forehead. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

I take a deep breath and feel like I’m absorbing him in that inhale. Wintergreen and warm laundry. Comfort. Calm. Peace.

“Move in with me,” Noah says, sounding almost nervous.

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