Page 19 of Death Row
He pauses, listening for a moment. “Nope. I don’t hear it.”
How is it possible he doesn’t hear that alarm? It’s soloud. Has he gonedeaf? Because that’s the only way he wouldn’t hear that awful beeping. I’m about to comment as much when, quite abruptly, the beeping halts.
“The alarm stopped,” I say. And strangely enough, my throat feels better too. It’s like a terrible weight has been pressing on my chest, and now I have finally been ...released.
And I feel lighter—happier—all of a sudden.
“Glad to hear it.” Noel flashes me that same endearing grin that made me fall in love with him all those years ago. “Now let’s see about getting you that kiss you were hoping for.”
As he leans in and presses his lips against mine, I melt into the kiss that I’ve been waiting for and think about how lucky I am. I spent my entire relationship with Noel tormenting myself with whether I was good enough or if he might leave me for another woman, but now it is so crystal clear—he loves me with all his heart. He hasalwaysloved me. And as long as I live, he always will.
I can’t believe I came so close to losing everything.
