Page 62 of Red Zone Realizations
“I’ll be right back,” Noah says as he heads towards the door while I finish getting dressed.
When I’m nice and cozy in his clothes, I walk out with a plume of steam around me to find Noah waiting for me on the bed. There’s a spread of every snack you can think of laid out before him. My stomach growls at the sight of chips, candy, popcorn, and more. I realize I haven’t eaten since halftime.
Noah pulls me to him, and he kisses my knuckles. I feel the kitty turn on again.Down, girl.
“How do you feel?”
“Like Jell-O.”
He snorts. “I’ll take that.”
“I’m starving, though.” He pats the space next to him and we get comfy on the pillows up against his huge leather headboard.
He picks up the TV remote. “What do you want to watch?”
“Mmm, I don’t care.”
“Have you seen the crime docu-series on a lawyer who’s stealing money from his personal-injury clients?”
At the mention of white-collar crime, my ears perk up. “Oh my God, no! Put it on!”
He smirks. “You sound as excited for fraud as you did for my cock.”
I laugh. “They’re on a similar level for me.”
Noah’s eyes flash. “I’m going to have to do something about that… make sure that my cock ranks number one over a documentary.” I feel myself blush. I’m still tingling a little from my orgasm.
We dive into our massive pile of snacks. I swear Noah kills a bag of popcorn and an entire bag of gummy worms by himself.
After I slam my body weight in salt and vinegar chips, I settle back and poke at Noah’s arm until he lifts it so I can cuddle up against him.
Thoughts about what this will mean for my sister and Mikey are breathing through my post-coital bliss. How my happiness is dependent on my family’s reliance on me. Noah seems to notice. “What are you thinking about?”
“What I’m going to say to my sister.”
His rough hand plays with my fingers. “You know it was wrong of her to use you like that, right? Just because you’re family doesn’t mean she gets to treat you that way. If a stranger did that to you, we’d be calling it blackmail.” I hate that he’s right. “You need to decide what you’re willing to do to help out and what you’re not. They’re allowing Sarah to treat you like this and she’s taking full advantage of it. I mean, why can’t your parents give her money? What does Audreywant? Does she want to babysit? Does she want to deliver checks? It’s all optional because none of it’s your responsibility. This is your life and it’s your decision to live it the way you want.”
I’ve convinced myself that my family was disappointed in me, but we’ve never talked about it openly. It’s not normal to make your sister your babysitter on a family holiday. It’s not normal to hold things over her head for money. It’s not normal to feel like you have to earn your parents’ affection back because you disappointed them with your life choices. Anyone besides myself would have seen it.
He places a soft kiss on my head. “Nothing has to be decided tonight.” I rest my head back against him and watch the lawyer get his comeuppance. Eventually the steadiness of his breathing, the sureness of him next to me, and his oven-like warmth lulls me to sleep.
Chapter Thirty-Two
AUDREY
I wake up to sun streaming through the blinds and a hardness at my back. Noah’s heavy arm is thrown over me, his breathing slow and even. The morning’s escaped us. It’s definitely closer to noon than anything. Ignoring the stiffness behind me, I allow myself one moment to soak everything in. I’m cozy in Noah’s king-size bed with dark sheets and a gray comforter. The shirt I borrowed says ‘Property of the Hurricanes’ across it, which I find ironic.
Everything changed last night. Things I can’t take back and don’t want to. I feel lighter. Like an elephant has been lifted off my chest and I’m taking my first full breath in years. There’s someone on my side and only my side. Who’s looking out for the best for me and me alone. I feel like I can do anything with that support.
Said support stirs behind me, finally waking up.
“Good morning.” His voice is rough with sleep.
“I think it’s more like noon.”
“Either way, I’m making you breakfast.” My stomach growls in answer and we both smile.
We sit at his breakfast nook, pancakes stacked high between us, maple syrup glistening. The house smells like pancakes and coffee. I lick syrup off my thumb and momentarily enjoy the sight of Noah’s face contorting, trying to hide his lust.
