Page 108 of The Girl I Once Loved

“It all depends on you, really.” He smiles sheepishly. “If you want to come with me or not.”

“To New Zealand? You want me to sail off with you to the other side of the world?” I ask, gobsmacked.

“With every fiber of my being, Sky. That’s exactly what I want.”

A lump forms at my throat at how serious he is.

“I…I…”

“You don’t have to give me an answer right now. This wasn’t even how I wanted to pop the question, truth be told. I had a whole speech with a list of pros and cons for you. But hey, that’s what I want. But if you think it’s too fast too soon, then I can hold off going to the Grand Prix next year. We can take our time. And then, when you’re ready, we can go.”

“You’d hold off following your dream for me?” I ask incredulously.

“Racing isn’t my dream. Fuck, not even sailing is anymore, and I love it with all my heart,” he replies, his gaze deadlocked on mine. “You’re my dream, Sky. You’re all I care about. The rest doesn’t even come close. Not by a longshot.”

My heart feels like it's going to jump out of my chest with how hard it's thumping as each word falls from his lips.

“I love you, Sky. Always have. Always will. I’ll take your lead on this. We have time. Time I thought we’d never have. So I’m good with whatever you decide.”

“That’s a lot, Noah. That’s a big decision to make. I don’t want you to not do something just because of me. Not only that, but both you and I know that I’m not exactly great with water, much less a whole ocean.”

After my swim the other day, I was getting better. But true comfort in the water would take time.

He runs the back of his hand up and down my cheek, looking completely relaxed and not at all freaked out. No. That’s me. I’m the one who is currently losing her mind.

“Do you trust me, little stalker?” he asks, his voice going down an octave.

“With my life,” I confess wholeheartedly.

“Then trust me when I say that I will always keep you safe. Your body, soul, and heart will always be safe with me. I love you, Skylar. Nothing and no one will ever hurt you again. Including me. I will never allow it.”

This is the second time in as many minutes that he’s said he loves me.

And every time, I remain silent.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

“I can see those wheels in your head turning so fast that I’m surprised smoke isn’t coming out of your ears,” he teases, since making a joke or wisecrack has always been our default mechanism when things just get too real. “Now, how about we sneak out of here and find a secluded spot, so I can make all the loud ruckus in your head go away?”

Sex being our other go to move when things start to be too much for one of us to deal with.

Instead of facing the issue head on, I nod and let Noah lead me off the dance floor so that my body can tell him all the words I haven’t summoned up the courage to say yet.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Skylar

When I hear my parents’ truck drive up to the house, I close my laptop and peek through the window to see Noah helping Curt out the car while my mom holds onto his crutches for him.

Ever since the wedding took place a few days ago, Curt has been complaining about his ankle, always grunting and moaning whenever he took more than a few steps. It took my mother’s constant badgering for him to finally see a doctor this afternoon. And by the looks of it, she was right to be concerned. As they walk up to the porch, I rush downstairs to see if they need any help.

“It serves you right, old man. Acting the fool at Daisy’s wedding. You’re no spring chicken to be dancing like that, you know?” Noah teases Curt as he helps his father maneuver his crutches through the living room to settle him on the couch.

“Totally worth it,” Curt says proudly as Noah elevates his leg onto a pillow on top of the coffee table.

“What did the doctor say?” I ask worriedly, announcing my presence.

“Unfortunately, he fractured a few bones in his ankle. Nothing that won’t heal with time, but he'll be housebound for a few months,” my mother explains, squeezing her husband’s shoulders affectionately.

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