Chapter 4- Missing You.

Olivia.

Tonight, I was the one who couldn't stop looking at Noah's lips.

It had been nearly a week since I'd seen him, and six long days since we'd last made love. We had never gone this long without being together. Even during my period, we always found a way to steal moments for ourselves. Noah loved teasing me, loved watching me surrender to him one slow kiss at a time.

"Lock the door," I whispered, slipping my fingers through his as I led him upstairs.

He followed without protest, the corners of his mouth lifting into the familiar smile that had once made me feel like the luckiest woman alive.

"Want to shower together?" I asked over my shoulder.

"Sure," he replied. "Let me get changed first."

Amelia and I shared the upstairs bathroom. It wasn't glamorous, but we loved the townhouse. The bedrooms were spacious, the closets were enormous, everything had recently been renovated, and the neighborhood was exactly what we'd hoped for when we moved to Alexandria. We even had access to the clubhouse gym, which made the expensive rent a little easier to justify.

The moment Noah stepped into my bedroom, I closed the door behind us.

"Need some help?" I teased.

I didn't wait for his answer.

My fingers found his belt buckle while his quiet laugh rumbled through the room.

"You've missed me that much?" he taunted me. His eyes were devouring me.

"A little."

"Just a little?"

I smiled without answering.

His polo shirt disappeared over his head in one smooth motion, revealing the toned chest I'd traced with my fingertips countless times before. The softness of his skin giving me goosebumps.

He reached for me.

Our mouths met halfway.

The kiss started softly, almost cautiously, but it didn't stay that way for long. He was a very skilled guy with his mouth

Every day we'd spent apart seemed to melt away with each passing second. His hand settled at my waist, drawing me closer until there wasn't an inch of space between us. I sighed against his mouth, losing myself in the familiar comfort of his embrace.

His fingers drifted to the zipper of my dress. I couldn't wait for him to yank that away.

"I've been thinking about you all week," he murmured.

"So have I." I mumbled as my lips found his again

The fabric slipped slowly from my shoulders.

His gaze swept over the black lace I'd deliberately chosen for him, and a slow smile spread across his face. His reaction only made me get more anxious.

"I see someone planned ahead."

"I might've."

His eyes darkened with unmistakable appreciation. The heat they were emitting made me melt like a popsicle on the fourth of July.

"You look beautiful."

My heart fluttered.

Compliments from Noah were rare these days, which made every one of them feel precious. My heart stopped for a moment every time he adorned me with his words.

He kissed me again, lingering this time, savoring the moment as though neither of us wanted to rush it.

"I don't think I want that shower anymore," he admitted with a quiet laugh.

"No?"

He rested his forehead against mine. "I'd rather stay right here with you."

The confession sent warmth blooming through my chest.

He eased me backward until the backs of my knees met the mattress. And then I sank onto the edge of the bed, never taking my eyes off him. I was savoring every moment.

"I missed you," I whispered.

"I know."

His answer was gentle, but something about it felt... distant. And before I could dwell on it, he brushed his lips along my jaw, then lingered at the curve of my neck.

A shiver rolled through me.

His touch was familiar.

Comforting.

Yet somehow...

Not quite the same.

Maybe I was imagining it.

Maybe I had simply missed him too much.

"I love you, Noah," I breathed, closing my eyes as I wrapped my arms around him. These words always came effortlessly.

They always had.

For a heartbeat, he grew perfectly still.

Then he kissed my forehead.

I smiled to myself, believing everything between us would be okay.

I had no idea how wrong I was.

His mouth traveled down to the valley of my breast, and for a month I forgot about all the murky thoughts invading my mind. And when his lips started toying with my nipple, I simply had no other choice but to cast away my insecurities. Because that's all they were. Right?

I was a moaning mess.

My man was making love to me and my body was in some kind of ecstasy.

His lips were exploring every part of my body.

And the moment he entered me, I almost had an orgasm.

Our hips were moving in sync.

"Ahh... Noah," I whimpered, pleasure blurring the edges of my thoughts.

As his touch unraveled me, my mind drifted back to the very beginning—to the morning after he stole that unforgettable kiss in the parking lot. My mind traveled back in time to where everything had started.

The next morning, Amelia and I met up with the girls for our little Friendsgiving before everyone headed home for Thanksgiving break. We had made it a tradition.

By then, I'd forgiven them for ambushing me after the football game.

That was simply who my friends were—loud, impulsive, and gloriously chaotic. Why hold a grudge if that's who they are? And I loved them just for who they were — except this time they had put me in an awkward situation.

But I had accepted long ago that I couldn't change them.

I only hoped they would stop volunteering me for their crazy ideas.

Since our dorm didn't have a formal dining room, we decided to celebrate at a restaurant just off campus. My car was already packed, and as soon as lunch was over, I'd begin the four-hour drive back to Richmond.

"Good morning, ladies!" Gena, our favorite server, greeted us with a bright smile. She attended HU too, though she lived locally.

"Are we ready to order?"

"Not yet," Caroline answered. "We're waiting on a few more people."

I frowned. "A few more people?"

Almost everyone had already left campus. Amelia was flying back to Atlanta, Iris to New Jersey, Caroline to Jacksonville, and I was the only one making the drive home.

Driving had always been my preference. I liked having my own car whenever I visited my dad. I hated depending on other people for rides, and although Anne always offered me her car, I never liked inconveniencing her. Even if she said she didn't mind.

"In that case," I said, setting my menu down, "could I get another cup of coffee?"

Caroline laughed.

"How much coffee do you plan on drinking today, Olivia?"

"I was up way too late last night," I admitted. "And I still have four hours of driving ahead of me."

"Oh?" Caroline smirked.

"Did Number Thirty-Three keep you awake?" Amelia teased.

I blinked.

Then rolled my eyes in annoyance to the memory of the night before.

"Who?" I barked at her.

"You know..." She wiggled her eyebrows. "The guy you kissed last night."

"First of all," I corrected, "I didn't kiss him. He kissed me."

They all laughed in a choir.

"And second, I never even got his stupid name." I spat, snatching the coffee out of Gena's hand. The poor girl shrugged her shoulders and then walked away. "He disappeared before I could ask."

"How rude of me."

"Yes! That was totally rude," I responded to the men who had just joined us at the table.

The deep voice behind me sent a chill racing down my spine. Shit!

"I never introduced myself, beautiful."

I squeezed my eyes shut. As if that was going to make him disappear.

"Oh, shut the front door..." I said out loud.

Please tell me that wasn't him. Please tell me I just didn't embarrass myself once more.

"Mind if I sit here?" That voice came again.

Before I could answer and tell him no, Iris was already sliding out of her chair. "Here. Take my seat." My friend had betrayed me again.

Great.

Just...

Great.

He settled into the chair beside me with an easy confidence that made my stomach flutter.

"Hi," he smiled.

He then extended his hand.

"I'm Noah."

I stared at him for a second before remembering basic manners.

"Oh..."

I slipped my hand into his.

"I'm"

"Olivia," he finished my sentence.

Confusion hit me instantly.

There was silence around us.

His grip was warm.

Firm.

Comforting.

And for reasons I couldn't explain... why?

But I forgot to let go.

A slow smile spread across his face. Shit! That smile had bewitched me the night before.

"So..." he teased. "Are you planning on holding my hand all morning?"

Heat rushed into my cheeks.

I choked on my own saliva, and then I immediately pulled away.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

His grin only grew.

"I wasn't complaining," he blinked.

Good Lord...

Was this man naturally charming, or had he practiced?

"So," I asked, desperate to change the subject, "how do you know my name?"

"I've known it for months."

My eyebrows shot up. He had known my name for months? And why didn't I know of the existence of the fine specimens sitting inches away from me?

"What?"

"We have Advanced Calculus together."

Confusion must have been written all over my face because he chuckled. And his grin hypnotized me.

"I usually sit in the back," he chuckled.

"There are over a hundred students in that lecture hall."

"I'm not surprised you never noticed me."

I blinked.

How had I never noticed him?

Someone that attractive should've been impossible to miss.

Amelia laughed. "When Liv studies, the rest of the world disappears right before her nose."

"I've noticed," Noah said, his eyes still fixed on me.

The conversation flowed effortlessly after that.

He was funny.

Smart.

Very smart.

Did I say madly handsome?

Confident without being arrogant.

Somehow, talking to him felt... easy.

And before I realized it, lunch was over. Our Friendsgiving had come to an end.

I glanced at the time. "I should probably head out before traffic gets bad. I don't want dad to think I stood him up for dinner."

Noah stood as I did.

"You live far?"

"Richmond."

He smiled.

"No kidding!" he shouted. "I'm from Northern Virginia."

"Really?"

"Much farther North."

I smiled politely. "That's nice."

Brilliant, Olivia.

Absolutely brilliant.

I'd somehow managed to reduce an entire conversation to two words. I didn't know what else to say. That's nice was polite? Wasn't it?

I hugged each of the girls goodbye before Gena returned with my receipt and the iced coffee I'd ordered for the drive.

"I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving," I said.

"Travel safely, Liv." My besty said, giving me one last big hug.

"I will miss you," I muttered.

"And I'll miss you, too. Text me when you get home."

Noah stood right beside me.

"I'll walk you to your car," he offered.

"You don't have to."

"I know, but can I?" His smile was gentle. "I want to."

I gave him a small nod, allowing him to accompany me to my car.

The walk across campus felt surprisingly comfortable. Sporadically, our arms brushed against each other as we walked on the narrowed paved sidewalk.

Neither of us moved away.

"So..." He glanced at me. "Would you like to grab a coffee sometime after the break?"

"I think that could be arranged."

I wasn't so defensive anymore. Talking to him made me open up.

His smile told me that my positive answer was exactly what he'd hoped for.

Ten days later, I walked into Advanced Calculus carrying enough textbooks to throw out my back. My eyes immediately landed on the seat I'd claimed since the first week of class.

And Noah was sitting on the seat next to it.

Waiting.

A fresh cup of coffee rested on my desk.

He looked up and smiled. His eyes looking straight into mine.

"Welcome back."

I couldn't help smiling too. Something warm covered my heart.

"So... you really are in this class." I chuckled.

"I told you."

He stood and greeted me with a brief hug before pressing a soft kiss against my cheek.

My heart melted just a little. Or maybe a lot.

That first coffee led to our first official date.

One date turned into another.

Then another.

We spent hours talking about our families, our dreams, and the wildly different lives we'd grown up living.

We didn't have much in common on paper.

But somehow...

We fit.

Just like opposite charges attracting one another.

By January, the Wolves had made it to the semifinals. And I had become a cheerleader. Never missed a game. Football consumed Noah's schedule, but he always found time for me. Always.

It had become a religion for me to attend his games.

Even his away games. They were never too far.

I was always there.

One Tuesday night after a big win, he invited me to celebrate with the team at Jason Levin's house.

Jason was the star quarterback. The handsome, funny man every girl wanted to date.

The party was already in full swing when we arrived. Music blasted through the house while teammates and friends filled every room. Couples had taken over the couch, and hot make-out sessions were on full display.

"Damn," Jason said the moment he saw us. "Is this your girl?"

Without hesitation, Noah wrapped an arm around my waist. "Yeah," he smiled. "She is."

Butterflies erupted in my stomach.

Jason laughed. "Then don't let her out of your sight," he muttered, tapping Noah on his shoulder. "There are a lot of single football players here tonight."

Noah's arm tightened around me ever so slightly.

"I wasn't planning on it."

I smiled to myself.

For reasons I couldn't explain...

That tiny gesture made me feel safe. It made me want to explore deeper.

An hour later, after dancing and meeting most of the team, I leaned closer to Noah. "I need to use the bathroom."

"Come with me," he quickly said, leading the way through the sea of people.

Instead of pointing me downstairs, he guided me through the crowd and upstairs.

"You can use Jason's bathroom. Everyone else is fighting over the others."

I laughed.

But it was true.

The line was long and weary.

"I didn't expect a football player's bathroom to be this clean," I confessed.

He chuckled.

"Jason's full of surprises."

When I stepped back into the hallway, he reached for my hand.

I stopped him.

"Wait!" I shouted through the loud music.

He turned around.

"Why have you been introducing me as your girlfriend?" I asked. I had to.

His lips curved into a mischievous smile.

"I don't remember agreeing to that." I averted the single-sided conversation.

He took one slow step toward me. His eyes exploring my face.

"Would you like to?"

"What?"

"Be my girl," he smiled.

I folded my arms.

"Is that your way of asking?"

"No." He took another step closer.

"This is," I mumbled, stopping myself mid-sentence.

His eyes searched for mine.

"Olivia..." he said. This time his thumb was toying with my lip. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

I smiled.

And then his mouth covered mine in a kiss.

A kiss that tasted like Piña Colada mixed with beer.

And it was delicious.