Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
My father mutters under his breath. “They still do that.”
Noah laughs as my mom moves back to give him space. “It’s gone faster than I care to admit,” he says, sparing a quick glance at me.
“Well, that happens when you disappear for three years,” Hazel chimes in with a smirk, but damn, doesn’t she know how the reminder of that time tends to slice me wide open?
“You’re not wrong,” Noah tells her, trying to keep the mood light.
“You have everything you need?” Dad questions.
Noah glances at my father and gives him a firm nod. “Yep, all good, sir.”
“Good, then don’t be a stranger,” my father responds, a strange emotion flashing in his eyes, one I’m not really sure I can decode. “I don’t need any more reasons to want to kick your ass.”
My eyes widen in horror, and my jaw practically falls to the ground. “Dad!” I hiss. I’ve never heard him so forward with Noah before, but Noah seems to take it in stride. He doesn’t even flinch at the comment.
Mom and Dad step outside onto the porch with us, and before I know it, we’re all huddled by Noah’s Camaro as Mom and Hazel give Noah another round of hugs. But all I can do is stare at his car, contemplating if I could somehow get away with slicing all four of his tires before any of them can stop me.
I zone out trying to shield my heart from the words of my mother’s teary goodbye, and then all too soon, my family slips away to give us space.
This is it.
This is the moment I’ve been dreading since he first told me about his acceptance.
My hands shake as Noah steps into me, and his hand curls into mine to hold it steady. His dark eyes lock on to mine. “Are you okay?” he asks hesitantly.
I nod, not trusting the way the words will come out if I say them aloud.
He stands right in front of me, his chest so close to mine but not quite touching as though he’s trying to be respectful of my family watching. He takes my other hand as well, lacing our fingers as he tilts his head toward me. “You’re strong, Zo,” he tells me because God knows, I feel as though I’ve forgotten. “You kicked leukemia’s ass and got through a year of hell during your junior year. And on top of that, you survived through the grief of losing Linc when I wasn’t here to hold you up. This is nothing compared to all of that.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s going to suck any less.”
“I know,” he tells me. “Nothing I can say or do is going to lessen the sting of having to be away from you, Zo. And though it feels like our whole world is crumbling, we’re gonna be fine. You’ll see. It’s nothing more than a stepping stone that will lead us to the life we’ll eventually be living together.”
A small smile pulls at the corners of my lips, but I can’t help the silent tears that track down my face. “I like the way that sounds.”
His eyes sparkle with warmth. “I thought you might.”
I let out a shaky breath. “You really have to go now?”
“Yeah,” he says before releasing my hands and brushing his thumbs over my cheeks, wiping away the constant flow of tears. He pulls me into his chest, his strong arms curling around me. One clutches my back, and the other knots into my hair as he holds me tighter than ever before. “Fuck, I knew this was going to be hard, but I didn’t think it would kill me like this.”
“Don’t, Noah,” I warn, my voice shaky. “If you fall apart, I’ll be a wreck.”
“I love you more than anything in this world, Zo. Just one word from you, and I’ll be right back here.”
I nod against his chest, wiping my eyes on his shirt. “I love you too,” I tell him when I feel his fingers at my chin, lifting my face until those dark, dreamy eyes are locked securely on mine.
“Not goodbye, Zo. Just see you later.”
“Not goodbye,” I repeat, and then his lips are on mine, kissing me deeply as I fall apart in his arms. He holds me up, not daring to let me fall, and when he pulls away, I feel my mother’s hand on my shoulder.
She tugs me back into her gently, and I shake my head, watching as Noah strides to his car. “No,” I breathe, my heart shattering inside my chest as my mother hugs me from behind, pressing a kiss to my temple.
Noah pauses by his car door and glances back at me, and the look in his eyes makes me falter. He was putting on a show for me, being brave so that I wouldn’t break quite so bad, but damn it, he’s just as shattered as I am. Then before he convinces himself to run back into my arms, he gets into his car, and the loud engine rumbles through the quiet street.