-The next morning—
Shelby's POV
Puck left not even an hour ago with Beth and I miss them already. It's Sunday so I have no work to worry about.
I should feel guilty about what I have done but I don't. I am blissfully happy. That's why I tried to kick him out yesterday after we slept together. I was more scared of being left alone and getting my heart broken yet again than the other obvious consequences of a relationship between us. Especially because I thought I was just some conquest for him. I thought that once he got into the pants of an "older woman" that he would just leave me and all that I felt would have been one-sided.
Unrequited love with an 18 year old. Can you believe that?
So I tried to kick him out before he could leave and I wake up alone again. I made excuses about how morally this "thing" between us could be wrong and I tried to be cold and distant about it but then he kissed me. He kissed me in a way I haven't been kissed in a long time. He made me forget every worry and doubt I had and then he told me that he loves me. All this time, I thought the only reason he feels this is because he wants to be in Beth's life. Not mine. That would have made it easier to let him go.
But then he told me that he wants both of us. The whole package. He looked into my eyes and I knew he was telling the truth. So now he's my boyfriend.
That feels so strange to say. I'm a grown woman but I feel like a teenage girl again saying that Noah's my "boyfriend". Not exactly in the vernacular of a woman my age. Go figure.
Just then my phone started ringing. Noah changed my ringtone to him singing "Waiting for a girl like you" so I knew it was him and I involuntarily smiled. I have to change that before going back to work tomorrow morning.
"Hello?"
"Hey you. How has your alone time been so far?"
"Quite boring actually. I'm so used to being busy that I don't know what to do"
"You could sleep. I know that with Beth and me around you didn't get much sleep last night"
I smiled at the memories of yesterday floating in my mind. After our discussion in bed about starting our relationship, we talked for hours about anything and everything. We told each other about our lives and had playful, easy banter with each other. It was so easy to talk to him. We played with Beth together and he cooked all us a nice dinner. It was some of the best spaghetti and meatballs I had in my whole life. After dinner we put Beth to bed and then started talking some more. We then started kissing and that led to a long night of love making. I fell asleep and woke up in his arms.
"You did kind of wear me out. But I'm not really complaining". It should be illegal how good he can make me feel.
"Neither am I. I just called to see how you were doing but now our monkey face wants to say something to you".
I love that that little nick name he gave Beth. Just then I hear a little voice.
"Hi mama. I wuv you"
My eyes started to pool with tears and my voice was shaking as I said,
"I love you to baby."
"Ok. Bye mama"
Just then Noah's voice through the phone
"Did you hear that?"
"Yes I did. Thank you for that. When did you teach her that?"
"I've been working on it for a little while. She could already say Mama so I just kept repeating the phrase to her until she got it. It's mostly been when I baby sit her I say it and she finally was ready to say it now so I called you right away."
Noah had this tough reputation but he was such a softy inside. That side is what made me fall for him. He only let's that side show with Beth and me and that's how I know his feelings are real for me. He put his walls down for me. That's how I know that I'm not just some phase for him and we are special to him.
"I can't believe you did that"
"Anything for you baby"
Baby. I like that
"Well, I won't bother you anymore. I promise. Just promise me that you'll try to relax today. You don't know when the next time you'll get to rest is"
"Okay Noah, I promise I'll rest."
"Good. I love you Shelby"
I froze. I wasn't expecting him to say that so soon. I haven't really thought about if I love him too. He told me he loved me yesterday but I didn't respond then either. We made love yesterday and shared our feelings with each other but didn't exchange "I love you's "yet but then I realized I do love him. I haven't been I love for so long that I forgot what it felt like.
I must have been frozen for longer that I thought because Noah's voice came through the speaker and took me out of my thoughts.
"Shelby? You still there?"
All I could say was "Yeah"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I can wait for you to be ready—"
"I love you too"
"Really? You do?"
"Yes. I love you Noah"
"I love you too Shelby. I really do"
"I know. Well… bye Noah"
"Bye Shelby"
I hung up the phone and sat it my bed. I just told my 18 year old boyfriend (that's still feels strange to say) that I love him.
What?
I'm in love with an 18 year old and I am completely okay with it. I think the fact that saying this makes me totally happy and smile like an idiot is actually scarier than the fact that I'm in love with him. It scares me because if he doesn't really feel the same, it's going to hurt so much more.
I look at the time and see that it's only 5 after 1. I've got to do something today. I get up and with a huge smile still on my face to do something today not even thinking about what's going to happen when we're both at school tomorrow.
~IN CASE YOU CATCH THE FORESHADOWING, THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE HOW THEY DEAL WITH THEIR RELATIONSHIP WHILE IN MCKINLEY~
~WILL BE UP SOON~
