Page 79 of I Never Stopped Loving You

I make eye contact with our waitress from across the restaurant and nod. Thankfully, she noticed from this far away and quickly came over with the bill.

“Can we have a few boxes, please?” Jenna asks.

The waitress nods, walking off then quickly returning with four boxes. We pack up our remaining burgers, all eager to get the hell out of here.

“One more drink while we wait for the Uber, then?” Willow asks as Jenna and Jeremy stand to put on their jackets.

“Sure. I’ll take one of whatever your favorite is,” I say as I stand to get my keys out of my pocket.

“Why? Just ‘cause it’s my favorite, you think it’ll be your favorite too?”

“It’s worked out so far, hasn’t it?” I wink down at her, watching her chew that bottom lip like she’s holding back words.

“Thanks for tonight, Noah.”

Jenna opens her arms for a hug and stares up at me. I’m hesitant. I’m not the biggest fan of physical contact, but I can tell from the look in her eyes this isn’t just about pleasantries. She wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me and pulling me closer before whispering in my ear.

“Remember, I know what you look like. I have her location, and I’ll kill you if you hurt her. Trust me, I know how to dispose of a body. Oh, and the back of her neck is her sweet spot. She told me one night when she was drunk. Good luck.”

“Thanks, Jenna,” I whisper back, then she pulls away, slapping me on the shoulder before bending to hug Willow.

“Love ya, babe. Text me if you need anything,” she says to Willow.

“Love ya. I’ll see you later.”

“Or tomorrow?” Jenna winks.

Willow looks up at me and can’t hide that adorable, embarrassed smile. She hesitates before finally answering her friend.

“Or tomorrow.”

Fuck yes!

CHAPTER 36

NOAH

The ride back to my house is anything but silent. The Uber took a bit longer to arrive because it was a busy Saturday night, and one drink turned into four shots. We drank her favorite one called liquid marijuana. Insanely fruity, but damn, is it smooth. I don’t know what’s in it, and honestly, I don’t want to know.

All I know is it helped her loosen up. She’s giggling as she’s trying to tell me the story about Jenna and Monopoly. All I’ve been able to make out from her adorable laughter is something about Park Place rent when it has a hotel, and a bottle of Jack. Not sure what that means because I’ve only played Monopoly once, and it was the Star Wars version.

“The charges were thankfully dropped. Oh, God. Don’t tell her I told you that story. She’d kill me. But it’s so fucking funny,” she says as she leans against me and sighs, closing her eyes.

My arm wraps protectively around her shoulders as I inhale her familiar scent. It calms me. It always has. Is it obsessive that I bought the same fucking spray just to make my pillow smell like her? Maybe. But who fucking cares? The thought of her was the only thing that kept me going all these years. The hope that one day I’d have her back in my arms just like this.

The Uber slows as it pulls up to my driveway and gate. I press the button on my phone to open the gate. The driver eyes me cautiously through the rearview mirror and keeps sneaking glances at my little rabbit. If he values his life, he’ll stop looking at her like that, or I’ll gouge his fucking eyes out.

When he meets my gaze again in the mirror, his eyes widen at my glare, and his focus returns to the driveway ahead. Good man. I don’t want to get my hands bloody tonight. Not when I have her with me.

“Have a good evening, folks,” the driver says as I step out of the car and pull Willow to her feet.

I nod to the driver, signaling him away. I hold her close until the taillights turn, and I watch my gate fully close. She gazes up at me with that silly smile she used to wear whenever she did something wrong and tried to hide it.

“Willow…” I say softly.

“Noah…” she mimics my tone as her hand slides inside my jacket.

Even through the fabric of my shirt, I can feel her nails dragging along my skin, and it’s fucking euphoric.