Page 80 of I Never Stopped Loving You

“Come on, Little Rabbit. Let’s get you some water.”

She attempts to take a step and stumbles on the cobblestone walkway leading up to my house. I catch her and quickly scoop her into my arms, bridal-style, and she wraps hers around my neck.

“You don’t have to carry me,” she laughs as she nuzzles her face against my neck.

I can hear her inhaling deeply before letting out a relaxed sigh.

“But what would happen if you fall?” I tease.

“You won’t let that happen,” her voice is quieter as I adjust her in my arms to be able to grab the door handle.

“No? And why’s that?”

“Because I’m your little rabbit. You’d never let me fall.”

Fuck. My. Life.

I hold her tighter against my chest as I gently kick the door shut. The sound of those words on her lips has my chest aching. Fifteen fucking years I’ve waited for her to say those words again.

I’m your little rabbit.

“Willow…I need to tell you something,” I start to say, but then I hear it, the soft sound of her snoring against my chest.

I carry her up the stairs toward my room. The sounds of her breathing go steady, and I know she’s completely out. Who knew she was such a lightweight? I climb the last flight of stairs to the third floor and open the door to my room.

I slowly pull back the covers and lay her down gently on my bed. I carefully pull her arms from around my neck then rest them on her chest. Then I unzip the black boots and pull them off, setting them on the floor next to the nightstand. Her clutch is still wrapped around her wrist, and her jacket is on, but I’m not sure how easily I can remove that without her waking up.

“Willow?” I whisper.

Nothing. Not even eye movement.

“Willow?” I try again, but still not a single twitch. She’s out.

I slowly pull the arm of her jacket off before placing my arm beneath her back and lifting her to pull it the rest of the way off. As I lay her back down, I can see the smile forming on her lips, but her eyes are still closed.

“Are you dreaming of me, Little Rabbit?” I whisper as I brush her hair out of her face, then lean and kiss her on the forehead.

I open her clutch and pull out her phone. I have to use her thumb to open it, then quickly shoot off a text to Jenna.

Willow

Hey. I’m staying here tonight. See you in the morning.

Jenna

Noah, if this is you texting me off her phone and you’ve kidnapped my bestie, I will hurt you!!!

Jesus, this woman is protective. I start typing back, but the phone screen lights up and vibrates with an incoming FaceTime call.

Shit!

I quickly rush out of the room to the staircase and answer the FaceTime call. I’m immediately met with Jenna’s glare as she stares at me.

“I fucking knew it. Dude, if you’re going to try to impersonate my bestie, you need to know how she texts.”

“Can you keep your voice down? She’s asleep.”

“Asleep? You fucked her senseless already? Geez, you must be good.”