Chapter 0247 âDinner,â I said with a small smile. âOr the closest thing we can get right now.â
Noah prodded one of the bags of chips with his finger and eyed me warily. âYouâll really eat this stuff?â
I shrugged and nodded at the same time. âItâs not like I have much of a choice right now. And besides, Iâve missed all this glorious junk food over the years.â
He smirked slightly. âFinally coming back to the dark side, huh?â
Nodding, I climbed onto his bed, sitting crossâlegged across from him. After a momentâs hesitation, Noah reached out and grabbed one of the bags.
âThis feels like weâre kids at a sleepover,â he commented as he unwrapped a baggie of cookies.
I laughed, the sound surprising both of us. âWell, itâs better than thinking about why weâre really here.â
We ate in companionable silence for a while, the rustle of wrappers the only sound in the quiet room. As I watched Noah relax slightly, I felt a warmth in my chest. This felt... nice. Normal, even.
âRemember when we used to do this?â I asked suddenly.
Noah furrowed his brow. âWhen we got married, you mean?â
âNo.â I shook my head. âBefore that. Like when we first met when my sister and I were on vacation, and we raided the snack pantry at your parentsâ house.â
For a moment, Noah just blinked at me in confusion, and I felt my stomach drop slightly. He didnât remember, did he?
He shook his head. âIâm sorry, I donât...â
âForget it,â I said, waving my hand and forcing a small smile. âIt was a long time ago.â
Neither of us said anything else after that. I couldnât deny the feeling of disappointment in my chest at the thought that he had truly forgotten our first meeting after all, and it just reminded me of how he got the dates mixed up at that party all those weeks ago.
It wasnât that long ago, really. In fact, I still remembered it like it was yesterday.
But it seemed that Noahâs memories of that week together were somewhat less... profound. (1)
We ate for a little while longer, eventually clicking the TV back on to watch some cheesy soap opera that was playing. Soon, the snacks dwindled away, and we were left with full bellies. As I watched the TV, my hand fluttered to my stomach, feeling the slight swell there.
I should tell him, I thought to myself, pursing my lips. Perhaps it was time. Iâd begin to show soon anyway, and then I really wouldnât be able to hide it from him. Finally, deciding to just do it and not even think about it, I sat up and took a deep breath.
âNoah, Iâm pregnant.â
But there was no answer. Turning, I realized that Noahâs eyes had drifted shut. His breathing had evened out, and he was leaning slightly to one side. He had fallen asleep.
Chapter 0247 +25 BONUS I looked down at him, feeling a mixture of disappointment and... relief. Part of me was glad that I wouldnât have to deal with his reaction right now, but another part wished he had heard me.
Sighing, I finally decided that it was time to go to sleep myself, and I stood to head back to my own bed. But as I moved, Noahâs hand suddenly shot out, grabbing my wrist. I gasped, nearly losing my balance as he pulled me back toward him.
âNoah?â I whispered, wondering if he had heard me after all, but there was still no answer; he was still asleep.
His grip was strong, and before I knew it, Iâd fallen onto the bed beside him. Noahâs arm wrapped around me, holding me close. I froze, unsure of what to do. It seemed his wolf had reacted instinctively in his sleep, wanting to keep me near.
The last time we had slept together like this was... I couldnât even remember.
I should get up, I thought. I should go back to my own bed. But as I lay there, listening to Noahâs steady heartbeat, I found myself unable to move away from him.
Before I knew it, I was drifting off to sleep, nestled safely in Noahâs arms.