Page 180 of After All This Time

“You’re staring at my lips.”

“That obvious, huh?”

“Just shut up and kiss me already if you’re not all mouth.”

Her body slams into mine, kissing me like she hasn’t kissed me in days, weeks, or possibly months.

Ding. Level 3.

I’m going to miss these damn elevators because they’re magical.

I pull away, realizing I need to tell this gorgeous woman standing in front of me I’m in love with her.

“Dani, I need to finish what I was trying to tell Lizzie in her room. The truth is I was actually talking to you.”

She sees my chest heaving and notices I’m breathing heavily. “Are you having another panic attack?”

“No. There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”

Ding. Level 2.

Her arms cage me in, brown eyes dissolving me like chocolate melting in the hot Florida sun. “Then, tell me already!”

“I’m in love with you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you last night. I wanted to, but it never came out. I knew you were anxiously waiting for me to tell you. It’s just…I’ve never been in love before and didn’t know what it felt like. Until I met you. When I’m with you, nobody else exists. All I can think about is you. All I want to do is be near you. Kiss you. Hold your hand. Make you laugh. Be your shoulder to cry on. I want to be your everything. I love you.”

“You’re in love with me?” She smiles.

“Of course I am. I’ve been in love with you since we were teenagers. Hell, probably since we were kids.”

Ding. Lobby.

I walk out of the elevator, dragging her out with me. Her eyes are glassy. “Oh God, please don’t cry.”

“They’re happy tears. I promise.” She laughs through the tears, choking on them in an attempt to catch her breath. “Hey, Noah.”

“What’s up, Dani?”

“I’m in love with you, too. I’ve been wanting to tell you since this morning. Remember when Bella told you I had something to tell you? This is it. She thought it was ridiculous that I’ve been waiting for you to tell me you’re in love with me. I didn’t want to come off as desperate, so I kept my mouth shut. I’m not keeping it shut anymore. I love you.”

Tears are trickling down her face. I bring my thumb up to her cheeks, wiping away the tears falling out of her eyes.

We’re standing in the middle of the lobby.

I walk closer to her, sealing the gap between us.

All eyes are on us. There are a few elderly women sitting on the chairs behind us. A group of teenagers hanging out by the cafeteria entrance.

“Noah, people are watching.”

“Let them watch. They’re about to watch the best TV show of their lives. And it’s in real time, baby.”

“You’re such?—”

I cut her off. “An idiot?”

“Yeah.”

“But you love me anyway?”

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