Page 10 of Keeping Noelle

“You could turn your phone off,” I suggest.

“What if it’s an emergency?”

I sigh, stepping back a little bit. Her phone rings again, louder this time, and she pulls back, glancing between me and the screen. With a defeated sigh, she answers.

“Hello?” Her voice is small, almost fearful, and I hate that I can’t protect her from them.

I can’t hear what’s being said on the other end, but whatever it is makes her face fall, her shoulders sagging. “What? What happened? Okay... I’ll be there soon.”

She ends the call, tucking her phone into her pocket as she looks up at me with an apologetic smile. “I have to go. They… need me.”

“Noelle,” I say softly, reaching for her hand. “You don’t have to go back there. You don’t owe them anything.”

She hesitates, looking torn, but I can see the fear in her eyes. Years of being under their control, of being their scapegoat—it’s a hard pattern to break.

“Please, stay,” I plead, squeezing her hand. “You can move in with me. You deserve better than what they’re giving you, Noelle. You deserve to be somewhere you’re loved and respected, not used.”

She glances down at our joined hands, and for a brief moment, I think she might say yes. But then she pulls her hand away, shaking her head slightly.

“They said it was important,” she whispers.

“Noelle…”

“I’ll think about it,” she whispers. “But right now, I… I have to go.”

My heart sinks as I watch her walk back to her car. She glances over her shoulder, offering me a small, sad smile before she climbs in and drives away, leaving me standing alone in the snow.

I head back inside and clean up from dinner, my mind racing with everything that happened tonight. Sure, she left, but before that, she agreed to go on a date with me. Maybe tonight will still end up being a win.

I head upstairs to take a shower and get ready for bed. I take my time in the shower and then get dressed and climb into bed, but I can’t fall asleep.

I can’t stop thinking about Noelle. I lie awake, staring at the ceiling and wondering if I’ll ever be able to break through the walls her family has built around her heart. I’ve loved her for as long as I can remember, and I’d give anything to take her away from that life, to show her the happiness she deserves.

But I can’t force her to stay. All I can do is keep showing up, keep being here for her, hoping that one day, she’ll choose to stay.

In the quiet darkness of my room, I make a silent vow. I’ll wait for her as long as it takes, because loving Noelle is all I know how to do.

SIX

Noelle

“Are you listening?”My mom snaps at me, and I blink, jerking back to the present.

“Yes.”

She scoffs and rolls her eyes, then goes right back to listing off all of the things that she needs me to do.

The truth is that I wasn’t really paying attention. My mind has been elsewhere, back in that cabin with Ansel, his lips on mine, his arms wrapped around my waist. I can’t stop thinking about how it felt to have his toned body pressed firmly against mine. I can’t stop thinking about how he kissed me. It was like he really wanted me. It was like he needed me. Like he loved me just as much as I loved him.

I can’t believe that I left Ansel and his cabin to come back here.

When my mom had called me last night, she made it sound like it was an emergency. She had actually said the words life or death. That was the only reason that I had left. Then, when I rushed over here and ran inside, all that she needed was forme to make her some soup because she wasn’t feeling well. She’s been lying in bed all morning, barking orders at me, and acting like she’s on her deathbed when in reality, she just has bad allergies.

“The dishes need to be done, and the bathrooms need to be cleaned. Did you go get the dry cleaning yet?”

“The shop is closed today, Mom,” I tell her, and she scowls.

“Then you’ll have to go first thing in the morning.”

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