Page 14 of Going the Distance
“I miss you more.”
“Nuh-uh.”
“What’re you gonna do about it? You can’t tickle me into submission all the way from Massachusetts.”
“Oh, believe me, when I see you next I’ll have to pack inweeksof tickling you’re owed.”
I grinned, laughing softly. We carried on talking a little about college, school, our friends—though Noah seemed to ask more questions than he answered. I got the feeling he was avoiding talking to me about something, but it was such a small, silly, nagging thought I chose to ignore it. I was too happy seeing him, talking to him. I thought about confiding in him how it felt like Lee and I were drifting apart, but I didn’t want to risk it getting back to Lee and upsetting him, so I decided it was better to keep that to myself.
As we spoke, in hushed voices, I felt an ache somewhere inside. Not exactly in my chest, or my stomach, but just a deep-rooted all-over kind of ache. I missed him so much. More than anything, I wished I could be curled up next to him with his arms around me, the rise and fall of his chest beneath my head, his fingers teasing my hair. I watched his lips moving as he talked, thinking about how much I wanted to kiss him. Noah’s voice got slower, heavier as we spoke, and he sank back down into the pillow.
A car drew up outside—Dad was home.
“I should go,” I said, just as Noah yawned again. “My dad’s back. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he mumbled, half asleep. “Sweet dreams.”
He hung up then and left me smiling and feeling fuzzy inside, and I walked out into the hallway just as my dad was hanging up his coat.
“Oh, bud, you didn’t have to wait for me to get in.”
“You know I always do. How was the conference?”
He just pulled a face.
“Sounds like you guys had a wild time.”
He smiled tiredly. “As always. How was Brad?”
“An angel,” I said, with no hint of sarcasm, and quickly explained that Levi had come to keep me company. “Brad loved him.”
“I think this Levi guy is gonna have to be my new go-to babysitter. Come on, it’s late. Way pastyourbedtime,bud.”
