“I know, but you know what I mean.”
“I do. We’re in this together. Consider us an old married couple,” she said with a hint of a smile on her face.
“It’ll be one to tell the grandkids, for sure.”
“You want kids?”
Noah stared at her. For a split second, he imagined the two of them married with kids, and their kids wanting to know the story of how they came together.
“What is it?” she asked.
“It’s nothing. I’m just fucked in the head, that’s for sure.”
“You’re not anything like that.” She kissed his hand this time. “Kids?”
“I want a family, yeah, you?”
“I think so.”
“You don’t have any brothers and sisters, do you?” he asked, trying to change the subject. He didn’t even know why he felt this way or even what had changed it.
He wasn’t used to feeling this … open, raw, and exposed.
“Erm, no. My parents couldn’t afford any more kids.”
“How do they figure that out?”
“The math. They worked out the cost of keeping a baby, the college education, all of it. My parents are the kind to plan everything out before they commit to anything. It’s how they always work.” She sniffled. “I can’t even believe I’m talking about this with you right now.”
“I’ve got a younger brother and sister. They’re a bit on the nerdy side.”
She laughed. “Why didn’t you get them to tutor you?”
“Please, as if I’d pay attention to them. I’ve been making their lives miserable for years. They’d pay me back in kind.” He smiled. “You know, I never thought I’d miss them. They’re always a pain in the ass. I have to take them trick-or-treating, or to their parties when Mom and Dad have to work.”
“It must be nice. I tend to be alone a lot. Only child. I’d have loved to have done that.”
“Yeah, well, now I wish I could still do that. I wonder if we’ll still be here for Halloween.”
“I don’t know.”
“If we’re not, if we escaped, I want you to come with.”
“You do?”
“Yes. You can come out trick-or-treating with us. It’ll be good and fun. You have to dress up.”
“I’ve never dressed up in my life.” She smiled.
It was such a sweet, sexy smile, one filled with so much promise.
He cupped her face, ignoring the pain radiating through his entire body. “You know I never realized it before, but you’re so incredibly beautiful.” He stroked his thumb across her lip. They were plump, inviting, and he wanted to taste her. To kiss her.
“Noah?”
“I know. I’m a selfish prick half the time. I’ve spent so much of my life going for the easy girl. The girl that threw herself at me, time and time again. I didn’t want complicated in my life.”
“And now?”