“That’s wonderful. I’m really happy for them both. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Lauren yet, but Alex was talking to me at the hospital and filled me in on Lauren’s progress.”
Yet? He hasn’t met Lauren—yet?
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I asked, “Noah, why are you here? I mean . . . you’re . . .” My heart hurt as I tried to speak the words that wouldn’t form in my mouth. He’s married now. Just say it, Grace.
Noah took a step up as I instinctively backed up. No. Please don’t come closer to me. I wanted to beg him to stop. If he came any closer, I’d feel his pull and my heart couldn’t take another break.
“That’s what I wanted to come and talk to you about, Grace. You mentioned me being married.”
Swallowing hard, I looked away so he couldn’t see the tears forming in my eyes. It was my fault. I pushed him away. It was no one else’s fault but my own.
Noah reached the top step. Taking in a deep breath, I smelled that familiar scent of his cologne and I whimpered silently inside. My eyes stung as I forced myself not to look at him.
Another step closer. My chest was rising up and down so fast as I dragged in breaths of air.
Noah stopped right in front of me. My body shook as I attempted to push away every memory of him. Every touch. Every kiss. Every romantic word he whispered in my ear as he made love to me.
My skin exploded when his finger touched my chin. Turning my face to him, his eyes locked with mine. “I’ve missed you so much, and I thought I’d lost you forever, Grace.”
My mouth parted open as a single tear fell from my eye. “Noah, you’re married and I can’t . . .”