"Okay, hold on a minute," My best friend Tyla says as she points her finger at her phone's camera. "You're telling me that Noah watched Gavin."

A lungful of air pushes through my lips, and my usual bubbly voice comes out monotone. "Yes."

"While you slept."

"Shit, Ty. Don't make me feel worse than I already do." When I look at my computer screen, her dark brown eyes sparkle with mischief. My head shakes because I know that she is reading too much into this. I can tell just by the look on her face. "I slept for about five hours. He must have thought I was taking advantage of his kindness."

Tyla's lips purse together while her eyes stay glued to her screen. "Did he say that?"

"No."

"Then don't worry about it." She says as she waves off my concern. "It's no wonder he's America's golden boy."

I still find it hard to believe that anyone looks at him as anyone but Noah Buckman, the guy who cried at the ending of Toy Story 3. "Come on, you know I don't see him like that."

Ty's face deadpans, and she stares at me like she is questioning my sanity. "Sure."

I go to change the subject but am quickly cut off. "Hell," She starts again. "If I wasn't happily married and a lesbian, he would be at the top of my to-do list."

Being the theatrical queen she is, she adds to her dramatics by fanning her face. I can't help but scoff at her ridiculousness, which only causes her to burst out in a fit of laughter.

Thankfully, she is cut short by a knock at my door.

"Come in!" I yell.

Speak of the devil.

As if he could sense I was talking about him, Noah peaks his head around the open door. His smile is so broad, perfect white teeth almost blind me. He pulls off his baseball cap and runs his fingers through his golden tousles.

He is definitely handsome. I'll give him that.

The corners of my lips pull upwards to the point my cheeks ache. I was expecting it to be my mom or even Charles, so this is a pleasant surprise. "Hey, Noah."

I hear the sound of someone choking, and when I look down at my computer screen, I see Ty coughing on her drink. Her eyes connect with mine, and she starts to wiggle her eyebrows and shimmies her chest. Just as I am about to flip her off, Noah comes over and kisses my forehead, "Hello, Sunshine. How are you feeling today?"

Death.

I don't want him to think I'm overdramatic, so I answer with, "I'd say that the nausea is at a solid eight today. Haven't thrown up, so that's a win."

My hands make their way above my head, and I do a celebratory dance. Noah is quick to give me a high five and join in my mini party.

Our celebration is cut short by Tyla's loud voice. "Aw! You guys are the cutest."

Noah stands still and looks over to the computer on my lap. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."

A chuckle erupts from my chest, and my head shakes from side to side. "No worries, It's just Tyla."

Noah rushes over and plops down on the couch next to me, and is quick to remove the computer from my lap. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in close to his firm body. "Tyla! How are you?"

Tyla's eyes flicker between Noah and me. I'm positive she is coming up with some exaggerated story for our current position. "I'm good, Noah. Are you getting ready for the season?"

Tyla is a huge baseball fan. Thankfully, she never had a problem coming to Noah's games with me when our schools played one another. Plus, let's not even mention how big of a fangirl she became once he got drafted into the MLB. It took months for my ears to function correctly again.

I am happy to leave the conversation as my two favorite people continue to chat about the upcoming season. 

My eyelids suddenly feel as if they are being pulled down by sandbags. They close, and I lean my head on Noah's shoulder, continuing to listen to them talk.

I have no idea how much time passes, but an unfamiliar smell makes its way to my nostrils. It is neither pleasant nor foul, just something this growing baby must dislike. My stomach rumbles, and I bolt up from my comfortable position.

Hunched over, my elbows rest on my knees, and my head hangs low as I try and breathe through this sudden bout of nausea. Noah's large hand begins to rub circles on my back, and I focus all my attention on his comforting touch.

How he has the ability to calm me down, I will never know. I'm just grateful for it.

My mind has left this world and is only brought back when I hear Noah say, "Tyla, I'm going to have to let you go. It looks like she is about to blow."

The moment his hand leaves my back, I miss him.

I have had an internal battle fighting on since last night, unsure of how to process my feelings. I scold myself for depending on him so much. He might always be My Noah, but I have found myself thinking about him a lot more lately.

He won't always be here. I am not his responsibility.

"Here, Sunshine."

I have had my eyes closed for so long that the sun assaults my retinas. When they finally focus, Noah is holding on to two cups. A deep red tint takes over his cheeks, and I can't believe it. Noah Buckman does not get embarrassed. "I looked up what could help with morning sickness. Do you want Peppermint or Ginger tea?"

A wave of emotion crashes over me, and I'm about to drown. My chin begins to tremble, and Noah is quick to put down the cups and wrap me in his strong arms.

"Please, don't cry," he whispers.

A drum begins to pound in my chest, and it becomes difficult to breathe. "I don't deserve this."

"Annie," My name comes out strong, and Noah's authoritative tone demands my attention. "You deserve the world."

"No." My eyes close so tightly I'm sure when I open them again, I will have crow's feet. I try to let his words sink in, but I can't. It is only when I feel his hands cup my cheeks that I realize I have been shaking my head. "No. No. No."

Noah's thumbs brush along my cheek, and the way my heart flutters only leaves me more confused.

I want to believe him, but I can't. The way he feels against me is intoxicating. My body instantly relaxes, and my breathing begins to slow down. Each inhaled and exhaled breath is in perfect time with each tender stroke of his finger.

"My husband left me, Noah. I was never what he wanted. I was a toy in his life's game." My heart shatters at my admission, reliving my harsh reality when all I want is to forget. "In sickness and in health, what a joke."

"He's an idiot, and I never fucking liked him."

Not believing what I hear, I scan Noah's face. His jaw clenches, and his intense glare never wavers. "You were always so nice to him."

"Yeah, for you." The words flow with such hatred it sounds as if they are poison, and he is desperate to remove them from his mouth. Noah drops his hands to his side, and I am quick to wrap my arms around his neck. I'm not ready to let go of our connection. "I did it because I thought he made you happy, that he was good to you. You deserve the world, and I thought he was giving it to you."

Why do his words affect me the way that they do?

My heart sings, and I let the emotions take hold.

Noah has always towered over me, so confusion masks his face when I rise onto my toes. I inch closer until my lips are hovering near his. My heart races, and I know I might be crossing over the friendship line, but I don't care.

Not thinking of the repercussions, I kiss the corner of his mouth and whisper, "You mean so much to me, Noah. Thank you for being you."

A slight tingle is left behind.

My teeth pull in my bottom lip, and my fingers trace where our skin met. Heat begins to crawl up my face, no doubt leaving behind an embarrassing crimson color.

Noah's usually crystal blue eyes darken. He studies my face. His intense gaze holds me hostage. My skin begins to prickle, and I back away slowly, knowing we need some space between us.

With every step I take, Noah takes one closer. The moment my back hits the cool wall, I scan the room, looking for an exit plan.

I'm such an idiot.

The pounding in my chest becomes too much to bear, so I close my eyes and focus on my breathing. They only open when I feel Noah rest his forehead against mine.

My hands trace up his shirt until they rest upon his chest. My fingertips pick up the vibrations of his beating heart, and my stomach flips knowing I made his pulse quicken.

Noah goes to say something but quickly closes his mouth and eyes, taking in deep breaths. When his gaze meets mine once more, he tangles his fingers in the hair at the nape of my neck, forcing me to give him my attention. "I'm going to leave before we do something we regret."

I release a shaky breath feeling as if someone just punched me in the gut.

Of course, he is walking away. Noah is attracted to tall blondes. I believe his last girlfriend was a model.

"You're making me feel things, Annie," He admits.

"I'm sorry."

Noah drops his hands as if my skin was on fire and I was burning him. He turns to walk away and only stops to say, "Don't be."

The moment he walks out the door and it clicks back into place, my heart shatters and falls from my chest. I inch down the wall until I am cradling my knees, and I finally release the sob I have been holding onto.

I think I messed up.