Chapter 134 Chapter 134

Chapter 134 Chapter 134
Chapter 134

Night after everyone left Landon’s room. After tears and relief and gratitude.

Callahan mansion quiet now peaceful almost. Everyone sleeping resting recovering.

But not Lora. Not Noah. Too much energy too much emotion too much everything to sleep.

They walked together through mansion needing air needing space needing something.

Pool area outside lit by underwater lights blue glow reflecting on water on walls on everything beautiful calm peaceful.

Lora sat on edge feet dangling in water cool against skin soothing almost.

Noah sat beside her close but not touching giving space like always patient like always.

Silence for while comfortable one just being together just existing same space.

Then Lora spoke quiet vulnerable real.

“Thank you.” She said looking at water not at him easier that way.

“For what?” Noah asked though knowing already wanting her to say it anyway.

“For standing by me.” Lora said voice shaking slightly emotions close to surface always close these days. “When I was broken when I blamed myself when I couldn’t even look at myself.”

She paused swallowing hard continuing.

“For taking care of me in hospital every day every hour almost never leaving never complaining just being there.”

“Lora.”

“And for not giving up on me.” She finished finally looking at him eyes wet but not crying yet. “When I pushed you away when I ran from you when I said I couldn’t love you you didn’t give up.”

Noah looked at her really looked seeing everything she was everything she felt everything she feared.

“I told you.” He said simple true. “I’d wait until your heart became mine I meant it.”

“I know.” Lora whispered. “I know you did I just didn’t think I deserved it deserved you deserved love like that.”

“Why not?” Noah asked genuinely confused seeing her worth even when she couldn’t.

“Because.” Lora struggled finding words finding courage. “Everyone I love leaves dies disappears my parents gone my sister kidnapped almost lost I thought if I loved you you’d leave too.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Noah said firm certain final.

“I know that now.” Lora said small smile forming first real one in days. “You proved it you stayed when I was horrible when I was broken when I was everything difficult.”

“You were never horrible.” Noah corrected touching her hand gently. “You were hurting there’s difference.”

Lora looked down at their hands his covering hers warm strong safe.

Something inside her shifted finally completely fear releasing love taking over.

She stood up sudden fast Noah looking up at her confused concerned.

“Lora are you.”

She didn’t let him finish couldn’t let him finish needed to do this now before courage left.

Lora stepped closer to him standing between his legs looking down at his face at his eyes at everything she loved.

Then she leaned down slowly heart pounding hands shaking but doing it anyway.

Tiptoeing slightly even though he was sitting reaching for his face for his lips for him.

She kissed him gentle soft brief barely there almost.

Noah froze surprised shocked not expecting this not now not ever maybe.

But then he responded hands going to her waist pulling her closer holding her there.

He deepened kiss still gentle but more more everything more feeling more wanting more loving more.

Lora melted against him into him fear gone replaced by this by him by love finally accepted.

They kissed under stars under moon under everything beautiful first real kiss first true one first everything.

When they pulled apart both breathing hard both staring both believing what just happened.

Lora sat on his lap carefully arms around his neck face close to his not running anymore not hiding anymore.

“I love you.” She whispered three words she never said to anyone romantic never dared until now.

Noah stared at her eyes wide heart stopping did she just say what he thought she said.

“What?” He breathed needing to hear it again needing to believe it.

“I love you.” Lora repeated stronger this time certain this time. “I love you Noah Callahan I think I’ve loved you since that night in garden when you told me you loved me and I ran.”

“You ran.” Noah said remembering hurt from that night fading now understanding now.

“I was scared.” Lora admitted honest vulnerable open. “Terrified of loving you of losing you of everything.”

“And now?” Noah asked hopeful desperate needing to know.

“Now I’m still scared.” Lora said truthful always truthful with him. “But I’m more scared of not having you of pushing you away of missing this missing us.”

She paused taking breath asking question that terrified her.

“Do you still have space for me in your heart?” Her voice small scared hoping praying. “After everything I put you through after pushing you away after being so difficult?”

Noah laughed sudden joyful relieved pulling her even closer.

“Space for you?” He repeated shaking head smiling wide. “Lora my entire heart is yours always has been since I met you since I knew you since I fell for you.”

“Yes?” She whispered tears starting happy ones finally happy ones.

“Yes.” Noah confirmed touching her face wiping tears gently. “Yes to everything yes to you yes to us yes to forever if you’ll have me.”

Lora laughed through tears nodding unable to speak too much emotion too much joy too much everything good.

She kissed him again this time not gentle not hesitant passionate real true.

Pouring everything into it all her love all her fear conquered all her hope for future together.

Noah kissed back same energy same passion same everything hands in her hair on her back holding her like she was precious which she was.

They kissed until breathless until dizzy until world disappeared just them just this just love.

When they stopped foreheads touching breathing same air smiling both of them.

“I love you.” Lora said again liking how it felt saying it meaning it. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” Noah said also again never getting tired of saying it. “I’ve loved you so long waited so long for this.”

“Was it worth it?” Lora asked teasing slightly playful for first time in forever.

“Every second.” Noah answered serious true. “Every moment of waiting worth it for this for you for us.”

They sat together by pool holding each other kissing sometimes talking sometimes just being together always.

Hours passing night getting later darker quieter.

But they didn’t care didn’t notice lost in each other lost in love finally completely.

Noah held Lora both awake both happy both together finally.

Two couples two loves two futures beginning.

After everything wrong everything terrible everything dark.

Light coming back hope returning love winning.

Always.