Chapter 9
Olivia walked towards Noah's office. She took a deep breath and knocked on the doorframe.
"Can we talk about something?" Olivia watched him jump and nearly drop his phone.
"Yeah, sure. I have a few minutes." Noah turned in his chair and pocketed his phone.
"So... I forgot that I have a company holiday party in Milan coming up. Like next week. I was wondering if... I could go? Someone would have to watch Amelia though." Olivia worried her bottom lip and chewed on her thumb with her other arm crossed over her chest.
"I can watch her or get my father to do it." Noah smiled for her. His phone dinged and his hand itched to respond to it.
"Who are you talking to?" Olivia raised an eyebrow as he took his phone out and began typing on it.
"Just my father. I can ask him now. He wouldn't have to watch her that much." Noah smiled and put his phone away after sending a real text to his father. "And done."
"So, I fly out on Monday. I won't be back until Saturday." Olivia worried her bottom lip some more as she looked over her flight plans on her phone.
"Mm-hm. Sounds good. I'd go, but I have to teach still until winter break." Noah smiled at her with an apologetic expression.
"I see. It's okay. I understand." Olivia smiled with a nod and left out of his office.
Her heart hurt and she was lonely. All she wanted to do was talk to him about everything. Wanted him to ask her about her day. Wanted him to tell her not to go to that party because she knew what would happen if she did. Or wouldn't happen. She could hold back. She had self-respect, but it might not be as strong as she would have liked.
As soon as Olivia got down the hallway and back to the kitchen, Amelia burst out crying from her bedroom. Olivia sighed and walked towards Amelia's room to get her.
Noah sent a text on his phone to Lea with a warm smile.
[Noah]
I'm headed out the door now.
See you in a few.
I have news for you.
He pocketed his phone and a red pen. He stood up, shoving his papers into a folder.
Noah walked out to the family room to put his jacket on and grab his keys.
"I'll be back in a bit!" Noah called out so that Olivia would hear him.
"Ok!" Olivia yelled in return as she rocked Amelia in her arms.
Noah shut the door and locked it. He cleared his throat and walked down the hallway with his hands in his pockets and the folder under his arm.
It didn't take him long to get to his car and start it. He backed out of his parking spot and drove through the city. The streets weren't as busy as they usually were.
Noah parked in front of the cafe and got out, locking his car. He put his key fob into his pocket and opened the door to the place.
"Bonsoir. I have someone expecting me." Noah smiled at the front desk attendant.
"Name?" They smiled at him and looked down at a list.
"Lea." Noah spoke her name like it was a sin.
"She just came in. She's up on the terrace. Right this way." The woman led him up to the terrace and when he saw her, his heart fell out of his chest.
"Enjoy." The woman left them alone.
Noah gazed at what she was wearing. It was a flowy red dress made of chiffon. The skirt blew in the breeze, and she slowly turned away from the iron fence with a warm smile. Her hair waved in the gentle breeze and her sweet perfume invaded his senses. His cock flexed and his lips parted as he took in how beautiful she looked in the moonlight.
"Bonsoir." Lea smiled and walked over to their table. "Care to sit with me?"
Noah cleared his throat and smirked. He walked over and pulled her chair out for her. She sat down and he pushed her in; before, he walked around to sit down.
"Bonsoir, Lea." Noah smiled, set down his folder, and played with his menu.
"So, how's grading?" Lea took up her cup of coffee and took a sip.
"Same as always. Awful, but I have to do it. You?" Noah took a sip of his own.
"Same." Lea laughed and set her cup down.
"So, Olivia is going to Milan for a company holiday party next week and won't be home until Saturday." Noah blurted out with excitement. It meant more time to see Lea and it was so much easier to talk to her than Olivia.
"Are you going?" Lea raised an eyebrow at him and raised her cup to her lips again.
"No. I have classes still until winter break. I can't abandon my students." Noah ran a hand through his hair.
"Aren't you worried about Adam?" Lea moved back as their dessert was sat in front of them.
"Always." Noah picked up his fork and picked at his tart.
"So, why wouldn't you go? If you're so worried about that model... shouldn't you go too?" Lea cut off a piece of her cake and put it into her mouth.
"Well, I trust Olivia. She wouldn't do anything." Noah shrugged and Lea set her fork down.
"Let me ask you this. What does she do all day?" Lea raised an eyebrow and waited for him to think about it.
"Work on designs, go to fashion shoots and shows... and... oh." Noah realized that while he wasn't there, Adam was.
"Adam is always around. Just as I am. You can't tell me that she won't eventually replace you." Lea took her fork back up.
"No, no I refuse." Noah shook his head and put another bite of tart into his mouth.
"You never answered my question, Noah." Lea cut off another bite of her dessert. "Are you happy?"
Noah sighed and set his fork on his plate, leaning back in his seat. "No. No, I'm not."
"That's what I thought. You can't bend backwards and work constantly and think that you have a healthy relationship. You guys don't make time for one another. How are you supposed to be happy when you never see each other? Never go on dates! I have all the time in the world when I'm not grading or teaching, as do you. You're in the same boat as me. Her hobbies and career seem to come before you and I don't like seeing my friend hurt like that. You should come first and not her work. That's not how it works. Yeah, sure you're supporting her with your career and she's supporting you that way, but it's not the same as her being there for you. Her offering to bring you coffee or help you grade easier." Lea took another bite to silence herself and blushed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said all of that. It wasn't right of me."
Noah shrugged and finished his tart. "No, no. You're right about it all." He sighed and leaned back with his coffee in his hands. "We don't make time for one another, and we should. We talk when it's inconvenient."
Lea slid her hand across the table and touched his. She ran her thumb over his knuckles and peered into his emerald eyes. "I can make you happy." Her smile was entrancing, and his heart fluttered at her words. It was so easy. Everything about this was so simple.
"I know you could, Lea." Noah sighed and slipped his hand from hers. She pulled her hand back like she had been burned. "I know that you could make me happy because you do. You understand me and what I'm going through."
"So, why can't we make this work?" Lea worried her bottom lip.
"Because I can't hurt Olivia like that. It's not fair when she works so hard." Noah sighed and took a sip of his coffee.
"And you do too. I will make time for you. I will talk to you. Cuddle with you. Compliment you. I'll stand by your side and boost you up. I could make you smile and laugh. Brighten your day. I'll even watch Amelia for you." Lea smiled at him with excitement in her eyes.
"I'd love that." Noah weakly smiled and ran his fingers along his cup. "But I can't."
"Well, when you decide that you want a relationship like that... I'll be here." Lea smiled into her coffee cup and took a sip.
"So, what play are you teaching right now?" Noah tried to change the subject, opening his folder. He didn't want to be swayed by her words and at the moment it was working on him.
"Midsummer's Night Dream. I just love it. It's magical." Lea became instantly thrilled in his interest.
"Nothing's magical." Noah choked out a laugh, taking his red pen out and clicking it open.
Lea gasped and put her hands on her hips. "Excuse you! Everything in life is magical and amazing!"
Noah laughed harder and brought his cup to his lips. "Hey, everyone is entitled to their own opinion."
Lea stood up and held out her hand. "You need to be more spontaneous."
"What are you doing? I thought we were going to grade." Noah looked up at her.
"You and I both know that wasn't really going to happen, silly professor. Don't think. Just do." Lea pulled him up by his hand and he stood up, dropping his pen on the table.
She put his hand on her waist and took his other hand in hers, raising it to the air. "Dancing."
"But there's no music." Noah raised an eyebrow at her.
She smiled up at him and placed his hand on her chest for a moment. "Don't you hear it?"
Noah's cheeks turned a deep peach as his heart beat faster and his jeans got tighter. He cleared his throat and she giggled as she intertwined her fingers with his again and rested her head on his chest. He sighed as his heartbeat lulled them into a waltz.