Page 105 of Academically Yours

Every time I opened my mouth as I looked at her, the words just didn’t come.

“Yeah, of course,” I muttered into the phone.

“Good, because this is one of the last things Elizabeth will probably get to do before the baby comes, and I know how much she wants you there.” She was due next month, and I knew they were so excited to start their life as a family. Jealousy raged through me before I was able to temper it back down.

I wanted to be a father. I wanted kids. I wanted a family. I wanted all of it—with Noelle. Even though I lost my parents, even if it seemed like anything good in the world would disappear if I blinked, I had Noelle now, so none of that seemed to matter.

I was more scared of a life where I didn’t have her, where I didn’t even try. I couldn’t even imagine a life where I loved and lost her anymore. My future was just… Her. Her rosy cheeks, long red hair, freckled face, and a couple of kids that looked like us.

I wanted it.

“We’ll be there.” I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me.

“We can’t wait to see Noelle again.”

I grumbled. “Yeah, yeah, can’t wait to hear all of you guys tell me I told you so all over again in person.”

Bryan laughed. “Listen, Matt, I gotta go, but I’ll see you tonight, alright?”

“Sure, man,” I said, saying our goodbyes as we hung up the call.

I looked at my reflection, wishing I could tell Noelle everything that was on my mind.

I wanted—no, needed—to fight for her heart. Because I needed her to love me as much as I loved her. Needed to prove to her that this—us—was worth it. Forever.

~ ~ ~

Despite my best intentions to avoid any sort of university event for the near future, here I was at the Alumni Event with all of the staff and faculty of the University of Portland in attendance that weekend. Many of them had brought their partners, husbands, wives, or significant others, and I wished I had Noelle by my side.

She would have made this dreadfully boring event a little more enjoyable. Instead, she was on the opposite end of the large dining hall, wearing a beautiful emerald dress that hugged her curves with cute little ruffles on the shoulders. And the way her heels elongated her legs never ceased to take my breath away.

When she had come out of the bathroom at my house after getting ready, I couldn’t help but appreciate how beautiful she was. “Can you zip me up?” Noelle asked, holding back her hair with one hand as she stood, her bare back exposed to me.

I pulled up the zipper before placing a kiss on her neck from behind.

“Wow.” Noelle turned around and I took her in—her hair down in loose, big curls with one side pinned back. I had stared at her for a full minute. “Noelle. I—just, wow.”

A little blush had crept over her cheeks. “You said that already,” she joked. “But thank you. Charlotte made it for me.” She had done a little twirl for me, and I pulled her in closer.

“Damn. You’re telling me Charlotte made this for you? Holy hell.” It was beautiful, and it fit her like a glove, tucked around her waist and flaring over her curvy hips. “You’re so fucking hot,” I had whispered into her ear. “I hope I get to take this off of you later.”

“Oh my gosh.” She’d swatted me away. “Stop that. We gotta go or we’ll be late.”

“Maybe I want to be late,” I told her, but I gave her a kiss on the lips before grabbing my coat and truck keys. “Ready, sweetheart?”

Noelle had basically pushed me out the door. “Yeah. Let’s go get this over with.” She’d made a face then.

“What?” I asked, with a laugh. “You don’t want to go mingle with hundreds of alumni and faculty?”

She’d just shot daggers at me. “Like you do?”

I shrugged. Of course, I didn’t. She knew it, I knew it. But… “At least I get to see you in this sexy dress,” I said, waggling my eyebrows.

“While I do love seeing you in a suit…” Noelle pouted. “It’s not quite the same for me.”

I hummed, playfully pretending to ponder something as I helped Noelle into the car. “Maybe I could roll my shirt sleeves up later? I know you like it when I do that.”

Her eyes almost bugged out of her head. “What? When did I say anything about that?”