A new rom-com had recently premiered, and I’d been wanting to see it. I was actually supposed to watch it with Shelby, but if I explained to her that I’d watched it with Noah, she would be all kinds of understanding and excited about it. I told him the title and he found it, then turned toward me. “I know I’m no Magnus, but would you be interested in cuddling with me through the movie?”

Oh. That was phase two. I waited a second for my body to react, but no part of that scared me. I knew he wouldn’t try to kiss me suddenly, and I liked when he touched me. I scooted over to him. He leaned into the corner of the couch, extending his powerful legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankle. I snuggled against his broad chest, leaning my head against his shoulder and curling my legs up next to him. He put his arm around me, hugging me tightly for a moment before relaxing his arm.

There was that pleasure he’d been talking about, those happy hormones that were giddy about my current situation and filled me with endorphins that almost made me feel like I was floating. Warmth filled all of my veins, making me melt against him. I really did love the way he smelled.

He started the movie, and I listened to the sound of him breathing, mesmerized by the way his chest went up and down. Without thinking, I put my hand on his chest, just like last night. Now his heartbeat was solid and steady. Like I could rely on him for anything. He put his hand over mine, which somehow made it infinitely better.

I felt the fingers on his other hand playing with the ends of my hair again, and I wondered if he even realized that he was doing it. We were almost like this real couple, sitting here enjoying one another’s company.

And I had that feeling of belonging again, just like I had when we’d been close together for that picture.

My eyelids felt heavy, and I let them drift shut for just a moment.

The next thing I knew, Noah was gently shaking me awake. “Hey, sleepyhead. You missed the entire movie.”

I felt warm and cozy and safe, and it was difficult to drag my eyes open. But then I did and realized where I was and what had happened.

“Why didn’t you wake me up earlier?” I asked, realizing that I had drooled all over this poor man and he hadn’t said a word to me. Just stayed where he was and let me sleep and soak his hoodie. I was mortified.

“It seemed like you needed to sleep.”