The Princess And The Criminal

27

NOAH

I winced as I slowly sat on the couch in my apartment.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't come and see you in the hospital."

I waved her away. "Calm down Morgan. Kids are a lot I understand."

She sagged with relief and adjusted her hold on Lillian.

Forrest wrinkled his nose as he carried Lily back. She had soiled her diaper.

"Where's Sawyer?"

I winced at the question. Sawyer was obsessed with finding my dad. She'd spend most of her day working with Marley on tracking him down then eat and pass out beside me on the hospital bed. I was hoping she would calm down when I was out but me needing a wheelchair has just spurred her on.

Forrest grunted. "Well I'm just gonna say it then. We bought a house."

I blinked. "What?"

Morgan smiled and leaned her head against Forrest's shoulder. "It had been the plan for a long time but I was worried about leaving you alone in the apartment..."

"But Sawyer practically lives here, so we thought you should know. Most of our stuff was moved while you were in the hospital." Forrest completed.

I frowned. "Oh."

Morgan blinked. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head and smiled. "Oh of course. I'm so happy for you... I don't know if Sawyer would want to move in."

"What? Why not?" Morgan exclaimed.

"Cause she's unreliable like that." Forrest growled.

I sighed. "I get that you're upset Forrest bu–"

The sound of the door interrupted us and the sound of Marley and Sawyer speaking filled the apartment.

They paused their conversation when they walked in and saw us.

"Hey." Sawyer smiled and kissed my cheek.

I smiled back. "Hey."

"We have something to tell you Sawyer." Forrest said.

"Oh uh, we got a lead, I just came back to change, maybe later?"

Morgan glanced at me worried and Forrest sighed.

"Morgan and I bought a house, we're moving."

Sawyer paused and Marley cleared his throat. "I'll wait for you outside."

"You're moving? To where?"

"It's close to dad's place."

Sawyer huffed. "And when are you moving?"

"In a week. Most of our stuff is already there."

"Forrest." Sawyer groaned while rubbing her forehead. "You can't just move right now."

Forrest frowned. "And why not?"

"What the hell do you mean why not? Do you not remember what happened to Noah? It's too fucking dangerous."

"I'm a grown man Sawyer, I'm going to do what I want when I want it. And besides, this isn't my problem."

Sawyer took several deep steadying breaths. "I love you Forrest... and I'm trying to keep you safe."

"And we appreciate that Sawyer." Morgan smiled. "But we know what we are doing ok? We have security around the house."

Sawyer huffed. "Sure whatever."

"Wait." I called out.

Sawyer's agitated expression softened when she turned to me. "Yeah?"

"Since they are leaving, well... I was wondering whether you'd like to move in."

Sawyer blinked. "Oh... uh sure of course... um... of course...I've got to go though."

And in two minutes she changed, kissed me goodbye and left the apartment. My heart sank, a writhing feeling settling in my stomach.

"Could you help me get to bed?"

Forrest sighed. "Of course."

—

I sighed again. It was three in the morning and Sawyer wasn't answering her phone. I was getting very worried, by five am worry had turned to irritation.

Sawyer crept into the bedroom at five thirty, a black bag in her hand approaching the closet.

"You're joking right?"

Sawyer froze.

I turned on the lights.

"What are you doing? Have you seen the time? And why haven't you been answering your phone?"

"We got a lead, I'll be gone for a few days, I didn't want to wake you."

Tears gathered in my eyes. "Sawyer, please stop this."

Sawyer frowned. "He has to pay for what he did to you Noah."

"I don't care about that right now. I've barely seen you in the last two weeks, you no longer answer my calls and now what? You were going to just vanish?"

"Noah–"

"No. Do not even try. You will undress, shower and come here. We will sleep and tomorrow you will leave everything to Marley."

"Come on Noah–"

"If you do not agree this is over."

Sawyer frowned. "What?"

"You heard me, I have my first therapy session tomorrow, I'm scared and I need my girlfriend. You said you were also going to go to therapy but you haven't even bothered to book a session. I'm tired and in pain, worrying about you is driving me mad. And you won't even pick my calls." My voice broke at the end.

Sawyer continued to stare at me, her frown still there.

"You stop, or you and I are done."

HEY GUYS, I WAS IN A DEEP CREATIVE SLUMP, (MY FRIENDS THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN A DEPRESSIVE EPISODE BUT I'LL NEED TO SEE A THERAPIST TO VERIFY THAT)

THE CHAPTER IS A LITTLE SHORT BUT THAT'S OKAY, I'LL MAKE IT UP TO Y'ALL. I'M ABOUT TO BRING SAWYER AND NOAH'S STORY TO AN END TO FOCUS ON OTHER CREATIVE PROJECTS. I'LL TAKE A BREAK FROM WATTPAD FOR A WHILE TO FOCUS ON ME.

I'D ALSO WELCOME ANY IDEAS FOR FUTURE BOOKS FOR WHEN I GET BACK TO WRITING CONSISTENTLY.

LOVE Y'ALL.