I'll take my time | Noah sebastian

Chapter 18

Everlee

Waking up to the smell of coffee and food causes my stomach to immediately growl against my will. There's soft music playing quietly on the radio and I can hear Noah talking about where we go next.

I'll never be able to fully express just how much comfort hearing his voice again brings me. It eases every worry and smooths every single line of anxiety off my face.

The events of yesterday are a blur.

If it was even yesterday that is.

Noah woke me up in a complete panic not long after I had fallen asleep. I could see it all over his face that something was very wrong. He tried his best to hide it but I could see it as soon as I felt him shake me awake instead of his soft caresses like he had been.

I didn't question him on it, I just got up and did everything I could to help.

I've never felt so guilty in my life than I did in that moment. Through my sleepy state I could see all of the stress and pressure this entire thing was putting on him. I watched him crack on his way out of the hotel, showing the slightest bit of anxiety around the whole thing.

I watched Noah Sebastian pray to a God he hasn't believed in since he was a child.

It was barely a whisper I heard above the chaos of getting Into the car while the others handled check out.

"Please God, just let this be over."

It wasn't much, but it was enough for me to get my shit together real quick.

I stretch out of my uncomfortable position and groan, catching the attention of the man in question.

"Good-morning sleeping beauty."

I lightly smile at Noah as he makes eye contact with me through the rearview mirror and does the same, we're stopped in McDonald's parking lot while everyone eats.

I'm squished in the backseat between Nick and Folio but I don't have any complaints, I seem to have all the room to sleep while they're pushed against the doors to let me sit comfortably.

Folio notices me giving him a questionable look at their seating position and rolls his eyes, "Noah made us give you room to lay down."

"Because she needed the sleep."

"Yeah I did too."

Before Noah can get another word out I cut in to save us all the headache. They've always been able to argue over anything ever, especially more recently.

"Did you get me anything?"

I wanted nothing to do with food yesterday but it's all I can think about right now.

"Of course we did," he passes a small bag and a drink back to me, I say a silent prayer that it's a Coke Zero before I take a long sip.

Will this rehydrate me? No. Does it feel amazing? Yes.

I practically scarf down the contents of the bag while they all stare at me like some wild animal. If they were in my shoes they would be doing the exact same thing.

I take the last bite of my fries that Noah passed back before looking back up at everyone.

"Where even are we?"

I'm not even totally sure where we were earlier. I know it was a hotel of course but I don't know where. How long have we been in the car?