Life Without Noah Flynn ✔️

Epilogue

College passed in a blur. It was tough at times, but having my lifelong friends with me made being without my Dad and little brother around easier to take.
Dad eventually moved in with Corinne, they bought a house together to start afresh. Dad kept our house as a rental as he couldn't part with it. They got married in my last year of my degree. We all went home with them to celebrate. He was happy so so was I.

Lee and Rachel? Well that's a long story, they have broken up a few times. He tried dating other people, as did she but they came back to each other time and time again. Now, the day before graduation they're in an on period, who knows how long it'd last this time. I hoped it would, any fool could see they were right for each other.
Noah and I had never broken up since our time apart after the accident. He never got on a bike again much to mine, and frankly all his families relief. I turn twenty two in four days Noah is  twenty three and despite more than four years together I'm still as into him as I ever was.

We have fights of course, I go to my room, he goes to his but one of us always caves in and goes knocking to say sorry. We always make a habit of not going to bed angry at each other, and it sort of works for us. He still gets me a pink rose every Saturday morning on his run by the florists and I gladly accept!

Our families are all coming into town tonight ready for tomorrow. Brad is staying with us and Dad, Corinne, June and Matthew are staying in a Hotel for the night. Being fifteen I think he just wanted to stay with us for bragging rights at school. Plus, he has a massive crush on Rachel who's coming over tonight too. He thinks I don't know but it's so obvious. He sits there listening to her talk with a goofy look on his face.
He's staying in Noah's room tonight, well it practically goes unused unless someone else has decided to crash at ours for the night.
We are going to our favourite Italian for dinner of course and are currently running late, my fault as always. Noah, Brad and Lee has been periodically checking on me for the last twenty minutes. It's getting annoying but I just smile at each of them sweetly when I finally prance out.
Noah practically drags me out of the door and we make it in time to see the Flynn's and my Dad and Corinne get out of the cab.
"See, we're practically on time." I sing song at them.
"Either that or they're late too, maybe your Dads making use of the fact he's dumped Brad on you!"Lee nudges me. Nice Lee, nice.
Dad makes a toast about how proud he is of us all getting to this point, Lee's graduations not for another week but my Dad won't be here for that. I look around the table and still can't believe we're all together in one place again, I love our big family. We've shared meals of course over the last four years but they're not as often as they used to be.

Getting up in the morning, I make my best effort to be on time. Making sure I look nice, but wearing something comfortable. These ceremonies can go on for ages.
I make my way into the lounge, everyone's there but I can't see Dad and Noah. "Where's Dad Lee?"
"Gone down to hail a cab, I think." Jeez, that'll be my Dad, he doesn't do Uber!
Noah buzzed up on the intercom to tell us they'd got a cab and another one on its way so we all bundle down.

I'm sat there now, my degree in hand waiting for them to hurry up so I can get out of this Gown and stupid hat. I can't see my family but I heard Lee when my name was called out. He's such a yob.
Finally it was over and we could get out. We have our pictures taken and now enjoying a few drinks. Dad had checked out of the hotel so he had nipped back with Noah to get Brads things and the cases he's left earlier. I was a little sad they weren't staying long but Dad needed to get back to work and Corinnes son Miles has been staying at his grandparents so she had to get back for him. Miles is ok but is a little shit sometimes, so I wasn't too disappointed when they'd said he was staying behind.
We'd have a quick lunch and they'd head back to the airport. June and Matthew were going to hang about till Lee's ceremony next week and we'd go back with them for a bit of a vacation.

We waved off Dad, Corinne and Brad after lunch. June and Matthew were having a meal out tonight just the two of them so they were going back to their hotel to get ready. Lee was going to Rachel's for a few days so that just left Noah and I to go home. I loved having them all here, but it was always nice to be just us for a while after a hectic few days.

"So what's on the agenda tonight good sir?"

"Well, first I'm going to go wash the sheets from my room. Your brother seemed to have a permanent hard on. I'll remember to tell Rachel to wear less low cut tops next time he visits."
I'm practically pissing myself, he was right but poor Brad. There was a lot of uncomfortable moments over the last two days.
"Poor boy, he's just at that age, he'll grow out of it."
"Oh I don't know about that, you still get me every time Shelly."
"Give it a rest lover boy."
We get to the apartment and I fall into the sofa. The thought of cooking later does not sit well. "Im beat, do you mind take out again tonight. I can't be bothered."I call out to Noah
"Sure!" He's actually stripping the bed Brad slept in last night.
"Oh come on Noah, it can't be that bad."
"I'm not even looking, I can remember being fourteen, and fifteen. Well and now really. You look shattered Shelly, why don't you have a nap. I'll bring you a blanket once I've disposed of the hazardous waste." He's such a drama queen, but I am all for a nap!
Snuggling down on the sofa I try to convince him to join me but he's got things to do apparently. I'm that tired though I can't be bothered to pester him.

I wake to the smell of delicious food and Noah calling my name. Rising from the sofa Noah has set the table and he's sat there at the table with a plate of Pene Gorgonzola at my place at the table. He's lit a candle and there's a bottle of bubbly in the ice bucket.
"Well well well, you've been busy."
"I can't take the credit, I got it from the restaraunt. Couldn't just have pizza on our special day."
I can't believe he's done all this, and I'd slept through it. Well, maybe I can, I sleep like the dead, when I'm out, I'm out.
I tuck in regardless and sip the champagne he's poured. Toasting to our graduation. It really is delicious and I'm always hungry when I wake and he knows that well enough. He's finished his before me as usual. "Thanks for this Noah, it's really made a great end to a good day. Plus no cooking of course!"
"It's not over, I've run you a bath...shit the bath." Jumping up he runs to our room.
Chuckling I finish my meal, and champagne. When he's been gone too long, I panic and think it's over flowed. He's done this before and it ran into the apartment below. Aw shit, so getting up I go to inspect the damage.
"Please don't tell me I have to go grovel to the neighbours aga..."
Noah is knelt on the floor, candles lit with loads of pink flower petals scattered on the floor.
"Rochelle Evans, you have been in my life forever. I think I've probably loved you all that time. You've been my constant, my everything I can't even think of being without you. Will you be my Mrs Flynn."
I am totally gobsmacked, his face is serene and his eyes glistening with tears. I fall onto my knees in front of him and look at the ring he's holding. New tears spring to my eyes as I recognise it now I'm closer. It was my Moms.
"Its my Moms ring?"
"Yes, your Dad brought it for me, I asked his permission at his wedding to do this. He gave it to me today. I was going to wait for your birthday, but I couldn't wait any longer and when you fell asleep I just raced about getting this. I had bigger plans than this but, like I said. I wanted to make you mine sooner."
He's rambling so much now, obviously my lack of actual answer had made him nervous.
"I have been yours for a long time Noah."
"I know that Shelly, but please will you marry me?"
"Hmmmm, yes you stupid ass. I'll marry you."
He crushed me to him then, kissing me so passionately I could barely catch my breath and had to break away.
"So, Noah traditionally you're supposed to put the ring on my finger now."
"Of course...yes"
So he slipped it onto my finger, it fit perfectly.
"Shit what about the bath?"
"That was just a ruse to get you in here, it's fine."

The End xxxx