“I’ll talk to you soon. I love you so much,” he said.
“I love you so much. I’ll call you when I get there,” said Jessa.
Noah kissed her softly then stepped back with a smile. “I’ll be counting down the hours to talk to you,” he said.
“Me too,” Jessa said with a smile.
Noah inclined his head to the secure area in front of her, and she smiled, stroking his cheek and hair affectionately. Kissing his lips once more, she stepped away, and he smiled at her encouragingly, watching as she went through and soon losing sight of her in the crowd.
He took a deep breath, eyes brimming with unshed tears, but he pushed through it, heading back to the car and going into the studio to work, trying to keep his mind off Jessa’s absence.
The hotel room seemed extra empty without her that evening, and he smiled as he saw a note stuck to the bathroom mirror; she’d even put on lipstick to mark the paper with a kiss.
I love you always!
Love, Jessa
He opened the drawer to get his pajamas out and saw one of Jessa’s shirts sitting there. She’d taken the shirt he’d taken before back with her; he hadn’t realized she’d left a replacement. He picked it up, and the scent of her perfume wafted into his nostrils. He loved her scent; he buried his nose in it for a moment and then put it on the bed. He got out a t-shirt and shorts to wear to bed that somehow also smelled of her perfume.
He set an alarm for the early morning hours; he would speak to Jessa despite the time difference and then go back to sleep. He was getting an early night, both not to think about it but also so that he could wake up to talk to Jessa when she got into Redhill.
He woke to the ringing of his phone, Jessa’s name on the screen. She was calling even before his alarm. He scrambled to grab it.
“Hi, beautiful,” he answered.
“Hi, handsome,” said Jessa, sitting on her bed back at her apartment.
“Jessa,” he breathed. “How was your flight?”
“It was good,” said Jessa. “How are you?” she asked softly.
“I’m okay. I’m happy I get to hear your voice,” he said.
“Me too. I miss you,” said Jessa.
“I miss you,” said Noah. He heard her sigh.
“Been missing you for hours and hours, since the moment I let go of your hand at the airport,” she said.
“Me too, Jessa. The room is too empty without you now. Thanks for the little gifts you left me though,” he said with a smile.
Jessa could tell he was smiling and smiled too, glad she’d been able to make him smile.
“You’re welcome,” she said with a soft smile.
“You should go back to sleep. I don’t want you to be tired tomorrow,” said Jessa.
“Not yet, Jessa. I can’t. Let me talk to you some more,” he said.
“I would talk to you all night if I could, babe. I just want you to rest, that’s all,” said Jessa.
“I know you’re always looking out for me,” Noah said. “What are you doing tomorrow?” he added.
“I have the morning off, and then I’m doing a workshop at the academy and rehearsing for the show,” said Jessa.
“Busy, make sure you rest,” said Noah.
“I will,” promised Jessa with a smile. “What about you?” she asked.
“I did a lot of work yesterday; I was trying to keep busy, so I don’t even need to prep before going in. I’ll just go into the studio and get straight into it,” said Noah.
“That’s good; you can have a more relaxing morning,” said Jessa. “You kept busy yesterday because of me.”
“I just tried not to think,” said Noah. “It didn’t work because I’m always thinking about you, but I needed the distraction.”
“Makes sense,” said Jessa.
“You haven’t been sick as much, Jessa? You were okay this week; you weren’t getting sick,” said Noah.
“It’s mainly just nausea now. I am so glad I wasn’t getting sick. I got to enjoy every day with you,” Jessa said with a smile.
“Did you eat something on the plane?” he asked.
“I had the meal and the snacks. I was hungry,” she said with a laugh.
Noah chuckled. “You had some dinner yet?” he asked.
“No, I called you first. I’ll make a sandwich and get an early night,” said Jessa.
“You should; you should rest,” said Noah. “Okay, I should sleep and let you rest too,” he said.
“I’ll talk to you soon,” said Jessa.
“I’ll be looking forward to it,” said Noah.
“Sleep well, I love you,” she said with a soft smile.
“I love you too; have a good night,” he said.
“I love you so much, Noah,” Jessa said emotionally, not wanting to say goodbye yet. She needed to tell him she loved him yet again.
He sighed, smiling despite the emotion. “I know, I’m lucky. I love you, Jessa, more than I can even tell you.”
“I know, I’m so lucky too,” said Jessa.
“Get some rest, I’ll talk to you again soon and see you soon,” said Noah.
“Go back to sleep, and I hope you have nice dreams,” said Jessa with a smile.
“I’ll dream about you I hope!” said Noah.
“I hope so too,” said Jessa.
“Good night, Jessa, love you,” he said.
“Good night, sweetie, love you,” she said.
They hung up, and Noah sighed, missing her voice immediately. He lay down again, trying to go back to sleep. He tossed and turned for a bit, and half an hour later, he still wasn’t asleep. He reached for the phone as he heard the ping of a message, having had the sound on to hear Jessa’s call and having forgotten to silence it. He saw Jessa’s name and opened the image she’d sent, nearly dropping the phone. It was a selfie of her posing on the bed, wearing one of his t-shirts that she’d clearly stolen. She was holding the hem of the shirt up, giving him a view of her panties and creamy smooth skin.
If you want to see this shirt again, you’ll have to come to me. The ransom is your presence. Enjoy seeing it in the meantime. Jessa
He laughed at her caption and started typing a reply.
I nearly dropped the phone. You’re gorgeous, so hot, Jessa, he wrote.
You’re still awake? I was aiming for that to be what you woke up to. Hopefully it gives you nice dreams instead. Love you, go to sleep.
I will have nice dreams. I want another photo in the morning.