by Alexa Powers
On Valentine’s Day, they’d planned to share a quiet dinner at home, and he’d arrived with a huge bouquet of wildflowers and a takeaway from a local café. She didn’t care about a fancy dinner out, for her it was the simple act of spending time together that she cherished the most, plus staying home would guarantee an uninterrupted meal.
Taking in the sight of Noah’s little boy grin, as he held out a beautifully wrapped gift for her, Emma couldn’t help but rip into it. She’d never been one to slowly unwrap presents anyway and Noah’s enthusiasm was contagious.
“Oh, Noah. It’s so beautiful,” she exclaimed excitedly, touching the heart-shaped pendant hanging from a delicate silver chain with her fingertip.
“I’m glad you like it. Here let me help you put it on,” he said, reaching for the necklace he’d given to her.
“Thank you,” she delighted, lifting her long hair, then stroking the pendant as it rested against her chest.
“You’re very welcome. It looks lovely on you,” he smiled, pulling her onto his lap.
“I have something for you, too. Although, it doesn’t seem adequate after this,” she said shyly, placing a gift wrapped in bright red paper in front of him.
“I’m sure I’ll love it,” he assured her, taking the gift she offered him.
“But before you open that, I’d like to play a song for you.” She lifted off his lap and retrieved her guitar, settling it on her thighs as she sat on the coffee table facing him. She’d been practicing Adele’s ‘Make You Feel My Love’ and hoped she could get through it without crying. Knowing Noah was as sentimental as she was, she knew the heartfelt lyrics would touch him as deeply as they did her, and she wanted it to be perfect for him.
“Cheers, sweetheart. That was brilliant.” Noah heard the quiver in his voice and swallowed past the lump forming in the back of his throat, completely overwhelmed. It was truly the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him. He could listen to her sing to him all day long, and the way she held his eyes as she sang the meaningful lyrics made it even more special.
“Thanks. I’ve wanted to play that song for you, but it took me a while to be able to sing it without breaking down. It’s like it was written from my heart to yours.” She settled on his lap once again and he held her against his chest, wanting to consume her. He’d never felt so loved and was on the verge of tears. “Now, on a much lighter note, open your gift. I’m dying for you to see it. I hope you like it.”
As he unwrapped the pressie, he couldn’t help but smile, looking at the framed photo of the two of them taken at the top of The Mount with the gorgeous Bay of Plenty and Papamoa Beach as the backdrop. They looked a little worse for wear in the photo, but were happy as they held hands, laughing at something he couldn’t remember.
“It’s perfect, love. I was chuffed to show you one of my favorite places that day. When we’d go there on holiday as a boy, I used to hike to the summit and sit there for hours, just looking out at the view, thinking…dreaming. To have a picture of the two of us in that very spot…well it means a lot to me. Thank you, baby.” He set the photo on the table and draped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him, as he placed his lips on hers for a gentle kiss.
“You’re welcome. I know you said you wanted a copy of the picture of us from New Year’s but since I brought it with me from Lily’s, I thought a different one might be nice. I’m so glad I picked this one now that you’ve told me that.”
“Well, now that the gift-giving is done and dusted, I think there’s one more present I’d like to unwrap.” He couldn’t stop the mischievous grin from spreading across his face, as he traced his finger along the V of her shirt, sliding it between her breasts, tickling and teasing her there.
“I think you’re a mind reader,” Emma smiled, letting her hand come to rest on his chest before easing herself off his lap and reaching for his hand.
Noah quickly lifted off the chair and took her hand in his, leading her to the bedroom where he planned to unwrap her…layer by delicious layer.
Noah had a light practice, a captain’s run, and they’d invited Lily and Josh for dinner. After a few days of constant rain, Emma spent a few blissful minutes soaking up the sun on the deck, while Noah prepared the grill for dinner.
Opening the door to Lily and Josh a short while later, they both stood back and watched curiously as Josh carried in a large package and set it down on the floor, leaning it against the back of the couch in the lounge.
“What’s that?” Emma asked, inquiring about the colorfully wrapped package, after giving both Josh and Lily a hug.
“It’s a gift for you and Noah,” Lily answered brightly.
“Can we open it now, or do we have to wait?” Emma pleaded, giving Lily a hopeful smile.
“I’ve been dying to give it to you, so please don’t make me wait any longer,” Lily requested anxiously.
Inside the large parcel were three individually-wrapped boxes, one larger than the other two. “Is this one of those things where each box contains another box?” Emma laughed, reaching for one of the smaller packages.
“No, cheeky bugger. Open the bigger one first,” Lily demanded, when she saw Emma’s hand settle on one the smaller boxes.
“Alright. Oh, I’m so excited. Can’t imagine what it is,” she said, gently shaking the gift, lifting it to her ear and listening for a clue as to what it could be.
“Stop that and open it already,” Lily chastised her.
As Emma opened the larger box, she heard herself gasp for air and tears immediately stung the backs of her eyes at the sight of the picture of her and Noah. It was printed on a large canvas, and Emma guessed it was about four feet tall by three feet wide.
It was from the New Year’s Eve party, taken from behind as they watched the fireworks display. Noah’s arm was draped over her shoulder as her head rested against him. Their silhouettes were highlighted by the colorful explosions over the Auckland skyline, and on the bottom of the picture was a quote that read,
“I’ve always heard of seeing fireworks when someone kisses you. But I really did.”
“I don’t know what to say, Lily. I’m speechless. It’s so beautiful. I think I’m going to cry.” Emma reached for Lily and hugged her tightly in a long embrace. “How’d you know what I said, though?” She inquired, still reeling from the thoughtful gift.
“Josh was taking a video of the fireworks as we stood behind you. I downloaded everything off my camera when we got home from our honeymoon and I found it. With all the craziness of the wedding, I’d forgotten about it,” she sighed dramatically, taking a deep breath. “Now hurry up and open the others. I’m dying for you to see them.”
The next photo was slightly smaller than the larger one and was of their first kiss. Noah’s arms held her closely around the waist and her arms were clasped around his neck, with the colorful sky behind them serving as a backdrop against their profiles.
She quickly moved to open the last photo, desperate to see the final image of Noah’s forehead pressed to hers as they both smiled, gazing adoringly into each other’s eyes. It was such an intimate photo and, in light of the fact that they’d only just met, it was even more telling. The love she saw in their smiles brought her back to the night she and Noah shared their first kiss, and how she’d known, even then, that she’d met the man who would own her heart.
Looking at the three pictures laid out before her, she felt Noah’s arms slide around her waist as he stood behind her. Leaning into him for comfort, she felt the tears slide down her cheeks.
Swiping at the dampness on her cheeks, she turned to Lily who was looking at her with a satisfied smile on her face. “Oh, Lily. I had no idea. I don’t know how to thank you. They’re so beautiful, and thoughtful. And thank you too, Josh,” Emma said, as she tried to collect herself. She couldn’t remember ever receiving such a special gift. She’d cherish them forever.
“Cheers, Lily,” Noah finally commented with a voice that quivered slightly. “I think
they’ll look perfect over our bed. What do you think, Emma?”
“I want to hang them right now, but I think I’d like to look at them while we eat dinner,” Emma said, carefully arranging them along the back of the couch as Noah and Josh cleaned up the debris. “I don’t know how to thank you. They’re amazing,” Emma continued, gushing over the photos.
“I’m glad you both like them and you can thank us by enjoying them. I was quite pleased when they were delivered. They transferred nicely to canvas, don’t you think? The fireworks in the background along with the Auckland skyline came out just as I’d hoped. And don’t even get me started on how adorable the two of you are.”
“Well, I love them, and you.” Emma placed a kiss on Lily’s cheek and held her in a tight embrace before releasing her. “Now, let’s eat. I’m starving and I made a strawberry angel food cake for desert.”
“Yum,” Noah and Josh said in unison, as they stepped onto the deck.
After cleaning up from dinner, they debated where to hang the photos. Deciding they looked best on the wall over their large king-sized bed, Noah removed the generic landscape that currently occupied the spot and replaced it with the personal photos. The larger canvas was flanked on either side by the smaller images and took up most of the wall over their bed. Standing back to admire his handiwork, he wanted to kiss Lily for such an amazing gift.
Making love that night took on an added lightness when he whispered in Emma’s ear as they lazily cuddled together. “I’ve always heard of seeing fireworks when you come. But I really did.”
Emma laughed out loud before smacking him on his arm. “Oh, my God. I can’t believe you just said that to me.” She laughed again until he kissed her.
“Next time, you can be on top so you can see fireworks, too,” he chuckled. “It’s the least I can do. Only fair, yeah?”
“Of course.” She wrapped her long legs around his hips and flipped him onto his back, and he swore he’d never seen a more beautiful sight. “I’m ready for the show, big boy. How about you? You going to show me some fireworks, baby?”
“No worries there, sweetheart. Got you covered. Get ready for a few explosions.”
“Promises, promises,” Emma said seductively, circling her hips along his growing erection.
“I never make promises I can’t deliver, sweet cheeks,” he grinned, sliding his hands along her hips, then slowly inching his way up until finally reaching her breasts, caressing them, loving the little moans she uttered as she arched her back and rocked against him.
“Um…hmmm.” She braced her hands on his chest and her sexy smile stole his breath. “Well, I think it’s time to settle up. I’m ready for the show. Are you?” He answered with a single thrust of his hips, filling her completely, as she cried out.
Taking her seat in the large stadium the following evening, Emma was filled with nervous excitement. She’d been to plenty of football games back home with friends and family, but this was unlike anything she’d ever experienced before, and hearing the large crowd cheer for the man she loved was surreal. When Noah was getting ready to take his position in the backfield, she saw him glance her way before turning his focus to the match. Emma was sure she blended in with the rest of the crowd, but it was comforting to know he was thinking of her.
According to Josh, Noah was considered one of the best full-backs in the world, and he had a keen sense of being able to anticipate the opposition’s next move. Having an expert sitting with her was proving helpful as the match progressed and, thankfully, Josh only shook his head and snickered at a few of her questions.
Emma held her breath quite a few times as Noah was taken down by the opposing team. It was hard to watch him be repeatedly knocked to the ground, but he seemed to be able to shake it off and continue. She wished he wore the pads and helmet that American football players used to protect themselves. His position wasn’t as physical as the forwards, but he was still taking a beating.
She had to laugh at herself at the realization that she mistakenly thought rugby was like football, just without the protective gear. This was nothing like football. This was badass, she thought, as she watched them run into each other at full speed without regard for the pain inflicted.
Emma still didn’t understand the rules of the game, but as a spectator, she enjoyed watching rugby much more than football. Having a vested interest in one of the players probably had a lot to do with it, but it wasn’t the only reason. It was fun to watch them expertly toss the ball to one another as they moved the ball down the field towards their try line.
At the beginning of the match, she refused to cheer when Evan Thompson made a good play, out of principle and solidarity with her sister, but as she watched the camaraderie he shared with Noah on the field, she had a hard time keeping herself in check. When Evan scored a try, she stood and cheered for the team, not Evan, she told herself.
Emma wondered if Noah had told him he was dating Ali’s sister, and wondered what Evan would think about it, then wondered why she wondered what he would think.
She thought back to when she’d first met Evan on her family’s annual vacation to Auckland to visit Lily and her family. Ali had been studying abroad that year and had met Evan at his parents’ horse farm. Emma’s first impression of him, at the time, was that he seemed like a nice enough guy, and Ali was over the moon. She’d never seen her sister so smitten before.
Evan missed Abby’s birth, but arrived the next day with flowers and Abby’s now-favorite teddy bear in hand. He’d stayed at the hospital and then at her parents’ house in the guestroom and had been good about helping with diaper changes and bath time, but with Ali breastfeeding, there really wasn’t much else he could do.
Emma would never forget how fragile Abby looked as her daddy cradled her in his massive arms. It was still impossible for Emma to reconcile how, after spending a week and a half with Abby, he’d left and hadn’t come back. She understood he had obligations to the team, but shouldn’t his daughter take precedence?
The loud roar of the crowd mentally shook her from her wandering thoughts and brought her back to the game unfolding before her.
She cheered as Noah assisted in scoring a try, but cringed when he took a hard hit as he unloaded the ball to the player who scored, and was slammed to the ground. Shaking it off, he jumped back up immediately, even though it was enough to bring most men to their knees, and charged towards his teammates to celebrate.
As the game progressed, the score went back and forth in a nerve-wracking roller coaster of emotions. It was just a game, she knew that, and losing was a part of it, but she really wanted the Blues to win.
Jumping to her feet, along with the majority of the capacity crowd, Emma’s heart swelled with pride when, after a long march down the field, Noah scored a try. Watching him dive over the line after sprinting the last few yards, she felt the welling of tears in her eyes, and reached out for Lily and hugged her tightly. She really wanted to hug Noah, but that would have to wait until he got home later.
After an agonizing back and forth, the Blues finally took the lead and held onto it as the clock ran out. Emma watched as they lined up and shook the hands of the players from the opposing team, and Noah’s easygoing nature showed as he lingered on the field, laughing with the other players after he made it through the line.
The crowd had thinned by the time he headed for the changing room and, this time, when Noah looked up, he smiled and gave her a slight wave. He looked battle-weary in his grass-stained and sweaty kit.
With his game face still on, he smiled for the crowd gathered along the railing calling out his name, but she saw the exhaustion hidden behind the smile. She didn’t expect anything less from him, knowing how dedicated he was. Noah would give everything he had, and then find a little more, and give that too. It was the way he lived every aspect of his life, and she counted herself lucky to be a part of it.
Not sure what time Noah would be home, she got ready for bed and waited for him in the lounge
. Settling into the cushions with her e-reader and a cup of tea, Emma felt the heaviness settle behind her eyelids. It’d been a long day full of excitement and a surprising amount of stress.
Ignoring her book, she let her mind drift back to the sound of the crowd cheering for Noah and the team, and how proud she was of him. Recognizing he was a role model for young boys still dreaming of reaching the pinnacle of the rugby world, he never took it for granted, and appreciated everything he had. Noah never forgot that he was once one of those young boys, looking up to his heroes, and he didn’t want to let them, or his teammates, down, or disappoint them by slacking and not giving his all.
Noah dropped his bag by the kitchen door and went looking for Emma, anxious to see her, wanting to celebrate the win with her. His aches and pains were forgotten when he found her sleeping on the couch, her hands in the praying position under her cheek, and he wanted to bow his head and give thanks to the heavens for her.
It seemed a sin to wake her, but he really needed to relax and she’d become his preferred method, and since she was on the couch and not in bed, he guessed she’d intended to stay up for him. Gently stirring her, his heart did a little flip-flop in his chest when her eyes fluttered open.
“Hey, baby,” Noah whispered, while he stroked her hair, leaning over her.
“Hey,” she sleepily responded, and he couldn’t help but smile as she sat up and stretched. “I tried to stay up, but must’ve fallen asleep.”
“Your tea has gone cold,” he mentioned, nodding towards the full mug abandoned on the table next to her. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No. I just want some water, but sit down, and I’ll get it.” Emma stood and put her hands on his shoulders, guiding him onto the couch. “What would you like?”