Chapter 49

Noah's POV "Good morning!" I greeted a guest I saw in the hallway, my voice raspier than usual from the lingering effects of the silverleaf. He looked at me with confusion but nodded anyway. "Good morning!" I greeted the front desk staff. The girl gaped at me as if she'd seen me smile for the first time. Well... I continued greeting everyone I passed until I reached the lobby, each interaction taking more energy than it should.I sat on the couch facing the hotel entrance, crossed my legs, and lifted a magazine to appear casual. Thirty minutes until Paige's arrival. I'd asked her last night about her schedule, and now I was waiting, ignoring the dull ache in my muscles. I couldn't stop thinking about our date last night. We danced. We held hands. We talked. We laughed. Simple things that made me ridiculously happy. I guess that's how love works—when you acknowledge that emotion, even the smallest interaction with the person you love becomes extraordinary. Despite the lingering weakness