Until Love Finds Us

Episode four: Jealous? Who, Me?

Noelle sat on the bed, casually scrolling through her phone as she waited for her hair to dry. The room was quiet, with only the faint hum of the air conditioning in the background. She had just stepped out of the shower, wearing an oversized T-shirt and shorts, her damp hair falling over her shoulders. Just as she was about to lean back, the bathroom door swung open. And there he was.

Dave.

Wearing only a bathrobe, his damp hair slightly tousled, water still dripping from the strands. The robe hung loosely over his frame, just enough to reveal the defined lines of his chest and the toned muscles beneath. Noelle froze. Her fingers stopped scrolling. Her breath caught in her throat. She wasn’t blind. She knew her husband was attractive. But seeing him like this? Fresh out of the shower, looking effortlessly hot? It was dangerous.

Oh, no.

As if completely unbothered by the effect he was having on her, Dave ran a towel through his hair, letting out a relaxed sigh before noticing her staring. His lips twitched.

"Enjoying the view?"

Noelle snapped out of it immediately.

"What?! NO!" She turned away so fast she almost got whiplash. "Why the hell would I?!"

Dave smirked, clearly amused.

"I mean, I wouldn’t blame you," he teased, walking past her toward his closet. "A lot of women would kill to be in your position."

Noelle scoffed. "Ugh, you’re so full of yourself."

Still, she could feel her face heating up, so she desperately grabbed her phone and prayed for a distraction. As if on cue, her phone rang.

Nelly.

Perfect.

Without wasting a second, she answered, putting it on speaker.

"Nelly! Thank God you called!" Noelle practically shouted, earning a confused glance from Dave.

"Uh… okay? What’s with the excitement?" Nelly asked on the other end.

Noelle turned slightly, making sure her annoying husband wasn’t looking at her anymore before whispering into the phone.

"Save me. Dave just walked out of the bathroom looking like some damn Calvin Klein model, and I almost..."

"Wait, WAIT! what?" Nelly shrieked. "You're saying your husband is half-naked and dripping wet right now?!"

"SHUT UP, NELLY!" Noelle panicked, glancing at Dave, who definitely heard that.

He smirked, arms crossed. "So, you did enjoy the view."

Noelle groaned, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him. "GET LOST!"

Dave just laughed.

Nelly, on the other hand, was having the time of her life.

"Girl, you got a hot, rich husband and you’re complaining?! If you don’t want him, hand him over—"

"NOT HAPPENING!" Noelle snapped.

Dave shook his head, chuckling as he grabbed a fresh shirt from his closet. Noelle turned away, completely flustered. Tonight was going to be a long night.

The Bed War Begins

After ending her call with Nelly (who was way too entertained by the fact that Noelle’s husband was hot), Noelle turned to find Dave already lying on the bed, scrolling through his tablet like he had every right to be there.

Annoying.

With a deep sigh, she grabbed a pillow and slammed it down between them.

"What are you doing?" Dave asked without even looking up.

Noelle clapped her hands together like a teacher explaining a rule to a misbehaving child.

"This. Is. The. Line."

Dave finally turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "The line?"

"Yes!" Noelle said firmly, patting the pillow. "You stay on your side, I stay on mine. No crossing. No touching. No..." she motioned aggressively between them, "...whatever husband-and-wife thing you're thinking of. Got it?"

Dave smirked, clearly amused.

"No promises."

Noelle’s jaw dropped. "Excuse me?!"

He shrugged. "You can draw as many lines as you want, but what if I accidentally roll over in my sleep?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Then I'll accidentally punch you in the face."

Dave laughed, setting his tablet down. "Damn. Violent much?"

Noelle crossed her arms. "Just respect the line."

Dave leaned on his elbow, smirking. "What if I need something from my bedside table? That’s technically crossing."

"Use your long arms and reach."

"What if I want to steal your blanket?"

"Then freeze to death."

"What if..."

Noelle grabbed another pillow and slammed it over his face.

"GO TO SLEEP, DAVE!"

Dave's muffled laughter came from under the pillow as he pulled it off, still grinning. "Fine, fine. I’ll stay on my side…"

Noelle narrowed her eyes. "Swear it."

Dave placed a hand over his chest, looking dead serious. "I solemnly swear... that I am up to no good."

Noelle groaned, throwing her head back. "UGH, you’re impossible!"

"Good night, wifey," Dave said in a teasing tone, turning off the bedside lamp.

Noelle glared at him in the dark. She was never going to get a peaceful night with this annoying husband.

The next morning, Dave sat at a cozy corner of a café, stirring his coffee as he listened to Megan talk about her upcoming business trip.

"So, my dad wants me to oversee the new branch opening," Megan said, sipping her cappuccino. "But honestly, I’d rather be traveling for fun, not work."

Dave chuckled. "You? Not wanting to work? That’s a first."

Megan smirked. "Well, people change, Dave."

Just as Dave was about to respond, the café door chimed. Noelle walked in, her heels clicking against the floor, looking effortlessly stunning in a stylish outfit perfect for a shopping day. Nelly trailed beside her, already talking about a new boutique they had to check out. But Noelle’s mood shifted immediately the moment her eyes landed on Dave; laughing with some woman she didn’t know.

Her steps slowed. Her brows furrowed.

"Who’s that?" she muttered, barely realizing she had spoken out loud.

Nelly followed her gaze and smirked. "Ooooh, someone's interested."

Noelle rolled her eyes. "I’m just curious."

"Yeah, sure. Curious."

Before Noelle could turn away, Dave looked up, saw her, and waved. Too late. She had been caught.

Nelly, grinning like an i***t, whispered, "Guess you have no choice now, wifey."

Noelle let out a frustrated sigh before reluctantly approaching their table.

Dave, looking way too happy to see her, leaned back in his seat.

"Look who’s here," he said smoothly. "Noelle, this is Megan."

Megan, clearly friendly, smiled warmly and extended a hand. "Nice to meet you! I’ve heard a lot about you."

Noelle raised an eyebrow. "You have?"

Megan chuckled. "Of course. Dave and I have known each other since we were kids."

Noelle glanced at Dave, who was watching her with amusement, clearly enjoying her reaction. Then, without hesitation, Dave turned to Megan and said, "She’s my wife."

His voice was calm, genuine, and sincere like the words carried real meaning. For a second, Noelle felt something strange in her chest. Her heart fluttered. What. The. Hell. She quickly shook it off and put on her usual attitude.

"Yeah, yeah. Don’t say it so proudly, I might start thinking you actually like me."

Dave just grinned. "Would that be so bad?"

Noelle ignored the way her stomach did a weird little flip. Nelly, watching the whole thing unfold, snickered behind her coffee. Oh, this was getting interesting.

That night, instead of going out like she usually did, Noelle found herself lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone while absentmindedly munching on some chips. Dave, sitting across from her, noticed immediately. He raised an eyebrow.

“Wow. No nightclub? No wild night out? Are you feeling sick?”

Noelle rolled her eyes and ignored him, pretending to be too focused on her phone. Dave, of course, wasn’t going to let it go. He smirked.

“I mean, I was fully expecting you to be in your usual party girl mode, but look at you. A homebody tonight. I’m touched.”

Noelle huffed, still refusing to look at him. “Can’t I just stay without getting questioned?”

Dave leaned back, crossing his arms. “Sure, sure. I’m just surprised, that’s all. Maybe the club finally got too boring for you?”

Without thinking, Noelle scoffed and muttered under her breath, “Not as boring as watching you flirt and laugh with Megan.”

Silence.

Her eyes widened.

Oh, crap. Did she just say that out loud?

Dave’s smirk grew instantly.

Busted.

Slowly, he leaned forward, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Wait a second…”

Noelle snapped her head toward him. “No! I was just...”

Dave cut her off, grinning. “And you just happened to notice how much we were laughing?”

She scoffed. “It was hard to miss! You two were practically glowing with happiness. You should’ve just married her instead.”

Dave laughed, thoroughly entertained. “Oh, this is adorable.”

Noelle narrowed her eyes. “What is?”

He shrugged casually. “You. Being jealous.”

Her jaw dropped. “I am not jealous!”

Dave nodded as if he completely agreed but his smirk said otherwise. “Oh, sure, of course not. You just accidentally brought up Megan out of nowhere.”

Noelle grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. “Shut up!”

Dave dodged it, laughing harder. “It’s okay, Noelle. It’s completely natural to be jealous. I am, after all, your incredibly handsome, successful, and charming husband.”

She groaned. “I hate you.”

Still smirking, Dave stood up and stretched. “Hate me all you want, sweetheart. But we both know the truth.”

Noelle turned away, her face slightly warm, and grumbled to herself.

Dave simply chuckled as he walked to the bedroom. “Sweet dreams, jealous wife.”

She threw another pillow at him.

After her infuriating conversation with Dave in the living room, Noelle huffed and stormed into their bedroom. She was still annoyed, but the moment her eyes landed on him, she froze. Dave was already asleep, his handsome face relaxed, his breathing steady. The dim light from the bedside lamp highlighted his sharp jawline, his slightly messy hair, and his broad shoulders. Even in sleep, he looked effortlessly charming. Noelle frowned. How was this even fair? Why did he get to be annoying and good-looking?

She stood there for a moment, her arms crossed, lips pursed, eyes unwillingly glued to him.

Ugh. He’s just a guy. My husband, yes, but only on paper. No need to admire him. Nope. Not at all.

Yet, she still didn’t look away. But just as she was about to snap out of her trance....His eyes suddenly fluttered open. Noelle's breath hitched.

Crap.

Dave blinked a few times before his lips curled into that infuriatingly smug smirk. “Were you just staring at me?”

Noelle panicked. “What?! No! Who would stare at you? You must be dreaming.”

Dave chuckled, his voice husky from sleep. “Hmm… pretty sure I saw you standing there, watching me like some lovesick newlywed.”

Noelle grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at him. “Shut up and go back to sleep!”

Dave laughed as he caught the pillow, clearly enjoying this. “You know, if you wanted to sleep next to someone this handsome, all you had to do was say so.”

Her face heated. “I swear I will suffocate you with this blanket.”

Dave just grinned, leaning back against the pillow. “Good night, wifey.”

Noelle groaned, grabbed the blanket, and yanked it over her head.

This man is going to drive me insane.

Leo’s Frustration.

The club was buzzing with loud music, neon lights flashing in sync with the beat. Noelle was casually sipping her cocktail, chatting with Nelly, when suddenly...Leo appeared. His expression was dark, intense. He had been looking for her for weeks, and this time, he wasn’t letting her slip away.

“Noelle.” His voice was sharp as he grabbed her wrist.

Too tightly.

Noelle flinched. “What the hell, Leo?! Let go!”

But he didn’t.

His grip tightened, his frustration bleeding through.

“Why are you acting like this?” he demanded, his jaw clenched. “You’ve been avoiding me. You’re different. What’s going on?”

Noelle struggled to yank her hand free. It hurt. His fingers dug into her skin, and she could already feel the forming bruise.

“Leo, let go of me!” she snapped, but he wouldn’t budge.

Nelly immediately stepped in, pushing against Leo’s chest.

“Leo, stop! You’re hurting her!” she yelled.

But Leo barely heard her. His grip remained ironclad, his emotions boiling over.

“Noelle, talk to me,” he said, his voice low but desperate. “What are you hiding?”

Noelle gritted her teeth.

What I’m hiding?

That she was married? That she now had a husband who, despite being an insufferable tease, was starting to invade her thoughts more than she liked? She didn’t owe Leo an explanation. Not anymore. Summoning all her strength, she finally jerked her wrist free. Her skin burned.

She took a shaky step back, eyes blazing. “We’re not together anymore, Leo. Stop acting like I owe you anything.”

Leo’s eyes darkened, hurt flickering across his face. “Noelle...”

“I said stop.” Her voice was firm, unwavering.

Leo clenched his fists but didn’t reach for her again. Something in her eyes told him he had already lost.

“Let’s go, Noelle,” Nelly muttered, throwing Leo a scathing glare before dragging her best friend away.

Noelle walked off without looking back. But as she glanced down at the faint bruise forming on her wrist, a strange thought crossed her mind.

If Dave sees this, he’s going to be pissed.

Noelle tiptoed into the apartment, carefully shutting the door behind her. She held her breath. Is he still awake? Her eyes darted to the living room. Empty. She peeked into the bedroom. Dave was already asleep. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, his face calm and relaxed under the dim light. Noelle sighed in relief. She didn’t have to explain. Didn’t have to show him. Without hesitation, she grabbed her long-sleeve pajamas, quickly changing into them to cover the faint bruise. She crawled into bed, turning away from Dave, determined to keep this a secret.

Morning came.

The first thing Dave noticed when he opened his eyes was the bruise. Even though Noelle was still asleep, his gaze locked onto her wrist. What the hell? His jaw tightened. His mood instantly darkened. Dave wasn’t a fool. He knew that kind of mark, it wasn’t an accident. Someone had grabbed her. Hard. But he didn’t say anything. Not yet. Instead, he got up, throwing on a shirt before heading to the living room. His mind raced. His blood boiled.

Who the hell dared to put their hands on her?

He clenched his fists, trying to push down the anger, but it was useless. A few minutes later, Noelle yawned as she got out of bed. She lazily walked to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water. She hadn’t even noticed him sitting there. Until....

"What happened to your hand?"

The deep, firm tone froze her. She turned around slowly. Dave sat on the couch, his eyes locked on her like a predator cornering its prey. For the first time, Noelle felt nervous around him.

She forced a light chuckle. “W-What?”

Dave’s expression remained dead serious.

“Noelle,” he said, his voice dangerously low, “don’t lie to me.”

She swallowed hard.

Why did he look so… furious?

She glanced away, gripping her glass tighter. “It’s nothing...”

“Nothing?” His voice sharpened. “Someone grabbed you. Who?”

Noelle bit her lip. She’d never seen this side of him before. Dave was always annoying, teasing, playful. But this? This was deadly serious. And for the first time…It scared her.

Dave wasn't the type to let things slide. Noelle thought she could hide it, but he wasn’t stupid. Someone had hurt her, and he needed to find out who. So, he tailed her on the next night. Dressed in all black, Dave blended into the crowd at the club. The music was loud, neon lights flashing, and people danced without a care. But Dave’s sharp gaze wasn’t here to party. Who the hell dared to touch my wife? Then, he saw him.

Leo.

Standing too close to Noelle. Dave’s jaw clenched when he noticed Noelle’s expression; uncomfortable, tense. Leo leaned in, his voice barely audible over the music. "Noelle, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just...”

Noelle took a step back. "Leo, stop. Just let it go."

Dave didn’t need to hear more. He walked straight toward them and, without hesitation, wrapped his arm around Noelle’s shoulders.

“I don’t think my wife likes being harassed, buddy.”

Leo’s eyes widened. “Wife?”

Noelle froze. Her heart skipped a beat.

Dave smirked. "Yeah. Noelle’s married. To me."

Leo’s expression twisted in shock and confusion. Noelle’s stomach dropped. She never told Leo about the marriage, and now Dave just announced it like a damn press conference. Noelle shoved his arm off her. “Excuse us.”

Grabbing Dave’s wrist, she dragged him outside the club. The second they were out of sight, she turned on him.

"What the hell was that?!"

Dave crossed his arms, looking completely unbothered. "What? I was just introducing myself."

She glared at him. "You didn’t have to do that!"

Dave raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So, you wanted to keep it a secret from your ex? Interesting."

Noelle groaned, beyond frustrated. "That’s not the point!"

Dave’s expression turned serious.

"Then what is? That guy hurt you, Noelle. And you think I’d just sit back and let that slide?"

She faltered for a second. The way he said it so protective, so sure.

Noelle scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Ugh, whatever. You’re so annoying."

Dave smirked. "And yet, you’re still married to me."

She threw her hands up. "Not by choice!"

Dave chuckled, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Well, guess what, sweetheart? You’re stuck with me now."

Noelle turned away, grumbling under her breath. Dave followed beside her, a small smile playing on his lips. Maybe this arranged marriage wasn’t so bad after all.

The ride back home was silent. Noelle sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed, glaring at the window like it had personally offended her. Dave didn’t bother speaking. He knew she was pissed. When they arrived at the apartment, Noelle stomped inside first, heading straight for the bedroom. Dave followed behind, watching as she grabbed the blanket, wrapped herself up like a burrito, and flopped onto the bed. She let out a loud, dramatic sigh.

Dave smirked. “You done sulking?”

No response.

Silence.

He walked closer, hands in his pockets, tilting his head as he studied the lump of blankets that was his wife.

"Are you planning to suffocate yourself in there?"

Noelle still didn’t answer.

Dave sighed, amused. “You know, if you wanted to be wrapped up, I could’ve done it for you. Nice and tight.”

The blanket suddenly shifted.

Noelle peeked out just enough to glare at him. “Shut up.”

Dave chuckled. "I didn’t do anything wrong, though. I was just being a good husband."

Noelle scoffed. "Good husband, my ass."

Dave shrugged. "Well, technically, I am your husband. And I did just protect my wife."

Noelle groaned and pulled the blanket back over her head. "Go away."

Dave smirked. "No can do. This is my bed too, remember?"

Noelle let out another frustrated sigh.

Dave sat on the bed beside her, leaning back on his elbows. He wasn’t going anywhere.

Annoying her was way too fun.