that?
“It’s Friday. You’re not sitting home alone waiting for your boyfriend to call when he’s finished having fun. That’s depressing. Get in.” He nods toward the car.
“I can’t.” I’m not making this mistake again. I’m not letting Noah back into my life.
“I know this little movie theater one town over. They play super old movies no one wants to see. Believe me, no one from school will be there, and no one’s seen my new car yet, so you don’t have to worry about anyone recognizing us on the road either.”
That’s not the problem. Well, it’s one of them, but there’s a bigger issue. Ash. And my feelings for Noah. Okay, two bigger issues. “I really can’t. It’s not right. What you said earlier in the library is true.”
“That I care about you?” His hand grazes my cheek. Damn it, my goose bumps are back.
“No.” I back away, bumping into the side of the car. Now I’m wedged between Noah and his Camaro, which is burning my bare legs right below my shorts. Still, I don’t move. Being burned is better than getting too close to Noah. Safer. “The part about it not being right what you and I are doing behind Ash’s back. It is like cheating, and I can’t hurt him like this. Even if he doesn’t know about it, it’s still not right.” I’m trying to be strong. To do the right thing, no matter how much my body and my hormones are telling me otherwise.
“You admit you have feelings for me.” It’s not a question.
“That’s not what I said.” I can’t deny it either. I squirm, trying to keep my legs off the hot side of his car.
“Then tell me you don’t.” He steps closer, placing his foot between mine. I can smell his soap, which brings on the image of Noah in the shower. Water cascading down his perfectly toned body. I shake my head. I can’t think like that.
“Did Ash tell you Liz will be at the party?” Now he’s playing dirty.
“What, are you the football team monitor or something? Why do you always know what Ash is doing and who he’ll be with?”
His expression softens, making my heart melt. “I told you. I’m looking out for you. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Ash is the sweetest guy. He wouldn’t hurt me. He loves me.” It almost pains me to look into Noah’s eyes while I talk about Ash.
Noah smiles, and my eyes go to the dimple on his cheek. “And you love him, but here you are with me.”
Before I can answer—not that I have a good answer—my cell rings in my hand.
“You going to answer that?” Noah’s close enough to see Ash’s picture on the display.
I send the call to voicemail. “I’ll call him back.”
Noah smiles, thinking he’s won this time, but really I’m trying to avoid a fight.
“Get the smug look off your face, Noah. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“No?” He leans closer, his face inches from mine. I can smell his minty breath and feel the warmth of his skin. He’s tempting me, hoping I’ll eventually give in and he’ll get what he wants.
“Please, don’t.” The words are small, but at least I say them.
He leans back, looking surprised. “You actually said no this time. Interesting.”
Not interesting. I’m trying to do the right thing. “I really do love him.” I force my eyes to meet Noah’s. He has to know I’m serious, that I need to put an end to whatever this is.
“I know you do.”
“Then, why are you here?” I look down at the ground, not wanting to see the hurt expression on his face when I say this. “I thought after…” I can’t bring myself to mention the stairwell. He knows what I’m talking about without me having to say it. I shrug. “Well, I thought you wouldn’t want to talk to me anymore.”
He leans one arm on the roof of the car to the right of my head. “I know you have a boyfriend, Meg.” With his free hand, he gently lifts my chin so we’re facing each other. “And believe it or not, I’ve seen you kiss him before.”
My gaze falls on his lips.
“It’s Friday. You’re not sitting home alone waiting for your boyfriend to call when he’s finished having fun. That’s depressing. Get in.” He nods toward the car.
“I can’t.” I’m not making this mistake again. I’m not letting Noah back into my life.
“I know this little movie theater one town over. They play super old movies no one wants to see. Believe me, no one from school will be there, and no one’s seen my new car yet, so you don’t have to worry about anyone recognizing us on the road either.”
That’s not the problem. Well, it’s one of them, but there’s a bigger issue. Ash. And my feelings for Noah. Okay, two bigger issues. “I really can’t. It’s not right. What you said earlier in the library is true.”
“That I care about you?” His hand grazes my cheek. Damn it, my goose bumps are back.
“No.” I back away, bumping into the side of the car. Now I’m wedged between Noah and his Camaro, which is burning my bare legs right below my shorts. Still, I don’t move. Being burned is better than getting too close to Noah. Safer. “The part about it not being right what you and I are doing behind Ash’s back. It is like cheating, and I can’t hurt him like this. Even if he doesn’t know about it, it’s still not right.” I’m trying to be strong. To do the right thing, no matter how much my body and my hormones are telling me otherwise.
“You admit you have feelings for me.” It’s not a question.
“That’s not what I said.” I can’t deny it either. I squirm, trying to keep my legs off the hot side of his car.
“Then tell me you don’t.” He steps closer, placing his foot between mine. I can smell his soap, which brings on the image of Noah in the shower. Water cascading down his perfectly toned body. I shake my head. I can’t think like that.
“Did Ash tell you Liz will be at the party?” Now he’s playing dirty.
“What, are you the football team monitor or something? Why do you always know what Ash is doing and who he’ll be with?”
His expression softens, making my heart melt. “I told you. I’m looking out for you. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Ash is the sweetest guy. He wouldn’t hurt me. He loves me.” It almost pains me to look into Noah’s eyes while I talk about Ash.
Noah smiles, and my eyes go to the dimple on his cheek. “And you love him, but here you are with me.”
Before I can answer—not that I have a good answer—my cell rings in my hand.
“You going to answer that?” Noah’s close enough to see Ash’s picture on the display.
I send the call to voicemail. “I’ll call him back.”
Noah smiles, thinking he’s won this time, but really I’m trying to avoid a fight.
“Get the smug look off your face, Noah. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“No?” He leans closer, his face inches from mine. I can smell his minty breath and feel the warmth of his skin. He’s tempting me, hoping I’ll eventually give in and he’ll get what he wants.
“Please, don’t.” The words are small, but at least I say them.
He leans back, looking surprised. “You actually said no this time. Interesting.”
Not interesting. I’m trying to do the right thing. “I really do love him.” I force my eyes to meet Noah’s. He has to know I’m serious, that I need to put an end to whatever this is.
“I know you do.”
“Then, why are you here?” I look down at the ground, not wanting to see the hurt expression on his face when I say this. “I thought after…” I can’t bring myself to mention the stairwell. He knows what I’m talking about without me having to say it. I shrug. “Well, I thought you wouldn’t want to talk to me anymore.”
He leans one arm on the roof of the car to the right of my head. “I know you have a boyfriend, Meg.” With his free hand, he gently lifts my chin so we’re facing each other. “And believe it or not, I’ve seen you kiss him before.”
My gaze falls on his lips.
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