Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
That was awesome for me. Darkness was good. Great, even.
In the dim lighting, my eyes scanned the crowd. I recognized some of the mass, heard their music, but there were a lot of people here I didn’t know.
Also, okay.
The more people here, the less of a chance I had of running into Connor and even if I did, I could quite easily make myself fade into the background.
There we stood, the five of us, and after a moment of silence, it became obvious that none of us wanted to be here. With a dull sigh, Cherry smacked my ass. “C’mon. Let’s get a drink.”
Oh, boy, was I down for that. I took her hand, entwining our fingers. “Lead the way.”
Once at the bar, I searched the mob around us and Cherry let out a rough laugh. When my eyes settled on her, she threw me a sly look. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were looking for a certain he-devil.” In pure Cherry style, she reached over the bar and grabbed a handful of maraschino cherries. When the bartender’s gaze landed on her, she smirked, throwing one in her mouth. He grinned back and she licked her lips. “Well, lookie here.” She leaned into me. “How many times you think he’d make me come before I kicked him out?”
I snorted. “I don’t know. A few.”
“Mmhm.” Cherry didn’t take her eyes off him. “Think I might test that hypothesis tonight.” She took a cherry and made a show of licking it very, very slowly.
The bartender dropped a glass and when it smashed, we both spun around, laughing into each other’s face.
A tap on the shoulder momentarily alarmed me.
My head shot up and the smile that greeted me was warm, spreading joy throughout my entire body. Noah stood there looking as handsome as I’d ever seen him and he was smiling down at me with a tenderness I’d seldom seen directed at me.
We didn’t exchange a single word. Our embrace said everything our voices couldn’t.
His arms snaked around me and held me firm. My arms came up his back, gripping his shirt. I couldn’t seem to get close enough to him.
Noah was a sight for sore eyes.
Before I could register what was happening, Noah pulled back, grinned hard and kissed me. Sure, it was tight-mouthed and didn’t last longer than two seconds but something weird happened to me.
My stomach did a somersault.
Odd.
“Cherry.” He jerked his chin in her direction. “You mind if I borrow your dame for a few?”
Cherry smiled. “No, I don’t. As long as you keep her away from you know who.”
“I will,” he promised. “Besides, he’s already wasted.” Noah’s arms remained around me, turning me as he did, and when he pointed to the far corner, my heartbeat stumbled. Connor was lying on a sofa in the middle of the throng of people with his arm over his eyes, shielding him from the strobe of lights.
My chest ached violently and I averted my gaze.
Yep. Still hurt.
Good to know.
After Cherry had spotted Connor, she turned to me. “Okay?”
I didn’t miss the way Noah gently rubbed my hip. I smiled at her. “I’m okay.”
As she walked to the other side of the bar, she mouthed, Text me.
Noah sat on a stool, parted his legs and pulled me to stand between them. I thought the stance was a little too intimate for friends but what did I know? In a move that stunned me, his hands slid down my back to rest at the curve of my butt. “Hi.”
It wasn’t uncomfortable, not exactly, just not expected. Testing the waters, I leaned into him. “Hi.”
Noah’s smile widened. “Take your glasses off. I want to talk to you.” I did as he asked and, for some unknown reason, it was hard to look at him. Finally, I managed a peep and his smile softened. “There she is.” He searched my face then his smile fell. When he leaned in, my hands came up to rest on his wide shoulders and he spoke directly into my ear. “I tried to call you.”
He did, after the interview aired but I was busy. I was also avoiding the Connor conversation. “I know.”
We struggled to converse which I was sure was why Noah inclined slightly and pressed his lips to my cheek. I couldn’t help but smile. My hand came up to cup his cheek as I used the other for balance.
Suddenly, this all felt wrong, and my stomach ached in a way that hurt my entire being.
Without meaning to, my mouth opened and out came a miserable sounding, “If only it were you.”
Noah held my eyes as he registered what I said or, more precisely, what I hadn’t said.
If only it were you.
But it wasn’t.
Isn’t.
Never will be.
His face fell and I felt his hands ball into fists at my tailbone. It took him a moment but he responded with, “Me too.”