Noah stands before me looking sexy and kissable. It’d be so easy to jump into his arms and ask him to take me to bed. But I don’t. I shrug and say, “Okay.” Much to his dismay.
32
Noah
I can feel my eyes bug out of my head at her nonchalant response. Is she for real? I just poured my heart and soul out to her and all she can say is “okay.” I must be living in some twisted version of the Twilight Zone because the last I knew, this woman was in love with me. And color me stupid, but I thought when two people were in love, despite one of them being an idiot, they usually fall into each other’s arms after they’ve declared their feelings for each other and start to live happily ever after.
Granted, I did tell her I was going to woo her, and maybe she needs some romance in her life. For all I know, the guys she’s dated before were dweebs who think being romantic is pizza and a lava lamp for ambiance. The only reason I know this is an option is because of my college teammates. They would share their big plans with us about their date nights. That’s not me, it never was and it never will be. If I learned anything from my dad, it’s how to show the woman you’re in love with the fact that you are completely head over heels in love with them. I’m going to pull out all the stops and show Peyton I mean what I say.
My dad told me earlier that Katelyn had decided to go on tour with the band, otherwise I probably wouldn’t be here. I needed her to be alone when I told her my plan, and having her parents lurking by wasn’t going to do. My dad thinks I’m crazy, and I probably am, but I’m going to spend as long as it takes in order to win her heart. If she makes me wait until after she graduates, so be it. I’ll be the one in the crowd holding a sign proclaiming my love for her. Either way, I’m here until she tells me I don’t stand a chance.
“Bet I can beat you,” I say, motioning toward the house where her Madden game is still paused. “I’ll even take his sorry ass team.”
“You’re on.”
Peyton steps forward and I use this opportunity to scoop her up into my arms. Her cane falls to the ground, clanking against the patio a few times before coming to a rest. “I can walk,” she says with a bit of bite to her words.
“I’m fully aware of your abilities, but this gives me a chance to feel you next to me, even if it’s only for a few seconds.” No sooner are the words out of my mouth, am I setting her down on the couch. “Do you want anything? Water, juice, a kiss?” I throw the kiss out there, thinking maybe she’d like a little make-out session. I know I would, but I have a feeling it’s still too early for her.
Peyton laughs and cracks a smile. “Kissing is off limits, but water is good.”
“For how long?”
“Water is always good. It’s a necessary staple for survival. I can’t imagine we’ll live to see when water is bad for you.”
“Smart ass,” I mutter as I start looking through the cupboards to see what’s there. “Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?” Despite nothing jumping out at me, the shelves are fully stocked.
“Are you going to make something?” she asks.
I smile and tilt my head to the side so I can see her better. “I will if you want me to.”
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” I ask.
“Don’t be like that,” she says. “I don’t want you to cater to me because you think it’ll make me happy. Are you hungry, Noah? Do you want to make something to eat or get take-out?” Peyton looks fierce as she gives me the riot act. It’s duly noted she doesn’t want to be waited on. I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop though because I feel like I need to do this for her.
“Take-out it is.” The first thing I do when I pull my phone out is send her a text message. After the fiasco with Dessie, I changed my number. Her nonstop calling grew tiresome, as did her excuses. Telling me she only cheated so I would be happy because she thought she was pregnant when she blurted it out in Peyton’s hospital room. Too bad the messages on her phone told me the truth. She was trapping me into marriage. My dad and Nick say I dodged a bullet. I say I dodged a lot more than that.
I’m in love with you. Someday, you’ll be ready to tell me the same.
I stay back in the kitchen, watching as Peyton opens her phone. From where I’m standing it looks like she’s concentrating, possibly trying to figure out who sent her the message.
Peyton: Stop skulking in the kitchen
“Skulking? What kind of word is that? I?
?m not skulking.”
“It’s a perfectly fine word for what you’re doing and it’s creepy. Why’d you get a new number?”
Returning to the couch, I set her water down on the table. “Too many unwanted phone calls and text messages. I moved on.”
“Has she?”
Peyton’s question gives me pause, but she’s right to ask it. I can’t expect her to become involved with me when Dessie could be an issue for her. “Has she texted you?”
She shakes her head. “No. In fact, I thought you were still with her.”