Page 6 of Make Me Dream of You

He takes me by the hand and leads me through the throngs of people and toward the bar. Giggly and sweaty. I don’t think anything of it until we squeeze up to the bar and then Noah is there. Tall, looming over me, black sleeves pushed up to his elbows revealing his tattoo-covered forearms, jaw clenched, eyes on Wood’s and my entwined hands.

Wood drops my hand to clap Noah on the shoulder. “Sup, bro!”

Noah nods, his expression softening ever-so-slightly.

Are they friends?

Bex hands two bottles of beer to the guy on our right. She’s put her long, blonde hair up and is almost out of breath when her bright eyes land on me.

“Oh, good,” she says, “you found each other. Another drink?”

Noah glances between me and my sister, eyes darkening. “You two know each other?”

Bex laughs. “You remember my little sister, Livvy, right?”

CHAPTER 2

NOAH

Well. Fuck.

Bex is still grinning, like the last words out of her mouth didn’t hit me so hard in the chest they almost made me physically stagger backward.

Livvy. Bex’s little sister.

I never would have guessed. Bex’s little sister, who always hid when I came around and maybe only ever said two words to me, is the woman I’ve been thinking about all night? Of course, it’s been a long time, and she clearly isn’t a kid anymore.

She doesn’t look anything like I remember. Except for the eyes. She has the same eyes. They were too big and round for her face back then, but not now. Now, they fit perfectly. Bright green in the middle, turning to emerald, then a golden brown along the edges. They’re still big, surrounded by dark lashes. Exquisite. I can’t decide if they’re her best feature or if it’s her adorably pouty mouth.

Now that I think about it, I see her and Bex’s resemblance. Except for their coloring, they could be twins. Bex has blonde hair, blue eyes, and dimples. Livvy has brown hair, green eyes, and freckles. But their features are almost identical—their little sloped noses, round eyes, pouty lips, and heart-shaped faces.

I’d never forget a face like that. Again, I mean.

“Livvy, you remember Noah, right? We dated back in high school.”

“Yes. Yes, I do,” Livvy says to Bex.

So, she knew who I was. Interesting. She was toying with me. The idea makes my defenses prickle at the same time it brings a grin to my lips.

“Another vodka-cran?” Bex asks.

“Water for me,” Livvy says.

“Me, too,” I say. Wood is already chatting up some brunette at the end of the bar, putting that charming smile to work.

Bex scoops two glasses full of ice then starts filling our waters. Livvy keeps her eyes forward, watching her sister. She doesn’t want to look at me. It’s cute.

Bex sets the waters down, condensation already dripping down to the bar.

“I thought you lived out of state. Are you just visiting?” I ask her.

“I just graduated and moved back. I didn’t realize you two still hung out.” She’s still only facing Bex, her words clipped. Is she annoyed with me? I almost chuckle at the thought, my smile growing.

“Just the last few years or so,” I say.

“Macy and I met Wood in college, at a frat party, of all things,” Bex laughs as she pours some tequila shots. “Turns out he’s Noah’s cousin. They live together on the top floor of this building, and Noah tattoos next door.”

Bex turns, showing off the intricate tattooed cluster of flowers cascading down her shoulder. “He did this for me. He’s all right.” Bex smirks. “When he’s not being a dick.”

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