Page 29 of Make Me Dream of You

I glance at my phone. It’s eleven-thirty. Exactly when he said he’d swing by after his shift at the bar.

I shrug. “It’s late, but we both work at night, so that’s how it worked out.”

It’s almost like a shadow passes over Noah’s face, the way his expression darkens.

“What are you even going to do at eleven-thirty on a first date?”

“What’s with all the questions?” I peek over at Mark, who’s still standing by the door, shifting onto the balls of his feet and looking around the shop. “Hey, sorry, I’ll be right there!” I call over to him.

I lower my voice. “He’s going to cook me some food at his place,” I say to Noah.

“You’re going to his place?” he hisses.

I cross my arms.

“Sorry,” he says. “It’s just—it’s just that I want you to be safe. I feel protective over you. It’s hard not to see you as that little girl I first met.”

Ouch.

“I’m not a little girl. I can take care of myself,” I say, trying not to dwell on how much that sentence sounds like something a defiant child would say.

“You’re right. You’re an adult. I know that. I’m sorry.”

I pick up my bag from under the desk and move toward Mark but as I pass Noah, he grabs my arm. Not hard, but firm enough to stop me in my tracks.

He leans down, his breath at my cheek and lips at my ear. “Call me. If you need anything. For any reason. Any time. Got it? I gave you my number, right?” He looks into my eyes, his face all angles and hard lines.

I’m not breathing. I nod. “Okay,” I say as I exhale.

He lets go of my arm.

Mark holds the door open for me, and as I walk out, I look back over my shoulder to where Noah is still watching me. The intensity in his stare makes me shiver.

CHAPTER 6

NOAH

2Horned:

So how are things going with that guy you like?

ANG3L:

The same, mostly

Oh! But I did take your advice and go out on a date with someone else

I’m instantly gutted. I hate that I can’t just be happy for her. Wood likes to remind me that I’m avoiding a real connection by putting so much energy into this one. But this is real for me. I’d be happy to stay home and chat with her every night.

And I’m sad she doesn’t feel the same.

2Horned:

Oh?

ANG3L:

Yeah, he’s really nice

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