Page 79 of After All This Time

“I mean we’re cut from the same cloth, so it’s hard not to sound like her.” She pauses, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. “The fact that the man you’ve known all your life is the first man you’ve fallen for says a lot about you and a lot about him. Bella and I have always known there was something between you two and it was never hatred. It’s always been something more than that. Don’t be afraid to let him in, even into the parts you don’t want him to see.”

Don’t be afraid to let him in, even into the parts you don’t want him to see.

I’ve been afraid of many things in my twenty-two years of living on this planet. Falling in love with Noah is the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me, but it’s also the most exciting.

I have nothing to say to Valerie, so I just sit there, leaning back and digesting everything she just told me.

Noah comes back, looking at us. “What did I miss?”

“Nothing important,” Valerie says. “I know I distracted you from figuring out what you want to order, so I can come back…”

Noah shakes his head, grunting.

“Guess I’m not the only one who’s hungry.” My lips quiver. “I know what he’s having.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

noah

“Then go ahead and order for me then if you think you’re so smart.” I raise my eyebrows, looking away from Dani.

“Do you not recall telling me this morning what you’ve been craving from here for days?” She smiles and her eyes land on Valerie. “Fried chicken sandwich and curly fries.”

“Everything on it?”

Dani nods at Valerie.

“I bet I know what you’re going to get,” I say.

“What does the loser win?”

“You get to buy me ice cream from Sunset Cove Creamery after this. If you win…”

I’ll tell you I’m in love with you. Yeah, there’s no fucking way I’m doing that.

“I’ll buy you one of those big chocolate chip cookies from The Green Sea Turtle.”

“Deal,” she says as she sticks out her hand for me to shake, but I hold onto her hand under the counter for a little bit longer.

“She’s going to have the club wrap. No ham or tomato. Ranch on the side instead of mayo. With curly fries.”

Valerie looks at me while I shift my body in her direction. We’re both waiting to see if I’m right.

Dani rolls her eyes. “Guess I’m buying you ice cream.”

I pump a fist in the air, making a goofy face.

“You guys have fun. I’ll go put your orders in.” Valerie disappears, leaving Dani and I alone.

“How the hell did you remember that?” Dani asks.

I roll my eyes and laugh. “We came here a lot when we were in middle school and you used to get that every single time.”

“I didn’t get it every single time.” She taps her index finger on the counter.

“Almost every single time.”

Studying her face, she looks at me with her eyes moving from side to side.

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