Page 21 of Deadly Secrets

He tsked.

“Too busy to answer a simple text? Tell me the truth.”

I nibbled on my lower lip, prompting him to shift his focus to my mouth. The tension between us was tangible.

“Look, I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be friends, Noah. You know…because of Ander,” I responded.

“But that’s where you’re wrong.” He brushed his lips against my jaw and neck. “I want something else from you. I don’t want to be your friend. I want more. I want to be the one you think about when you touch yourself. I want to be the name you moan every time you come,” he whispered in my ear. Then he nipped my earlobe.

Fuck.

I whimpered.

I could feel my nipples tightening behind my top, my body aching for his touch, but when I thought he was about to kiss me, he backed off.

“Hey, I get it. I’m sorry if I came on too strong, but I genuinely like you, and it’s hard for me to keep my distance. But we can be friends, right? Let me prove it to you. It’s my birthday on Saturday, and I’ll be hosting a party. As my friend, I want you to come,” he said.

Can I be friends with Noah? Things were complicated with Ander in the mix, but all I could think about was how Noah’s lips would feel on mine.

“Is that an invitation or a promise?”

His eyes widened by my sudden burst of sassiness. Did I really say that out loud? I blamed it on the adrenaline coursing through me, amplified by his proximity and the intoxicating effect of his words.

“I guess you’ll have to find out.”

* * *

“Do you have any plans on Saturday evening?” I asked Maggie. With Reed’s assignment nearly complete, we’d decided to take a break and satisfy our hunger with a well-deserved dinner. Opting for convenience, I ordered chow mein, spring rolls, and sweet and sour pork from a nearby Chinese restaurant. Knowing my lack of cooking skills, I assured Maggie that relying on Uber Eats was the safest and most practical choice. The idea of making a real meal had never crossed my mind, mainly because there was no reason for it. I had spent my teenage years in boarding school, where the kitchen staff handled everything, or at home in Port Chester with Gloria and Mrs. Bishop. Gloria, our cook, always said I was a kitchen liability. I guessed putting a bag of popcorn in the microwave or a pizza in the oven didn’t count as cooking. If I wanted to survive five years at Stanford, I might need to buy a cookbook or enroll in cooking classes. Maybe I can hire a new Gloria?

“I don’t, why?”

“Noah ambushed me yesterday in the library and told me that his birthday is on Saturday. He’s hosting a party at The Cave and invited us. Wanna be my plus-one?”

“The Cave?” Maggie asked, totally excited. “I’m ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY going with you. That club is the best one in a thirty-mile radius, and you can’t get in unless you’re on the list.”

When Noah sent me the details of the party today, I hesitated. I was sure Ander would be there, but perhaps Maggie was right the other day when she said that maybe he was okay with me seeing Noah. Otherwise, Noah wouldn’t invite me to his birthday party, would he?

It’d been a week since I bumped into Ander, and I was still trying to wrap my head around what he’d said. He looked angry, but I hadn’t seen him in six years, so why would he be angry with me? I thought that our friendship meant something to him, but in truth, he was the one who failed to follow through on his promises to stay in touch. The thought of visiting him during the first Christmas break had once flickered through my mind, but my father was very clear when he said, “I forbid you to go to the Scotts. I’m serious, Sienna. William and I stopped being partners for a reason, and the apple never falls far from the tree.”

I remember being very upset when he made that comment because Alexander Scott was nothing like his father. He was Ander, the grumpy, caring, protective, but sometimes annoying friend who always knew how to make me laugh, and that thought upset me even more. He didn’t care about me; he never wrote to me like he promised. Maybe I scared him. Perhaps I shouldn’t have kissed him. He returned my kiss, but what if he regretted it the moment I left? Maybe I went too far and broke what we had. I wasn’t a kid anymore, but I had some pride. I liked Noah, and my past would not influence my future.

“Good. Tomorrow after classes we’ll go shopping. I need a dress that makes Noah want to rip it off, so your advice is required,” I said with determination.

“That’s my girl,” Maggie replied, but then her face shifted to a sympathetic expression. “How are you feeling? And I mean aside from all the boys’ drama. Since you told me about your parents the other day, I’ve been meaning to ask you because, in a way, I understand how you feel.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, intrigued.

“I haven’t told you much about my past, but my mom died from cancer when I was thirteen. My dad couldn’t face living without her and took his own life.”

Her confession left me speechless.

“I didn’t have other relatives, so I entered the foster care system. The first year, I felt really lonely. Especially since I was consistently moving from one house to another.” She paused and swallowed. “So what I’m trying to say is that I know you may feel you have no one, but I’m here for you if you allow me to.”

A lump formed in my throat, and tears welled up in my eyes. It had only been a week since our paths crossed, yet our shared connection felt incredibly profound, almost as if it were destined. Perhaps, I mused, this was the very reason for our instant bond. We were two young women who intimately understood the pain of losing both parents and the ache of navigating life’s challenges without the guiding presence of a beloved figure. I threw my arms around Maggie’s neck and gave her a hug that I felt within my bones. She hugged me back, and we started sobbing while holding each other tight. We stayed like that for about five minutes until Maggie broke the magic.

“I’m not gay, but this is kind of turning me on.”

I smacked her arm, and we both started laughing. I wiped tears from beneath my eyes. I felt lighter, a weight easing from my chest. I had not only made a friend but a friend who understood what I was going through. In that sense, I felt lucky.

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