Page 93 of Remember Us This Way

“Okay,” he says, a smirk in his tone. “For the record, I’ll still love you if you accidentally clock Shannan right in the face. After all, nothing puts a mean bitch in her place better than a broken nose, but if you’re going to punch her, remember your thumb goes on the outside. I can’t have you breaking your fingers. I’m gonna need them for when I see you next. Oh, and make sure someone records it because that’ll be the perfect addition to my spank-bank.”

My mouth drops as my cheeks flush the darkest shade of pink. “Noah!” I shriek.

He laughs. “Get your ass to homeroom, Zo,” he tells me. “You’re going to be fine, but if you just happen to have a moment where you feel like your world is falling apart, just think about how good it’s going to feel when I’m sliding inside of your sweet pu—.”

“Holy shit, Noah,” I flush. “I’m hanging up.”

“Bye, Zo,” he says in that deep, sultry tone. Then before I melt into a puddle right here in my car, I press the little red button to end the call, preparing to get out and make my way through the gates of hell.

The bell sounds for lunch, and I quickly hurry out of Ms. Lennon’s classroom. While part of me loves that I have her again for my senior year, I hate that I now share this class with Shannan. She’s been in three of my classes so far today, which isn’t exactly how I wanted to start the day, but for the most part, all she’s done is sneer at me. Though I’m not foolish enough to think that’s all that’s coming my way.

I suppose I could always punch her right in the face—with my thumb on the outside of course—and call it an accident. I’ve got most of the faculty in my back pocket, especially Principal Daniels. He’s got a soft spot for me after Mom told him all about my past. He’s always looked out for me and made sure I was doing alright, even going out of his way to put Noah in his place this time last year.

Making my way down the busy corridor, I find my locker and start rifling through it, and by the time I close the door, my anxiety has started to build. I’ve been dreading this all day.

Checking my phone, I find a text from Noah with a picture attached, and I open it up to find an image of the incredible view of the Wildcats arena from right at the very top of the massive grandstand. A wide grin stretches across my face, knowing just how much he’d love that. This has always been his dream. At least, a very important stepping stone to the ultimate dream of playing for the NFL, which will be a whole new experience in itself, but I have no doubt that he’ll make it. He’s too good not too.

But the pictures I’ve been getting from him this week only go to prove that he’s in his zone right now. He’s exactly where he needs to be, and I need to do what I can to reel in my emotions because I don’t want to ruin this for him. I don’t want him to feel guilty every time he steps onto the training field. I want him to soak up every moment of college life and absolutely love it because he deserves no less. He put the work in to get where he wants to go, and I want to see him succeed with every part of my soul.

Leaning against my locker, I quickly shoot off a reply.

Zoey: That’s incredible! But I’m still waiting for my locker room pic. Preferably when everyone has just had their showers and they’re all dripping wet with towels low on their hips. Actually, scrap that, just take the pic with all of you sandwiched in those showers together. You know, I really wanna feel like I’m experiencing it right there by your side.

Resident Asshole: Don’t make me come down there, Zoey James. I’m not above bending you over my knee and spanking that bad behavior out of you.

I gape at my phone. He’s always been the biggest flirt with me, but he’s been on fire today, pushing the boundaries, and I absolutely love it.

Zoey: Noah McWashYourFilthyMouthOut Ryan, stop making me blush at school. You’re supposed to be a gentleman.

Resident Asshole: Let’s be honest, being a gentleman is boring. You prefer it when I’m throwing you up against a wall and fucking you until you scream.

Hooooooly shit.

Zoey: **skull emoji**

Zoey: I need a cold shower. Maybe two.

Resident Asshole: Yeah…me too.

I laugh and tuck my phone into my pocket before heading down the hallway with my head held a little higher, and it has everything to do with the suspicious timing of Noah’s texts. He’s been doing it all day, as if knowing exactly when I would need him to give me the strength to keep going. Even miles away, he’s still helping me get through the day.

No one ever claimed that Noah Ryan didn’t know the exact path to my heart.

Making my way into the cafeteria, I blow out a heavy breath, quickly scanning the room. The game plan—find Abby and Cora and hope for the best. Only I pause by the door when I find them sitting side by side at our old table with Tarni standing before them, easing her way right back in as though she didn’t spend the last year ostracized from the world.

Tarni says something else, and the next thing I know, the girls welcome her back in with open arms. She sits down on the opposite side of the table, and I feel myself starting to slip.

Shit.

“You new here?” a voice asks beside me.

My brows furrow as I turn to find an unfamiliar face staring back at me, and I shake my head as I take her in. She’s stunning, definitely someone who will have jaws dropping all over the school. She has the kindest smile I’ve ever seen, immediately putting me at ease. “Nah, just trying to figure out where the hell I’m supposed to fit in all of this,” I tell her, feeling as though I can be honest with her.

“Me too,” she says, sparing a glance toward the busy cafeteria, looking as though she’s about ready to pass out with nerves. “I’m Hope. I just transferred from St. Michael's and don’t know a single person.”

“Well, now you know me,” I tell her with a wide smile, wondering if she knew Noah back when he was a junior at St. Michael’s, raising hell all over campus. “Come on, we can be clueless together.”

Hope smiles back at me, relief in her eyes as she loops her arm through mine, and we stride across the cafeteria to the one empty table left in the room. We make ourselves comfortable, and as I give her the rundown of the school, I don’t miss the curious glances I get from Tarni across the room.

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