Page 60 of Pages of Amber

The hurt of her mother’s words on top of her father’s recent passing had effectively torn Amber from her stories. Until she had found them again. She was doing everything she could not to lose them this time, even if she had to hide the truth from her mother. It was a small rebellion that pricked at Amber anytime she thought about it too deeply.

The chime of her phone rescued her from the glum memory. The sight of Noah’s name brought on a smile that completely dismissed the previous thoughts. She grabbed at her phone to read the text.

NOAH

Miss me yet?

AMBER

Nope.

Who are you again?

NOAH

Haha.

I’m sorry again. I couldn’t help with your questions.

AMBER

It’s fine. You were busy.

I’m waiting on the tutor session you owe me.

NOAH

And the double cherry milkshake?

AMBER

Definitely.

Her fingers hesitated at the next text she wanted to send. She bit at her lip in thought, then sucked in a breath of courage.

AMBER

You held my hand today.

It didn’t bother you that Evelyn and Emmett were right there?

She dropped the phone to collect herself. Everyone knew how much she and Noah bantered constantly. The halls at school had been oddly quiet since they had stopped their bickering, or at least they kept it to themselves whenever they teased each other. Emmett thought the only thing holding Amber and Noah together was the deal they had agreed to, but it ran farther than that. What would be their reaction to finding out that Amber had taken several steps out of the friend zone with their friend.

Her phone buzzed in her hand.

NOAH

I don’t mind holding your hand.

I’ll hold it forever if you let me. In fact, there’s nothing else I’d rather do.

Was there such a thing as a full-body blush? Because Amber was sure she had gone red from the tips of her hair to the ends of her sock-clad feet. Noah Rhodes could be too sweet for his own good. The realization that she was one of the only people to see this side of him made her melt all over again. She was tempted to squeal into her pillows while kicking her feet. Noah made her want all the clichés.

AMBER

Hey, boy genius.

You should smile more. It suits you.

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