Page 154 of Naughty & Nice

“Shouldn’t you be at a party with five girls hanging off you right now?” he snaps.

“I left,” I explain. “I didn’t want to be there. I don’t want to be there. They’re my teammates, sure. But… they’re not you two.”

Noelle’s expression softens more, but Hendrix isn’t willing to budge.

“Well, maybe you should have thought about that before acting the way you did.”

“I’m sorry. I was hurt, and it was a stupid thing to do.

“Last week… Last week was everything. Spending time with you both like we did. Noelle,” I say, focusing on her, “getting to know that other side of you… I didn’t want to come back to my life here and the way I was before.”

“But you did,” she argues. Her cheeks redden before a confession bursts free. “The photos on Instagram... all you’ve done all week is party and hook up.”

“All I’ve done all week is be miserable.

“I thought I wanted that. The wild nights, the parties, the girls. But I don’t. I want that,” I say pointing at their little love nest.

“I want quiet but wild nights with you guys. I want to be where I can be me.

“I want to be the version of myself that I was with you both last week.”

Despite the fact I’ve been thinking these words all week, they still sound foreign coming out of my mouth.

For years, I’ve dreamed of what college life might be like. I’ve imagined the parties, the girls, the fun. And yeah, it has been great, don’t get me wrong. But it’s taken me away from my family, from the people who mean the most to me.

The two people who mean everything to me.

“One minute to go,” the guy on the TV announces. “Grab your drink and shimmy close to the one you want to kiss at midnight.”

Fuck. My heart jumps into my throat.

This is it. Now or never.

“I know it’s crazy. I know it’s weird. I know you two have just got together, and I’m so fucking happy for you, but?—”

“Thirty seconds.”

“Noelle, I want you too,” I say in a rush. “I want what we had last week. Please, I know it’s crazy, but… but will you consider it?”

Silence.

“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six…”

She’s going to say no.

They’re going to say no.

Emotion burns up the back of my throat, and fuck if my nose doesn’t itch with impending tears.

Don’t cry. Do not fucking cry.

“I’m sorry, Noelle. I didn’t mean a word of?—”

“Three, two…”

Everything happens so fast. Both of them move as the final countdown continues until they’re standing right before me.

“One.”

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