Page 64 of It Was Always You

Noah set his toothbrush down on the counter, not really looking at me. "He thought I was using the money for drugs."

"Drugs? Really?" My dad had said as much, but it was still weird to hear it from Noah.

"Apparently, your dad isn't the only one who thinks that I'm bad." He turned and leaned against the sink, so he was facing me instead of my reflection. "Anyway, when Itold him that I was sleeping in my car, he kind of changed his tune."

"If he knows you're sleeping in your car, why didn't he invite you to his house?"

"He said he was gonna talk to my mom or something, but it wouldn't surprise me if he got too distracted by Paige's dance recital tonight. He was in a hurry again to get off the phone with me."

"That's so messed up. I'm so sorry, Noah."

He shrugged like it was no problem. "It's what I'm used to. Whatever." He picked up his things. "Anyway, I think I'm ready to turn in for the night."

I pushed myself away from the wall. "Right. Me too."

We both tried to go out the door at the same time and ended up bumping shoulders. My skin sparked to life where our arms touched. And I wanted to touch him again.

But he stepped back, creating some distance between us. "You first." He gestured for me to walk ahead of him.

"Thanks."

I led the way back into my bedroom. He turned off the light in my bathroom before coming out.

I went into the closet and turned on the light. "I, um, put away the blankets you used last night since I didn't want my dad to see them."

He stepped up closer and easily pulled them off the top shelf, his bicep flexing withthe movement.

"Do you know how unfair that is?" I asked.

"What?"

"That you never have to use a step stool."

He smiled. "Do you really want to be six-three like me?" he asked.

"No."

"Good. Because I bumped my head in the same place twice today."

"Ouch."

He chuckled. "Yeah, ouch." He dropped the blanket to the floor before turning back to me, looking like he wanted to say something.

"What is it?" I asked.

He shrugged, and when he looked at me, his dark eyes made me feel warm all over. He tucked a stray hair behind my ear. "I like how short you are."

"Y-you do?" I asked, my pulse starting to thrum to life again.

"Yeah." He let his hand drop to his side. We just stood there staring awkwardly for a moment as I tried to figure him out.

Did he like me?

I really, really wanted him to.

But instead of asking and possibly making things really awkward between us, I turned to walk back out of my closet. "Well, I'm going to bed now."

"Lexi?" he said.

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