Page 72 of It Was Always You

Right as he was about to leave me, he hesitated and leaned closer, pulling me in for one last hug. And I couldn't help but melt against him. I really liked Noah. I knew he wasn't perfect. I knew he had his own faults. But for the past week, he had been mine, and he'd made me feel special. I'd never had a guy pay attention to me before, and I didn't know if I'd ever have something like that again.

He spoke in a low voice beside my ear. "I hope you find what you're looking for, Lexi. You're an amazing girl and any guy would be lucky to have you." Then he kissed me gently on the cheek. Before I could respond, he disappeared out the door to join Easton in the hall, and I just stood there frozen in shock with my fingers touching the place he'd kissed me.

24

NOAH

I walked backto the lunchroom with Easton, cursing myself the whole time for being such a chicken. I should have told Lexi that I didn't want to break up. But of course, like every other good thing in my life, I was practically pushing her away.

I needed to stop sabotaging myself.

But what was done was done. And my week with Lexi was over. Now it was back to reality.

Along our way, Mercedes stopped Easton, so I went ahead to grab my lunch, and then I took a seat at my regular table, hating the fact that the chair next to me was empty and would remain empty.

"Where's Lexi?" Raven asked after looking around for her.

I ripped a piece off my roll. "We broke up."

"You brokeup?" Raven's jaw dropped, and she actually did look surprised. Maybe we really had been convincing to people.

"Yep." I stuffed a piece of roll in my mouth, so I wouldn't have to say anything more. I really didn't feel like talking about it right now. It was crazy that even though our entire relationship had been fake, I felt even worse than I had when Luke and Ashlyn had started dating.

It would seem that I'd finally found a way to move on.

Raven pushed her tray closer to mine, and then moved her chair closer as well. "Why did you break up? When she first walked in here today, I was watching you. I’ve never seen you look at a girl like that before. It was like you were in love or something."

She'd seen that in my face?

That couldn't be good. I couldn't be in love with Lexi. She was my best friend's sister. There wasn't a chance at a future with her.

"Was she the one to break up with you?" Raven pressed when I didn't say anything.

Just then, Lexi walked into the room with her tray. I watched her as she walked past my table, and my heart blipped in my chest at the sight of her. She was scanning the room for a place to sit, and I remembered that earlier this week, she’d said something about not having a regular lunch table ever since her friend went away.

Maybe I should leave, so she could at least sit with her brother?

But then she moved in the opposite direction, toward a table full of kids that I recognized from the band and they made room for her. I sighed, relieved she wouldn't have to eat alone.

"Earth to Noah." Raven's voice interrupted my thoughts.

I shook my head. "Sorry, what did you ask again?"

She rolled her eyes. "I asked who did the breaking? You or her?"

"It was mutual."

"Certainly doesn't look that way."

And boy was she right. I could barely keep my eyes off Lexi. My heart pounded in my ears when Lexi glanced at me over her shoulder. Was she telling everyone at her table then?

I blinked my eyes shut.Get yourself together, Noah. This is going just the way you planned it.

Except for the fact that I thought it was about the stupidest plan I'd ever come up with.

Easton, who had been talking to Mercedes, finally made it back to our table.

"What did I miss?" He scooted his chair up and opened a carton of milk.

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