Page 111 of Echoes of Us

I glanced at the girl next to her. “Same.” I took a big gulp of my beer.

Jo leaned close to Noah and said something in his ear. I couldn’t hear what it was.

Noah reached for my hand again, lacing his fingers through mine. “He’s taken. Atty’s my boyfriend, Jo,” he said, holding our hands up for her to see.

She lost her composure, and I couldn’t help the satisfied smile that spread across my face.

“Shut up, I didn’t know you were gay.” She looked taken aback.

Noah smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Bisexual,” he corrected gently.

She glanced at her friend, who pressed her lips together in response.

“See you around, Jo. Thanks for coming.” He guided me towards a plush couch and sank into it. He let out a laugh. “What?” His eyes were dancing with amusement.

“You love doing that.”

“What?” He leaned closer, his breath ghosting over my ear.

“Shocking people,” I said into his ear and saw him laugh before taking a drink.

His nose wrinkled, and he pushed his arm closer to me. “I do,” he admitted with a shrug, his smile widening.

I glanced at the two girls, still watching us, their conversation clearly revolving around Noah. Jo seemed mildly upset, her flirty smile nowhere in sight. I placed my beer on the table before us and reached for Noah’s face, tilting it upward and kissing him. He smiled against my lips before parting them for me, letting me deepen the kiss.

“Could you stop making out for five minutes?” Holly’s voice cut through the music as she sat next to Noah.

He sniggered into my mouth before turning towards her. “We can. Atty was just feeling a little possessive,” he said, turning to wink at me.

“I’m getting a couple of bottles of champagne for the table, okay? Do you want something different?” she asked.

I raised my beer in a silent toast.

She rolled her eyes and smiled. “You’re having champagne, Atticus. Your boyfriend’s turning twenty-one,” she declared.

I smiled. She walked away, and Noah kissed my cheek again.

“Where were we?” he asked, tilting my chin towards him and kissing my lips.

I tried to move, but he held me firmly.

“No, wait. I think they’re still looking over,” he teased, kissing me again.

I pushed him back, and he barked a laugh.

“You’re the worst,Noey.”

Another wave of laughter. “They were asking about you. I should be the one getting jealous.”

I raised my eyebrows at him. “You have nothing to be jealous of. I’m not even a little turned on by girls, and I have you. Why would I even look at anybody else?”

He grinned. “You have no idea how much I like you.”

I pressed my lips together.

“You say these things so offhand, and you don’t know what it does to me,” he continued, leaning closer. “You don’t have to be jealous either. You’re the one I want to fuck when we get home. Why would I even look at anybody else?” He threw my words back at me.

He kissed me again, and I reached into his hair, holding him close.

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