Page 56 of Keep Me Safe

“Kind of?” It comes out as more of a question than a statement, and I’m instantly hesitant.

“What do you mean, kind of?”

Anyone who is lucky enough to have Maddie would be crazy not to immediately lock her down.

“We haven’t put a label on it yet, but we spend all of our free time together,” she explains.

I roll my eyes, and she senses the suspicion there.

“It’s not like that, I promise.”

“As long as you’re happy,” I tell her, glad she has someone.

Before we know it, it’s been two hours, and the waitress has asked us if we needed anything else about four times, so we decide it’s time to go.

As we’re heading to our cars, Maddie looks over at me, her smile fading.

“Just be careful, Kira. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Her eyes are genuine, and I know she cares.

“Same to you,” I tell her.

No one is in the living room when I walk into the house. I saw both of their cars in the driveway, though, so I know they’re home. The open sliding door tells me they are most likely on the back porch. Grabbing a glass from the cupboard, I open the fridge and pour myself some of the strawberry lemonade I made again the other day.

I step out onto the deck and feel the sun warm my skin as the smell of the water washes over me. My eyes find Noah immediately.

He’s shirtless, cleaning out the flower bed next to the house. Maddie wasn’t lying about the Greek god comparison. His muscles ripple with his movements, and tattoos only enhance the effect. A thin layer of sweat glistens on his skin as he looks up at me, our eyes locking for a moment before he drops his gaze back to the flower bed.

Arms wrap around me, hoisting me into the air. I instantly recognize them as Jared’s.

“Ew, you’re all sweaty. Put me down!” I squeal.

He laughs, doing as I ask and turning me around to face him. His white muscle shirt is covered in dirt and grass stains with a distinct rim of sweat around the collar. He must have been helping Noah with the yard work.

“I have something for you,” he says, the sunlight reflecting in his emerald eyes. “For your birthday. Let me go get it.”

He runs through the slider into the house, and I take the chance to look back at Noah, but his gaze is already fixed on me. His eyes are filled with a mixture of emotions that I can’t quite identify. This is it. This is when he’s going to tell me that last night was a mistake.

“Here it is!” Jared exclaims as he runs up next to me.

Noah nods toward Jared, and I reluctantly turn to face him. In his hands, he is holding a small gift box with a little green bow. Placing it in my hands, he gestures for me to open it. I untie the bow and open the hinged box, letting out a loud gasp. It’s a gold necklace with my name in a scripted font. It’s gorgeous.

“Thank you so much, Jared, it’s amazing!”

A smile spreads across his face as he looks down at me, his eyes lingering on mine for a beat.

“Want me to put it on for you?” he asks, his voice lower now.

I nod, handing it to him and turning around. Why does it feel like something just shifted? My eyes meet Noah’s as Jared’s hands brush up my neck, clasping the closure.

“I tried to give it to you last night, but I couldn’t find you anywhere,” he explains, hurt woven into his words.

My body tenses, a pang of guilt hitting me as images of the night before play in my mind.

Noah focuses on the necklace, his eyes hardening before meeting mine again.

“All done,” Jared almost whispers, yanking my attention back to him. I turn back to face him, but at the edges of my vision, I watch Noah put down his tools and disappear into the house.

---