Page 51 of Keep Me Safe

Pulling the slider open, I step out onto the porch. The party hasn’t yet made its way out here, so it’s quiet as I approach Noah.

“What are you doing out here?”

He looks up at me, the warm light highlighting his features. His dark hair is messy as he runs a hand through it. God, he makes it so hard not to want him.

“Just making sure you’re alright before I head upstairs.”

“Thank you, but I’m fine, Noah. I can handle myself.”

He lets out a forced laugh, “So you’ve said.”

Glaring at him, I step between his spread legs, my thighs brushing his. The roughness of the denim shocks my skin. Maybe it’s the confidence from the drink, but I lean down to whisper in his ear.

“Trust me, I can handle myself. Can you?”

His eyes darken, and the restraint there is evident. Good. I stand up, turning away toward the door.

“I’ll be upstairs if you need me,” he growls.

I don’t turn around. Instead, I open the slider and step inside. Maddie meets me at the door, a confused look on her face.

“What was that about?” she asks.

“Oh…nothing.”

Her eyes narrow, and a smirk appears on her face.

“Mmm, sure, nothing,” she responds.

We spend the next couple of hours wandering around the party, socializing. The music is loud, and the people are louder. I’m surprised Noah is putting up with it.

Maddie doesn’t bring him up again, but I can tell she senses something is up. I look up to see her making her way back overfrom the bathroom.

“I hate to do this, but I have to get going. I’ve got tons of homework that I need to do,” she says.

“That’s completely fine, I understand. Thank you for coming.”

“Oh, and about that DILF upstairs–”

“Maddie, it was nothing,” I interrupt.

“Just know you can talk to me, okay?”

“Okay.”

She grabs her bag and heads for the door. I trust her and know she wouldn’t say anything, but it still makes me nervous that she can tell something is going on. If Jared ever found out, he would never talk to me again. I need to be more careful.

Looking around the room, I suddenly have no desire to hang out with any of these people. Jared is off, god knows where, and I don’t have the energy to find him. I take my chance to sneak upstairs to my bedroom. Maybe no one will notice that I’m gone.

Stepping into my room, I close the door softly behind me, muffling the sounds of the crowd downstairs. I grab my book off my dresser and climb into bed, the plush comforter surrounding me. This is what I wanted to do for my birthday: to lose myself in a fictional world where, for a moment, I can pretend this one doesn’t exist.

I’m interrupted by a knock on my door.

There goes my peace and quiet.

“Who is it?” I ask.

“Noah,” a gruff voice responds.

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