Page 16 of Cross My Heart

“What?” I don’t look at her, but I know she’s rolling her eyes. Because I know her. Really know her. “It’s just tits, chill out, guys.”

“Heathen,” Noah mutters.

“Why are you so pressed about it?” Scarlett questions Noah. “You’re gay.”

At the word gay, my body heats up.

I look at him. His eyes are narrowed on her, and he shakes his head. But then he proceeds to get undressed too. Not looking at me or anything, but it doesn’t make it any better. My body feels like it’s on fire, and I feel myself blushing.

“Awww, how fucking cute,” Scarlett coos. “Our little baby Ty is blushing. Have you never seen a girl naked?”

I scoff, “Yes.”

“Then this shouldn’t be anything new,” she replies.

I shake my head and begin to strip too, watching Noah intently. He turns toward me and his eyes dip down to my fingers as I unbutton my dress pants, and then he looks away. He gets in the pool slowly, his back muscles rippling as he descends the steps. His tight ass is on full display, and for just a moment, I wish he’d turn around and show me everything.

“Well, are you coming?” Noah laughs, and I shake my head for the hundredth time today. “Nobody wants to see you naked, Scarlett. Hurry up and get in the water. Put us out of our misery.”

“Shut up,” she growls.

“My eyes!” Noah shouts, covering his face. “They burn!”

“Oh, please!” Scarlett laughs. “Always so damn dramatic.”

But then Noah is looking at me, at my naked body, as I get into the pool. And he’s turning pink as his eyes take me in from head to toe. There’s something empowering about making eye contact with him the entire time, and once the water is up to my waist, he looks away.

Scarlett clears her throat.

My eyes snap up to hers.

But she just rolls her eyes in what seems to be amusement, a smirk on her lips. She swims to the deep side of the pool, leaving Noah and I all alone. And I don’t look at him. He doesn’t look at me either.

But we don’t have to acknowledge what just happened.

Iknowwe had a moment.

I just don’t know what it is.

Chapter 9

NOAH

18 YEARS OLD

It’s our high school graduation party and I can’t help but be glad to be done with that chapter of my life. Now I’m ready for the next step, the next chapter. Joining the military and getting the fuck out of this town.

But I am not leaving until I hook up with someone tonight. Someone who’s had his eye on me for a while, and I can’t help but have had my eye on him as well. Mostly because if I squint my eyes, he looks just like Tyler. The one I actually want. The one I’ll clearly never have. After tasting his lips a year ago, I don’t think I’ll ever stop wonderingwhat if.

The guy I have my sights set on is now making his way to me. His eyes are a light blue, his brown hair falls over his eyes. He’s hot in a jock kind of way, and he’s on the football team with Tyler and I. Or was since we’ve now graduated. He smirks, and when he finally stops in front of me, he holds out his hand for me to take.

And I do.

I look around, my eyes immediately connecting with Tyler’s. His eyes widen, then narrow, and I grin at him and shrug. He’s the one playing hard to get. There’s always been something more between us, I just can’t pinpoint why he won’t pull the trigger and put us both out of our misery. Or maybe deep down I know it’s because he also likes Scarlett. He hasn’t exactly been hiding it lately. Especially not now, as she sits on his lap.

But the way he’s looking between her and me, for one split second, it feels like he can’t choose. As if he doesn’t really know what to do with himself. And if he let me, goddamn it, I’d show him exactly what to do. Who to pick.

Me.

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