Page 64 of Forever and Ever

Not even Rome.

When Merry and I finally make it upstairs, I pause in the hallway that leads to the main corridor of the house and turn to face her.

“What’s up?” She tucks her hands in her pockets in a line of defense.

It makes me smile, even though I’m not really in the mood because it’s classic Merry—already finding ways to close herself off before we even start talking.

“I talked to Kali.” I lean against the wall opposite her when she does the same.

“What did she want?” Merry asks, eyes darting away.

Andthatquestion from her is what I was hoping for. Because if she didn’t actually care, she’d just brush it off and start talking about something else. But the fact that she’s wondering means it’s bugging her, whether she’ll admit it or not.

“She wanted to get back together,” I say flatly, crossing my arms over my chest and trying to read her reaction.

It’s slight, but her cheeks warm and I spot the cracks in her façade.

“Okay…” Merry draws the word out like she’s really thinking it over.

I lift off the wall and it drags her attention back to me. “What do you think of that?”

“What do you mean, what do I think?” She shakes her head and lets out a nervous little laugh that is so unlike her I can’t help but love the sound.

“I mean exactly what I said.” I take one step toward her. “What do you think of the fact that my ex-girlfriend wants to work things out with me?”

Merry shakes her head again, crossing her arms over her chest this time and tipping her head back. “It’s your life Noah, you’re allowed to date anyone you want. I don’t even know why you’re asking me this.”

I walk straight up to her and plant a hand on the wall behind her, which forces her eyes back to me.

“You knowexactlywhy I’m asking you this.”

The forced smile slowly falls from Merry’s face and we’re standing so close at this point that if she inhales too deeply, we’ll be chest to chest.

I’ve been patient with her.

I’ve waited for her to get over her shit.

I’ve watched the way she looks at me sometimes when she doesn’t realize I’m watching, and I didn’t push it.

She’s scared. She wouldn’t be who she is if she wasn’t. But right now, I need her to get past that limit and I need her to just tell me the truth.

Yes or no.

Stop or go.

I need her to drop the crap and face this with me.

I spent the afternoon with Kali ripping off the Band-Aid. And as painful as it was, after she walked out the door, I finally felt free. And now I need Merry to do the same. I need her to meet me halfway with no bullshit.

“Noah,” she says my name the way she has a hundred times. Half a sigh, half a threat.

But she doesn’t roll her eyes this time, instead they stay trained on me. And they’re lit the fuck up.

“How do you feel about it?” I ask her again, not letting her get out of answering this question. Knowing it’s the answer to everything.

“If you feel good about it, then I feel good about it,” she says.

I shake my head. “That’s not what I asked. I know how I feel already. I told her no.”

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