Page 39 of One Little Kiss
Does she actually like him? Was that kiss just her excuse to make a move?
Crap. I seriously don’t want to know. There’s no way I can pretend to be cool with her having a crush on another guy.
Not when I’m only just beginning to realize the full extent of my attraction to her.
Because…it’s not just attraction.
Attraction I can ignore. I’ve become a pro when it comes to blocking out Noelle’s sex appeal. But something’s changed. I can’t ignore this pull anymore because it’s not just attraction, it’s…
Something else.
“You don’t have to,” she murmurs.
The sound of her voice has me turning back to face her, and it takes me a full thirty seconds to realize she’s responding to my comment about giving her a lift.
She shifts from one foot to the other, and I wonder if she has any clue how beautiful she is right now. She’s not even trying in a simple V-neck cashmere sweater and tight jeans, with her long dark hair spilling over her shoulders. There’s no makeup, no sexy dresses…and that makes her all the more gorgeous.
Her gaze flickers away, toward the door like she’s looking for an escape. “I can walk.”
“It’s freezing out.”
“Then I’ll find another ride home.” Her voice turns petulant…or maybe that’s a hint of panic I hear.
Fear creeps in alongside this churning mix of jealousy and horror at realizing just how badly I’ve got it for my best friend.
Does she know? Is that why she’s freaking out? Am I that obvious?
To everyone else, maybe not. But Noelle knows me better than anyone.
She draws in a deep breath and turns to face the doors. “If you’re not ready to leave, I’ll just get a lift from someone else.”
Of course she will.
A huff of bitter laughter escapes before I can stop it, and my earlier anger is back. I know it doesn’t make sense. I know it’s not even fair.
She can’t help it that she’s beautiful. She can’t help it that every guy at school wants her.
She didn’t mean to make me want her too.
She frowns and I know she catches my cynical smile. “What’s that laugh for?”
“Nothing, just…of course you’ll get another ride. All you have to do is smile and bat your lashes, right?”
Her eyes widen, surprised and maybe even a little hurt, but I can’t stop. My chest hurts. Every muscle in my body is filled with poison. And I can’t help but lash out.
“I bet Dominic will come running if he thinks a lift home will get him another kiss.”
Her lips part and the stricken look in her eyes bursts this ball of anger as if she’d just popped a balloon.
For a second we just stare at each other in silence. I have this horrible feeling like…
Like we’re strangers.
A clawing sensation breaks out behind my ribcage. It’s desperate and terrifying, and I feel like a kid again the first time my parents left me home alone.
“I’m sorry.” I rush out the words.
But it’s too late. I can see it’s too late. I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings, but I did and I’m not even sure why. She knows her effect on the guys in this school. It’s not exactly a secret.
