Page 54 of One Little Kiss
But really, what the hell is this? Sure, I know we’re here as friends but we’re still here together. She’s still technically my date.
But you’d never know it by the way she’s hanging all over Dominic. Oh, they’re not making out…yet. But his arms are around her as they dance way too slowly for the song that’s playing.
She’s laughing, her head tipped back. And he’s grinning down at her. And if she presses herself any closer, they’re basically going to be one person.
My lip curls up in a sneer as my hands fist at my sides.
“Uh, Eli…” Heath’s next to me and he leans forward a little until he blocks my view of Noelle and Dominic. “You okay, man?”
I blink, coming back to the moment and realizing that he’s staring at me. They all are.
Leah and Ben are dancing, but the rest of my friends are gathered around me and they’re studying me with varying degrees of concern and wariness.
“Eli, maybe you should get some air.” Mara’s brows draw down with worry. Noelle calls this her mom look, and at any other time the thought of that would make me smile. But I am incapable of anything but glowering as I watch my…my date, my friend, my—oh hell. My Noelle—grinding up against some other guy.
Mara must’ve nudged Ryan again, because he’s quick to jump on top of that. “Yeah, man. Let’s get out of here.”
“Elijah?” Celia says again.
I look over to see all four of them watching me, their concern so obvious it would be funny…if I could laugh.
I force myself to unclench my fists, but then I hear Noelle’s laughter and my head feels like it’s swimming, as blood rushes to my muscles.
“She’s my friend.” I bite this out through gritted teeth. It’s a reminder to myself, but my friends hear and they’re exchanging looks.
“Yeah, she is, man,” Heath says slowly, his tone warning. “Noelle’s our friend too.”
She’s my friend.This time I say it to myself. But some part of me is not buying it. And that part of me is primal and unswayable. It knows exactly what Noelle is to me, and it’s not a friend.
Well, it is. But she’s more than that. She’s…she’s…
She’s mine.
I swallow hard as the caveman thought takes hold and won’t let go. When she wraps her arms around Dominic’s neck and they lean in toward each other wearing matchy dopey grins, I can’t take it a second longer.
I’m heading toward her before I even mean to act. I’m vaguely aware of my friends trying to stop me. I know I shake off Heath and Ryan when they attempt to grab my arm.
“Dude, be cool, man,” Ryan says.
But I am not cool. I am so far from cool.
The dance floor is crowded with students from every grade, but they move out of my way as I stalk toward Noelle in those crazy heels that make her legs longer than ever. Her dress is high-cut and it only rides up higher as she twines her arms tighter around Dominic.
My heart’s slamming against its ribcage as I take her in.
In any other circumstances, I’d be struck dumb and rendered motionless by the sight of her. So crazy beautiful. Always. In sweats. In my oversized T-shirts. But right now, she’s a mythical creature come to life. She’s a Greek goddess in a form-fitting red dress with those dark locks cascading down her back.
Her cheekbones are high, her eyebrows perfectly arched, and her lips so full it’s impossible not to fantasize about kissing them.
She’s dizzyingly gorgeous and now I don’t know if it’s jealousy or desire that has me pushing people out of the way to get to her.
She’s intimidatingly beautiful if you let yourself see her in that light.
But not to Dominic, apparently. He’s having the time of his life holding her in his arms. He has no idea how perfect she is.
Inside and out.
He has no clue what a geek she can be about video games or how ridiculously prideful she is when it comes to asking for help. He’s never seen her cry or held her while she pretends everything’s fine when it’s obviously not.
