Page 60 of One Little Kiss
They’re both valid questions, really, and it makes me feel slightly better for reacting like a lunatic. I see Mara and Ryan in the crowd, but despite the fact that it’s an upbeat song, they’re holding each other tight and gazing into each other’s eyes.
No matter how desperate I am to escape this dance—and yes, fine, Elijah—I’m not about to interrupt this Hallmark couple moment. But I need to get out of here. My heart’s still racing and my lips…
I touch the stupid things because I swear they’re still warm and tingly from that kiss.
That kiss!
I shut my eyes for a second, no doubt looking insane to the people trying to dance around me.
But really, that kiss is going to require some major reflection. I need to process what just happened and I can’t do that while Elijah’s chasing after me and my friends are worrying about me.
And then…there. I spy Dominic off on the sidelines, hands tucked in his pockets as he watches the people dancing.
He looks nice and normal and….safe.
He looks like just another guy at our school and not my best freakin’ friend. So I make a beeline toward him and watch with relief when he greets me with a smile.
“Hey. You ran off so quickly I was a little worried,” he starts when I reach his side.
“Uh huh. Yeah. About that…” And with that epically awesome transition, I say, “Are you having fun?”
“Um, not really. You?”
“No. I’m not. Any chance you can give me a ride home?” My voice is high and tight, and I can feel how wide and bulgy my eyes are.
I have crazy eyes.
Me. A girl who prides herself on being cool, calm, and above all the stereotypical high school crush nonsense, and I have freakin’ crazy eyes because my best friend decided to ignore all the unspoken rules that made our friendship work when he went and kissed me.
Dominic’s brows are sky high and it’s only then I realize I’m breathing so hard I’m kinda panting.
Awesome. Great.
Nothing to see here, folks, just a massive freakout from yours truly.
“Please?” I add.
“Uh… Yeah. Sure.” Dominic starts to scan the crowd. “I’ll just let Jaz know. I came here with my sister—” He stops and flashes me a smile that I probably would have found cute under any other circumstances. “I didn’t come herewithmy sister. She’s not my date or anything, but I am her ride and...” He goes back to searching for Jazmyn. “Let me just make sure she’s…uh-oh.”
His gaze locks onto something—orsomeonebehind me.
I wince as Dominic’s expression turns wary, and then…oh no.
Dominic puffs his chest out and steps around me, placing himself between me and—
“Elijah,” Dominic says.
I turn slowly, hating myself for having put either of them into this position.
Damn it, I’d been so close to freedom. But now I’m facing Dominic’s broad back as Elijah glares at me over Dominic’s shoulder.
“Stop running, Noelle,” he says.
Despite my heels, I feel two feet tall. I can’t even sputter with self-righteous anger like some part of me wants to.
I am running, and anyone with eyes can see it.
Dominic shifts to block me from view. “Look, man, I don’t want to get involved—”
