Page 65 of One Little Kiss
“I don’t do this!” I say again.
“But that doesn’t mean you can’t do this.” Her tone is gentle, like she’s talking a crazy person off a ledge.
Because metaphorically…she is.
“But I don’t know that I can either,” I shoot back. “There’s a reason I only do hookups.”
Leah presses her lips together. She doesn’t agree or disagree.
“Noelle knows that better than anyone,” I continue. “So who am I trying to fool here, huh?”
Leah has no answer. Her head’s tilted to the side as she studies me, and I’m pretty sure that’s pity I see in her eyes again. “You don’t know that you can’t do relationships, Eli. You’ve never even tried.”
For good reason!I keep that to myself. I don’t have the time to delve into some deep therapy session about my inability to get invested in something as fickle as a high school relationship.
And yet, I open my mouth anyway, and blurt, “I can’t lose my closest friend. I just…can’t.”
Her eyes get suspiciously watery and I turn away, my own chest getting too tight for comfort.
“My friends are my family,” I mutter, my voice too gruff. “I don’t want to mess that up.”
“I know, Eli.” She gets off the bed and wraps her arms around me, pressing her cheek to my chest as she says. “And you won’t. You and Noelle care about each other too much to let that happen.”
I pat her back as she sniffles. Man, how pathetic am I that my little cousin is crying on my behalf? I give a little huff of wry amusement at the thought.
Leah pulls back and looks up at me. “But let me ask you this. Do you want to go back to being just friends with Noelle?” Her gaze is fixed on mine and I can’t look away. “Do you think you can?”
“I…” My mind’s already calling up the memory of that kiss, and just the memory of it feels like it might knock me on my ass. “I don’t know.”
Leah purses her lips, not looking entirely satisfied by that answer. But it’s the best I can do at the moment.
“I should go,” I say, already heading toward the door. “We have reservations.”
Leah’s brows hitch up. “Reservations?”
I shrug. “Yeah, I mean…I need to show her I can do this, right? Be the sort of guy she typically dates?”
Leah’s frown is…not heartening. “I guess…”
“Hey.” I stop and face her in the doorway. “You’re supposed to be my cheerleader here.”
A smile lights up her face and she gives her head a little shake. “Sorry. You’re right. I’m sure wherever you take her will be perfect. Because you two are perfect together.”
Yeah, as friends, I add mentally.
But as a couple?
The word alone makes me squirm.Couple.
I try not to think about it as I climb into my car and drive on autopilot to Noelle’s house.
Couple.
Is that what we’d be if tonight goes well?
Is that what I want?
My head fills with images of Ryan and Mara, Celia and Heath, Vincent and Addie…
