Page 249 of Hell Hath No Fury
I swallow audibly, too stunned by our closeness, by our eye contact to compose myself.
But Noah has no trouble, and with one deep breath, he’s back to his cool, aloof affectation. He takes a single deliberate step back. We’re still so close, though, and his mere proximity effects my senses in ways I’d rather not admit, even to myself.
But whether he tries to hide it or not, Noah appears to be grappling with something he hesitates to articulate, but I can’t imagine what it might be.
“Is everything okay?” I ask him, concerned.
Noah nods to himself, as if to work up some kind of unfathomable courage. He has no qualms about charging into a fight with Jonah, but, somehow, words are too much for him?
“I just…” he chews the inside of his cheek.
I frown. I sincerely can’t imagine the thoughts that might be plaguing him behind that vehement look in his eyes.
“Have you spoken to him? Berry. Just tell me. Are you back together?”
My gasp flies from my lips before I can even process.
Seriously?For some reason, I find I’m deeply offended by the question, as if it were more of an accusation. And maybe it was.
But I have no real right to offense, I suppose. Noah barely knows me, not anymore, and he knows nothing about my and Jonah’s relationship. For all he knows, Jonah has been physically abusing me for God only knows how long. And he thinks I’m going to take him back.
Fat fucking chance.
“Are youcrazy?” I spit, my indignation more obvious than I intend.
I take several steps back, desperate to extricate myself from Noah’s spell so I can at least form a coherent thought, let alone communicate it. I avert my gaze for that express purpose.
Noah grits his teeth, as if he’s struggling with a thought that affects him more than it has any right to, and secretly, just the idea that I can affect him at all, that he cares enough about me and my fucked-up life to give a shit, reaches deep into my chest and touches my heart in ways he can’t possibly comprehend.
I meet his gaze, as defiant as ever. “No fucking way,” I swear, as if I have something to prove. And maybe I do. Not to Noah, though, so much as myself. “I never should have been with him in the first place, but… No. The other night was a one time-thing.”
Noah watches me skeptically.
“One time,only,” I qualify.
Noah’s perfectly straight nose flares, as if he’s looking for another fight or something. “He’s never put his hands on you like that before? Because I swear to fucking God—”
“No,” I promise him, shaking my head adamantly to drive home the point.
We stare at each other for a full minute, Noah trying to sort me out, deciding if I’m telling the truth or not, and me trying to convey that I am nota fucking victim. That I would never stay with a guy who treated me that way.
I sigh. “Look, Jonah’s not all bad, I swear. I don’t know what got into him the other night, but at this point, I don’t really care. I sure as hell won’t be giving him an opportunity to do it a second time, that’s for sure.
Noah nods slowly, before blowing out a long, pent-up breath. “Good.”
“Is that why you came by? To make sure I don’t take Jonah back?”
“Sure,” he says unconvincingly. “And, besides, you were on my way to the beach.” He shrugs.
But I’m not on the way. His family’s beach house is over on Utah Street. I’m out of his way, and he knows it. I can’t help my small smirk. “I’m at least a half-mile out of your way, actually. I think you just wanted to see me.” I quip, unsure where this flirtatious bravery is even coming from.
Noah bites his bottom lip, his own smirk countering mine. “Actually, I’m staying with Randy, remember? He’s on Alabama.” His eyebrows raise in challenge.
My heart sinks into my stomach, which flutters with embarrassment.Oh, right.Well, I’ve just made an epic fool of myself.
“In fact, I walked by yesterday, too, but wasn’t sure you’d want me to bother you.”
Botherme? I’d laugh out loud if I wasn’t currently breaking out in a full-body blush. I guess that was him I saw though my window yesterday, after all.
