Page 69 of Wanted You More

Instead of dwelling on it, I change the subject to something safer. “I’ve found some good places to eat. I think my freshman fifteen will be from all the subs from the deli on campus. Maybe we could get something from there sometime.”

I know he loves Philly cheesesteaks because he used to talk about the one he got in Philadelphia when he and his dad went to an Eagles game.

“My schedule is pretty swamped right now, Austen.”

Disappointment nags at the pit of my stomach. “Well, if you ever need a study partner, you know where I’ll be.”

“TheAusten Cole studying?” He whistles in mock amusement. “College has already changed you.”

I’d hardly say the few weeks I’ve been here has done much of anything, but I let him have his fun. “That’s me. Reformed good girl.”

The hum coming from him has my eyes narrowing. “You wouldn’t be you as a reformed good girl, Boots.”

My lips twitch, which I hide by looking out the window. “I’d be a hell of a lot less interesting.”

“That you would.”

We’re quiet the remainder to campus.

When he parks at the curb of my dorm building, I know he isn’t coming up to see my room before he says anything.

“I should get going,” he says.

Fiddling with my fingers, I nod before unbuckling. “Have to get back to Bailey, huh?”

His hand tightens around the wheel. “I think she planned a movie night for us.”

“You could have let my dad bring me back here tonight,” I point out, reaching for the door handle. “That way, you could have gotten back to her sooner.”

What he says next gives me pause. “I wanted an excuse to spend some time with you. Make sure you were really doing okay.”

I look at him. “What makes you think I’m not okay?”

He lifts a shoulder. “You’re trying too hard to be. That’s usually when people aren’t fine at all. You haven’t given me any details about your first couple of weeks. Not what your friends’ names are. Or your roommate. Nothing. It made me wonder if there was something else going on that you didn’t want to tell anyone about. Like your arm hurting. You’re not having anxiety attacks again, are you?”

I stare at him for a few moments. “You planned on being at the restaurant tonight knowing we’d be there, didn’t you?”

Noah’s lips press together, rubbing once before he lets out a defeated breath. “Areyou okay, Austen? Really?”

The concern on his face has my hand moving away from the handle. He isn’t confirming or denying anything, but he doesn’t need to. “I’m fine, Noah. I promise. I haven’t had an anxiety attack in a while, and my arm is… well, it always hurts. But I’m trying not to take a ton of medicine.” Licking my lips, I roll my shoulder in question. “I thought you’d be happy that I’m not out causing mayhem. That’s literally what everybody always wanted from me for years.”

He studies me for a second before nodding slowly. “I suppose it is. Just do me a favor, okay?”

I wait for him to tell me what it is before agreeing to it.

“Don’t change too much,” he insists, eyes moving over my face before landing on my mouth for a second.

I swallow, throat bobbing with emotion as I give him the best smile I can offer and try teasing him to lighten the mood. “Aw, would you miss me that much?”

He finally looks up, locking eyes with me and spiking my nerves. “Yes.”

We stare at one another, my breath catching in my throat from the answer. I was expecting some smart-ass one. “Oh.”

Once again, he says nothing.

“Well…” I clear my throat and look out the window toward my dorm building. When I turn back to Noah, I decide to lean toward him for a hug. Hooking an arm around his neck, I squeeze once and breathe in the familiar aftershave he’s always used. I don’t think before giving him a quick peck on the cheek and sitting back, watching him watch my every move.

His eyes are dark.

---