Page 99 of Wanted You More

Elizabeth sees Ben struggling with something by the door, so she smiles at us before going over to help him.

Noah asks, “Lincoln is…?”

I haven’t spoken much about him to Noah. “Our friend,” I offer carefully, studying Kennedy’s face at the choice of words. “We met at the beginning of the school year.”

Kennedy’s brows pinch before she nods along, clearly not outing me to Noah. “He and I dated for a little while,” she explains to him. “But he broke up with me recently.”

Noah’s head cocks. “I didn’t know that.” His eyes move to me, something in them that seems…distant. He looks at Kennedy again. “I’m sorry to hear about you two. Hopefully, everything will be okay today.”

I wave it off. “They’re both mature.”

Noah hums before tipping his head toward the fence. “Your family just got here.”

“Oh,” Kennedy says, frowning. “I just realized it might be a little weird seeing your dad since I’m in his class. You don’t think it’s strange I’m here when he is, right?”

I shake my head. “He’s not Professor Cole here, he’s just my dad. Don’t overthink it.” We both turn toward the person in question, and I instantly lock up. “Oh.”

Kennedy and I stare at Professor Kamala beside him. He never told me he was bringing anyone other than Wolfe.

Noah comes up beside me when he realizes who that is. Quietly, he asks, “Are you okay?”

Swallowing, I manage to nod. “I will be. I wasn’t expecting her to be here, is all. But Wolfe looks…” He looks okay. Not miserable, which is good. We’ve both come to terms with Dad dating, even if it doesn’t feel quite right. “It doesn’t seem to bother him, which is good.”

My breath stutters when I feel his pinky finger graze the side of my hand. “It’s okay if it bothers you.”

I watch my dad and Professor Kamala talk to Ben and Elizabeth with Wolfe lingering behind them. Taking a deep breath, I loop my pinky around his. It’s the tiniest gesture, but instantly I feel better.

“I know.”

The day goes by relatively smoothly regardless of the unexpected guests. Dad gave me a big hug, Professor Kamala wished me a happy birthday and made some lame joke about it not being able to get me out of the homework due, and Wolfe made me open his present because he was excited aboutThe Officemug he found.

What doesn’t go as smoothly is the conversation between my two college friends. They both do everything in their power not to see each other, and on the off chance they’re both by me, it’s me who does all the talking.

After Ben cuts the cake, I notice Lincoln walking over to where Kennedy has claimed a table. He’s got two plates—one for each of them. She looks up at him and then quickly down at his offering before hesitantly taking it.

“That’s progress,” Noah remarks, startling me. I hadn’t realized he’d walked over.

Last I saw him, he was schmoozing the elderly woman from next door who’d been invited by Elizabeth.

“You didn’t tell me about him,” he notes, looking as Lincoln takes a seat across from his ex-girlfriend.

I rub my arm, trying to figure out how to answer without him getting mad. “I didn’t think it was important.”

He chuckles. “You mentioned having a friend at the beginning of the school year, but you never talked about them. I should have guessed it was a guy.”

“Should that offend me?” I ask cautiously, a little afraid of the answer.

Noah lets out a drawn-out sigh. “No. All I meant is that I’m not surprised you didn’t want to tell me. I’ve been a dick to you.”

Well, can’t disagree with him. “What do you think of my dad’s girlfriend?”

The subject change has him looking at me and studying my features. I meet his eyes and wait for a reply.

Rubbing his jaw, he focuses on my dad and his date. “I don’t know if I have an opinion formed about them. What doyouthink about them? That’s what matters here.”

Clicking my tongue, I cross my arms over my chest and study the way my dad laughs at something Kamala says. He looks happy.

“I guess it could be worse,” I surmise, trying to think of the alternative. “At least he’s with someone age appropriate instead of going through a mid-life crisis and dating someone who’s my age.”

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