Page 28 of Wanted You More

I don’t like him questioning my choices in life. What I do. Who I see and hang out with. If it isn’t his father whose opinion sinks in deeper than it probably should, it’s Noah’s of me.

Noah:Come downstairs

Sitting up in bed with my brows pinched, I’m about to respond when I hear Dad call up to me from the bottom of the stairs. “Austen, you’ve got company.”

Glancing at the text one last time, I slip my phone into my hoodie pocket and walk downstairs to see Noah standing in the doorway next to my father. They’re talking in hushed murmurs until they see me, then act like I wasn’t just the topic of conversation.

“What are you doing here?” I ask Noah, who looks like his dad now more than ever, standing with his arms covered in plaid crossed over his chest.

He tips his chin toward the door. “You’re going to wallow in pity all night if you don’t do something. Come on.”

My eyes go to Dad in surprise. He’s never told me he’s against me talking to the Kingsley family, but I know it’s not his favorite thing in the world.

All Dad does is smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Go on, kiddo.”

I give myself a once-over and debate on changing and reapplying some of my makeup when Noah says, “You look fine. We’re just going to get some ice cream.”

I perk up.

The ice cream store is only open seasonally, and I haven’t been in months. They used to close in October when the weather started to change, but new owners took over and leave it open because that’s what the community wanted.

Sliding into my closest pair of boots, a knockoff version of the UGG ones that are making a comeback that I got for half the price, I follow Noah out the door. Waving at my dad before he closes it, I catch up with Noah’s long strides as we walk toward his truck.

“You should be careful,” I tell him, trying to hide the wavering smile that wants to curl my lips upward.

He turns to me. “Why?”

I elbow him playfully. “Doing something nice like this makes it seem like we’re friends. What will people think if they see us out and about together? The scandal!”

Those blue eyes turn to me. “Are we back to that again?” He shakes his head, but I see the ghost smile there that tells me he’s amused by my sarcasm. “I don’t really care what people think right now. It’s not like it’s just us anyway.”

What?

Before I can ask what he’s talking about, the front passenger window rolls down, and a pretty brunette appears. Her lips are painted a shade of glossy pink and they stretch in a wide smile that makes her look bubbly. “You must be Austen. It’s so nice to meet you! I’m Bailey.”

Slowly, I turn from her to the boy who’s moving his weight from one foot to another. He doesn’t meet my eyes as he steps back and opens the door behind his girlfriend for me.

Maybe I’m dumb for assuming it’d be just us, but my excitement deflates as I glance at Bailey briefly. She’s still smiling, as if she can’t tell I’m hesitant to climb in.

His voice lowers. “We were heading to get ice cream when I got your text, and I knew you’d be in your head all night if you didn’t get a distraction. Ahealthydistraction.”

I feel my face heat at the implication of what I’d do if he didn’t come here. And maybe he’s right. I would have smoked or maybe reached out to Monty. Anything to make me feel better.

“Get in,” he says, nodding toward the truck.

I’ve never sat in the back seat.

Not with him.

It makes me feel…sad.

When Noah admitted he didn’t consider us friends, it cut deep. Because there had never been a day when I thought we weren’t.

And now I’m the third wheel in his life.

That’s even worse.

But I don’t want to go back inside and tell Dad why I decided not to go, so I climb in and buckle while Bailey starts making small talk as if she wants to know me.

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