Page 44 of Wanted You More

Marybelle makes things a lot more lively when we’re here together, but I’m grateful for the peace that being here alone brings. I don’t have to worry about her pocketing something that she shouldn’t, getting us caught and thrown out or making a scene when she sees someone she doesn’t like.

Last time we were here doing holiday shopping for our families, she’d seen Cheyanne at one of the department stores and told security she’d seen her shoplifting. I have no clue what happened because she made us leave when two different guards went up to Cheyanne and her friends to search all their bags for unpaid items.

I start walking around the stores on this level, looking through the windows and snacking when someone stops beside me. “You’re wearing the boots.”

My shoulders pull back as I turn toward Bailey’s voice. It’s hard not to recognize the bell-like softness to it that doesn’t seem to rival anyone else’s. When I glance down at my feet, I click the heels of the booties she bought me and frown. Had that been a conscious decision? I’d grabbed a random pair when I reached into my closet this morning.

Instead of confirming the obvious, I ask, “What are you doing here?”

She looks at the watch on her wrist. “It feels like I should be asking you that. You’re the one who’s supposed to be in school right now.”

My lips twitch downward. Grabbing another pretzel from the container, I take a small bite and shrug. “Didn’t want to go.”

Her brows go up. “Does your family know that you’re here instead of school?”

Swallowing the snack, I stand a little taller in caution. Is she going to rat me out for being here? The last thing I need is her telling Noah where I am when I’m trying to avoid people. Most of all, him.

She lifts her palms in surrender when she sees my expression. “Don’t worry. I won’t say anything to anyone. My friends and I used to bail on school to go shopping all the time.” Her smile seems genuine. “It’s my day off, and I like coming here to kill time.”

I’m not sure what to say, so I focus on the snack in my hand.

“I’m glad I saw you,” she tells me, causing me to peek up at her in curiosity. Bailey gestures toward one of the benches off to the side. “Do you want to sit?”

Usually, when people want to sit and talk, it’s nothing good ever being said. “Uh…”

“It won’t take long,” she promises.

Wariness coats the protective barrier I keep around me as I follow her to the bench and sit down. Her smile doesn’t seem to waver, but I notice it doesn’t reach her eyes when she releases a soft sigh.

It doesn’t take her long to rip the Band-Aid off. “Noah told me about what happened when he picked you up this weekend.”

Eyes bolting toward her, I feel heat rise from my chest up to the back of my neck before it settles into my cheeks. I’m too embarrassed to say anything, so she keeps going.

“We’ve all had crushes on people we shouldn’t at least once in our lives,” Bailey tells me, her hand moving to rest on my arm. “I get it, Austen. I do. I was your age once too. But Noah can get into so much trouble if anyone finds out you kissed him. You’re so young.”

My heart beats wildly in my chest. “I’m not that young. I’m seventeen. And can we not talk about this?”

Her fingers squeeze my arm once. “The age difference might not seem like such a big deal now, but it is. For Noah especially. I’m sure you wouldn’t want him to get into any hot water if people assumed there was something going on between him and a teenage girl. Imagine how that would look to any future employer. If he’s working in law, nobody is going to want to hire him if he’s potentially breaking them.”

I move my arm away from her. “Of course, I don’t want that.”

She nods, seeming unfazed by the defensiveness in my tone. “I didn’t think. So, maybe it’s best you let go of whatever little fantasy you have of you and Noah. There must be boys your own age that you’re interested in.”

“I was drunk, Bailey. It was a mistake.”

“I know it was,” she confirms, that smile lifting slightly on one side. “Because Noah is a good man who would never do anything to hurt me, least of all by getting involved with another girl. He would never ask this of you, but I think it would be smart to put some distance between you and my boyfriend.”

I stare at her for a minute, wondering if that’s her talking or Noah. “Did Noah ask you to tell me that?”

She doesn’t confirm or deny it. “Don’t you think that’s what’s for the best? You’re young and beautiful, but you’re also a little reckless. Noah is trying to build a reputation for himself and that’s impossible to do if he uses his power to help you get out of trouble all the time. It isn’t fair to him to always be babysitting you.”

My stomach dips. Is he worried that I’m risking his career? “It was one party,” I whisper, looking down at my half-eaten pretzel bites.

Her hand returns to my arm again, but it doesn’t feel as comforting. “Don’t you think you, of all people, would understand that it only takes one night for everything to change?”

I know her question is supposed to hit hard, and it lands exactly where she wants it to. Nostrils flaring with oncoming emotion, I swallow down the tears building and stand up.

“Yeah, I do,” I say, hating how raspy my voice comes out. Right before I leave, I turn to her with my shoulders drawn back. “Noah told me how much he loved that sweater you got him for Christmas. Orange is a great color on him. I wish I’d known that. You’ve got a great eye.”

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