Page 46 of I Shouldn't Feel This Way

“No, actually, I don’t—and don’t ask me what I did to him, either. Whatever it was you said or did, you don’t deserve to be physically struck.” The ocean went from calm to turbulent waves in a matter of seconds as I stared at him.

“I threw a plate of hot mashed potatoes in his face during dinner.”

There was a brief silence, and then he threw his head back laughing, which made me laugh as well.

“I won’t even ask why.” Noah snickered. “I’m sure he deserved it. I guess we both taught that bastard a lesson.”

I smiled at him and finished bandaging his other hand. “I hate that you’re hurt.”

“Don’t worry about it, baby. It doesn’t even sting. I don’t feel pain.”

“That’s impossible.” I quirked a doubtful eyebrow.

“I don’t feel physical pain, just …” He paused. “A different kind of pain.”

I understood him. “I wish I could heal you.”

His smile was faintly sad as he tenderly caressed my cheek. “You do, more than you’ll ever know. But it’s not your job to heal me. I’m the one who’s done so much damage. I’m the reason you resent me so much.”

“I don’t resent you.”

“You don’t have to keep it from me, Aria. I know I messed up. I should have been there for you. It kills me that you had to spend your life growing up with that no good piece of …” He exhaled in frustration, as if to prevent a cursing tirade before he said, “I just feel so much regret.”

For a moment, I tried to imagine this man raising me. But it didn’t last long because I honestly couldn’t envision it.

“I don’t want you to go back there. Ever.” Noah was dead serious.

The air shifted between us again, as his eyes softened, warming me with his penetrating stare.

“But what about my things?”

“I don’t care, I’ll replace all of that with better stuff. We can leave as early as tomorrow.”

“I can’t just leave in between semesters.”

“You’ll be going to a private school. I’ll get you all organized, don’t worry.”

I think that was his way of saying,money can buy you anything you want.Almost.

I hopped down from the counter and hugged him.

He chuckled. “I’m sweaty.”

“I don’t care.”

Every time I hugged Noah, all I could smell was aftershave, cologne, and body wash fused in one. He reciprocated my affection and wrapped his arms around me, sliding his hand up the back of my shirt. My breath caught when he rubbed the dimpled area below my spine. Maybe it was by accident, but I only hugged him tighter.

Noah took a deep breath and kissed the side of my head as he whispered, “You really scared me tonight.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered back. “I didn’t mean to.”

“I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you again, Aria.”

The vulnerability in his voice was bringing me to tears. I blinked them away and withdrew. “You just got me back.” I held his face and stared up at him, losing all sense of time. “You won’t lose me.”

His pensive smile caught my attention as he caressed my cheek with his thumb and grazed it over my bottom lip. It was so erotic. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted it so badly, and I knew it was wrong. Ignoring it was simply impossible. There was an electrical energy buzzing between us, a magnetic field pulling us closer to each other. Or maybe it was all in my head? The way he was staring at me made me feel so feverish.

“I’m glad you came here,” he said. “I was ready to call the cops.”

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