Page 6 of I Shouldn't Feel This Way

“God, you’re so beautiful.You’re beautiful,Aria.” His words echoed in my ears like a soul-riveting lyric. I’d always known that I was pretty, but I don’t think I ever felt beautiful until he said it to me. Noah reached for the side of my face and stroked my cheek with utmost affection. It almost made me want to cry again.

“Let me take her out to dinner, Emily.”

“You can take her out on the weekend.” Mom grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward her like a protective mother goose.

It was obvious that she was extremely uncomfortable being around my father—probably because he was sex on legs. I hadn’t the slightest clue how she could have rejected his marriage proposal. My stepdad was a balding, fat slob, while Noah …my father(just saying those words in my head made me feel such a strong sense of pride)—he was perfection. If he wasn’t a god, then a demigod for sure. I couldn’t believe that I was in the same gene pool as this man.

“Why don’t you ask Aria before you decide for her?” He sounded angry, but I could tell he was trying to control it.

Perhaps Noah was a temperamental kind of guy. He did give off this intimidating vibe. Maybe that was because I thought he was beautiful beyond comprehension. I naturally shied away when his eyes cascaded over me. He was very masculine in his stature. I began to wonder how high his testosterone levels were and whether that affected his mood. Then I felt totally weird for even having the thought.

“I’d like to go.” The words slipped out of my mouth before I could even contemplate a response, almost as if my body and soul already knew where they belonged: in Noah Hunter’s presence. Right by his side. I was shocked by my newfound loyalty to him. This man could have spared me years’ worth of loneliness and heartache had he only made the effort to get clean and fight for me all the way. I made a promise to myself to address these things with him at some point.

Mom glared at me. “Aria, your dad’s expecting us back for dinner.”

“He’s not her dad,I am,” Noah assertively said.

Was this for real? Did he just stick up for me?I felt my heart flutter and my stomach tighten when he stood behind me, resting his hands on my shoulders. An intense sort of heat radiated from his body, sending shivers all down my spine. His protectiveness overwhelmed me.

“Robert’s more of a father to her than you could ever hope to be. Where were you these past seventeen years?”

“You moved away, Emily!”

“You could easily have found us!”

I listened to my parents argue back and forth. “Mom, please, we’ve had a long and stressful afternoon. Let’s not fight. I just want to catch up and ask him all those questions you couldn’t answer.”

She gave me a worried look and then scowled distastefully at Noah.

“Don’t dictate to her, Em.”

“Like your bitch of a mother dictated to you?” she ridiculed. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

He dropped his hands from my shoulders and I felt depressed from the lack of touch.

There was an arctic undertone in his voice as he said, “No need for low blows.”

Neither of them said a word, until my mom finally broke the silence.

“Look, just have her home by nine o’clock the latest—and I mean it.”

I wanted to rejoice in happiness, but I was nervous as hell at the same time. You know that incredible rush you get when you’re around your biggest crush? It feels amazing and agonizing all at once … That’s how I felt.

“Back by nine, got it.”

****

We were standing on the street in front of the courthouse while Noah signaled a cab to pull over. He opened the back door and let me in first.

“After you,” he offered, beaming all gentlemanlike.

I got inside and he moved in next to me, slamming the door shut.

“Take us to Paradisarestaurant on West 57th.”

The cab driver nodded and switched on his left turn signal before easing into traffic. I strapped on my seat belt and silently prayed that Noah wouldn’t hear my heart hammering in my chest. Gosh, was I nervous.

Noah leaned back in his seat, took a deep breath, and turned his head in my direction. It was a little unnerving because I felt insecure about my appearance.

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