Page 31 of The Penalty Box

“Never,” I promise.

His lips brush against my forehead. “I’ve always loved you, but I think now I’mfallingin love with you, Evie.”

“Well, you better hurry up, because I’m already there.”

Liam shakes his head, and this time when he kisses me, the world shifts underneath my feet, and finally everything feels right.

Chapter Fourteen

EVIE

“I don’t like this one bit,” Liam mutters as he glares over my shoulder. I take his hand in mine, giving it a solid squeeze to draw his attention back to me.

“I have to do this, Liam. For me.”

We look at each other for what feels like forever, neither of us saying anything. The buzz of the school cafeteria is background noise to the silence stretching between us.

Finally, he nods. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

I lean down to press a chaste kiss in the corner of his lips. “Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”

He holds on to my hand when I try to step back. “Ten. You’ll be back in ten. If you’re not, I’m going out there and he won’t be as lucky this time around.”

Rolling my eyes at him, I turn around and go toward the football table.

It’s been a week since the party and I still haven’t talked to Noah. I needed some time to think and process everything that has happened. He tried to come and talk to me, but when he saw my reaction, he changed his mind. I guess it might also have something to do with Liam breaking his nose.

But now I’m ready. Silence falls over the football players when I stop in front of their table. All the eyes are glued to Noah and me like they’re watching a tennis match.

“Hi, Noah. Can we talk for a minute?” I look at his friends. “Somewhere in private?”

He looks at me, and then over my shoulder, presumably at Liam before he finally nods. “Sure.”

In silence, he picks up his things and follows me. Neither of us saying anything until we’re outside in the schoolyard.

My palms grow sweaty with nerves, but I take one deep, calming breath before I open my mouth. “Noah, I’m—”

“I’m so fucking sorry, Evie,” Noah says abruptly, interrupting me. He turns toward me, embarrassment and regrets clear on his face. “I cannot say it enough. What happened last week should have never happened. I know no apology will change what I did, but I need you to know I’m sorry. That guy, last week? That’s not me. I went over what happened a million times in this past week, and I still don’t know why the hell I did it. Maybe it was booze, maybe it was the fact I knew you were slipping through my fingers and I wanted desperately to hold onto you, but whatever it was, it wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like that.”

The pressure I was feeling slowly melts away. “I shouldn’t have given you false hope.”

Noah shakes his head. “You gave me a chance, and I blew it. The rest is on me.”

I step closer, taking his hand in mine. “You’re a good guy, Noah.”

“I’m not so sure about that anymore. But either way, you’re in love with Liam.”

“But I’m in love with Liam,” I agree. “I’ve always been in love with Liam. I don’t think anything could have changed it.”

“He better make you happy.”

“He already is.” I smile tenderly at the thought of the guy waiting for me inside. My whole body aches for me to go back to him. But I have to finish this first. “Noah?”

“Yeah?”

“Promise me something?” He gives me a wary look but nods for me to continue. “Promise me you’ll never let anything like this happen again.”

“I promise,” he answers instantly.

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