Page 147 of Best Friends for Never

I’m surprised I even fell asleep, my nerves are so high over my first time flying and seeing Noel again.

Will he freak out when I call him from the airport? Will he think I’ve completely lost my mind for flying out there when I have no idea where I’m going?

Will he want me there?

A loud crash breaks through my thoughts, and I pause.

“Son of a ... Ow! Ow! Fuck!”

I hold my breath the best I can, straining to hear because I swear I just heard Noel’s voice, and it sounded like it was coming from my living room.

But that’s not possible, right?

“Mother of . . . Fucking hell!”

No. That is 100 percent Noel’s voice.

I throw my covers off—the ones that still smell like him—and race from my bedroom to the living room.

There, standing by the door, is Noel.

And there, attached to his leg, is Pumpkin.

“Dammit! Stop it, Pumpkin! It’s me!”

The cat hisses, his teeth clamped on Noel’s leg, his claws digging in alongside his teeth.

I’m touched that my demon cat loves me so much, but Noel’s safety is my top priority.

“Pumpkin!” I yell, snapping my fingers at the orange tabby. “Down!”

Noel’s head whips my way. His bright blue-green eyes are wide.

“Parker,” he says softly, never mind that the cat is still tearing into him.

“Hi,” I say, racing toward him and grabbing Pumpkin.

It takes a moment to coax the cat from Noel’s leg without causing more harm, but when I finally get him off, he races toward my bedroom, his tail thwacking against the door as he passes.

“Holy crap, is that little guy strong,” Noel says, sucking in heavy breaths. “I thought he would never let go. I tripped over ...”

He stops talking, his eyes drifting down.

He looks back at me. “Parker, why is there luggage by your door?”

“That’sthe greeting I get? Not aHi,Hello, or aThank you for rescuing me from your cat?”

He grins. “You’re right. Where are my manners?”

Then he hoists me into his arms, and my legs go around his waist of their own accord. I throw my arms around his neck, and he plants his lips against mine.

The kiss is heated and heavy, and if we’re not careful, it could lead to something more.

I want something more. Badly.

But there’s a lot we need to discuss first.

Like what the heck he’s doing here.

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