Page 71 of Best Friends for Never

“Look, just forget that I—”

“Stop,” Noel snaps, and I clamp my mouth shut. “Just stop talking.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I—”

Noel’s lips are on mine for the second time in less than twenty-four hours.

His kiss is commanding, like he’s not just kissing me. He’s claiming me.Owningme.

Noel tips my head back, his fingers weaving through my hair and under the bun I have my auburn locks pulled up into as he tugs me closer, his tongue pushing into my mouth and tangling with my own.

He tastes like toothpaste and coffee and regret and hope all rolled into one.

The kiss is hard and fast and over entirely too soon, then he’s wrenching his mouth from mine, his breaths coming hard and fast.

“What was that for?” I manage to get out once I regain my composure.

“Because. We were kids, Parker. Idiots. We led with what wethoughtthe other wanted, and to what avail? Ten years of silence? Ruining a friendship that once meant the world to us? All we did was hurt one another. It’s what we were trying to avoid, but it’s exactly what we did anyway. And I’m sorry for that. So fucking sorry that I can’t even begin to tell you. I’ve spent the last ten years beating myself up over our friendship falling apart and trying to find ways to repair it. I’m not sure we can, but Iamsure that I don’t want to hurt you anymore. That I want to be your friend again. I want ...”

“What, Noel? What do you want?”

“You. I want you.”

It’s the same thing I told him last night, yet it still takes my breath away.

“M-me?”

He nods, his lips kicking up into a grin. “Yeah. Is that really so hard to believe?”

“Yes. You’re ... well, you’re Noel Carter. You can’t want me.”

“Oh, but I do, Parker Pruitt. I really, really do.”

His lips drop to mine once again, and this time, his kiss is softer, slower, and sweeter, but still so, so good.

I get lost in it. In the way he touches me, how hard his body presses against me, and how heavenly he smells.

He pulls away when he’s had his fill, rubbing his nose against mine. “Come on. We still have a long hike ahead of us.”

I nod, unable to say anything, too dazed by his kisses.

He’s right. We do still have a long hike ahead of us. We’re stuck together the rest of the day.

And that thought excites me as much as it scares me.

Chapter Eleven

Noel

Coming to the Falls was a bad idea.

It’s not because it’s busy—in fact, nobody else is here, and we didn’t see anyone else on the trail coming in—and it’s not because it isn’t completely gorgeous out here.

It’s because of the black bikini Parker is wearing.

Who could have thought something so simple could be so fucking sexy? I’ve seen women stripped down to nothing countless times. But this? This is a million times better in every way.

When we arrived at our favorite rock, she ripped off her plain baby-blue T-shirt, plopped down on the blanket I spread out, and immediately started munching on the grapes we brought along.

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