Page 50 of Before We Fell

“Jesus, Lauren.” He was laughing at me. This overbearing, cocky and arrogantjerkhad the audacity to stand in my living room, shoulders rolling with the force of his rough laughter as he scrubbed a hand down his face. “We’re not your elementary school kids. I don’t mind sharing when I have to.”

At my dubious expression, he shook his head. “Okay, fine. I don’t like to share. And yeah, it pissed me off to see you with Shawn, pissed me off so bad—”

His mouth slammed closed. And he shook his head.

“So bad what?”

“Nothing. Not important.”

He was hiding something. I took another step back. Twenty minutes ago, I’d been on the verge of falling asleep it was late. Now, my heart was racing like I’d run a marathon.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

He rubbed his hand over his mouth and sucked in a breath through his teeth. “Fine. I might not have been completely honest with you.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s possible I lied about needing your help tonight and might have stretched the truth about my parents being out of town.” He took three steps toward me, hands up, palms out facing me. “Before you get pissed, hear me out…”

Before I got pissed? Too damn late.

He kept coming at me. I kept moving in reverse. Bumping into the back of my couch, I gripped the back edge of it, and it was too late to move out of his way before he was in my space.

“You lied to me.”

A muscle jumped in his cheek as he cringed. “It was wrong. I know that. But I won’t apologize. I liked the idea of you taking care of Riley. I liked the idea of knowing that when I was dealing with work, that she was somewhere where she felt safe. I liked thinking of the two of you today, doing girl things, you being there for her in a way that even my mom and dad or I can’t be. She likes you, Lauren. She likes you a lot and when she’s around you, I see more of the girl she used to be. And yeah, I don’t want you to date Shawn. And yes, I lied so you’d be with Riley on a Friday night instead of seeing Shawn again if he asked. My bad. But I still think that you want me more than him, so really, I saved you from an awkward date you might enjoy but you know won’t go anywhere because you’re hung up on me more than you want to be with him.”

Of all the arrogant…backhanded…ridiculous….

I released my death grip on the couch and crossed my arms in front of me. Noah was right there, barely putting space between us, and he was so close I caught the faintest hint of sawdust and cologne in the air.

I had the sinking feeling I’d never be able to smell sawdust again and not think of him. Or his kiss.

Which meant he wasn’t only a complete jerk, he was also a correct jerk.

“I don’t like that you lied. I would have watched her if you would have asked.”

“It’ll never happen again.”

“I like Shawn. I’ve liked him for months.”

“Then he should have asked you out before I showed in town. He missed his shot, and I’m taking it.”

This was too much. Too fast. The last thing I expected from tonight was to have Noah show up and kiss my common sense away. I rubbed my forehead, sighing heavily. It was too late to think clearly, and he’d muddled my tired brain. “I need time to think about this.”

“I’ll give you that.”

He sounded patient. I didn’t trust it. Dropping my hand, I peered up at him to see his cocky smirk that told me he was fighting a grin.

One of victory.

“Thank you.”

“You have until tomorrow,” he stated, and my mouth opened in surprise. I shouldn’t have been. He’d already proven how determined he could be. His hand reached out, gently cupped the side of my neck and he tugged me closer to him, dipping his face down so his lips were almost on mine. “One more kiss so you have something good to think about?”

“You’re giving me a choice this time?” My voice was breathy. Shaky. Soft with want and he didn’t miss it. I couldn’t hide the flutter in my pulse beneath his hand.

He shook his head slowly, lips curving into that grin he’d fought earlier. “No, not really.”

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