Page 59 of Snowballed

Noah pulls out his phone. “Guess it’s bedtime.”

“Mmmhmm.” I wish that meant bedtime together.

Noah reaches out and strokes my cheek. His forefinger traces my lips, and his touch is sensual and electric. He bends his head towards mine, and I close my eyes. That heady Noah-scent fills my senses. Then he nips at my lower lip, and my eyes open in surprise. He chuckles, and then his mouth covers mine in a kiss that’s warm, messy, and hot. I give myself fully to this connection between us.

“Oh Noah,” I exhale. His strong arms pull me in closer, and I trace the shape of his broad bicep, feeling the silken skin, the taut muscle, and the crisscross of veins. His body is so incredible. I plant a kiss on the bare skin of his arm. “I want to kiss you everywhere.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Noah takes my hands in his and leans his forehead against mine. “It’s weird that we live together and we’re going to go out, right?”

“I guess.”

“Just let me know if things are too much and you need some space,” he says. Which is both the most Cali phrase ever and the last thing I want.

20

Zoe

“I think I’m going out with Noah,” I whisper to Rocky as we get ready for practice.

“What? How can you not know?” she asks.

“Well, Noah likes to take things slowly.” I like to take things slowly too, but Noah is such a turtle. In the evenings, we do the chores, our homework, and then spend whatever tiny amount of time is left together. We take walks, watch videos, or sit in the kitchen talking. And it’s all lovely—we hold hands, kiss, and make out a little. But no sex, not even close.

“And you want things to move faster?” she asks.

“Yes. Noah is very… attractive.” When I sit beside Noah and look at his perfect profile and curving mouth, I’m filled with need. I lie in bed at night, touching myself and thinking about a guy who is sleeping ten feet away from me. Basically, it’s like having a crush on the guy you’re actually dating.

Rocky pulls on her jill. “It is weird, dating someone you’re already living with. It’s so intimate.”

“I’ve been wondering about that. Like what if he wants a night alone? It’s not like he can avoid me.”

“Has he said anything about the whole situation?” she asks.

“First he said to let him know if I need more space. Later he asked who should be the one to tell my mother we’re going out. Which gave me a panic attack.”

Rocky smiles. “Why?”

“Well, what if she said she didn’t approve? Noah is exactly the type of guy to abide by that. But when I told her, her reaction was even worse,” I say.

“Oh no. How can she not approve of him? He’s practically perfect.”

“She more than approves. She really likes Noah. And you know, my mother is a hippie at heart, right? So, she told me if we want to sleep together in my room, that’s fine.”

“What’s the problem then?” Rocky, as usual, is way more casual about sex than I could ever be.

“I could not sleep with Noah with my mother across the hall. I already have enough problems relaxing.”

Rocky pulls on her jersey before giving advice. “I told you to get your own place this year. I think your sex issues are related to privacy. Where did you and Bobby do it?”

“Mainly in his truck.” We both lived at home.

“I tell you what. If things don’t get better, you can borrow my apartment for a night,” she offers.

“Where will you sleep?”

“I can go to Jeremy’s place.”

Rocky’s new boyfriend is this intellectual grad student. He was dragged to the auction by a girl friend who wanted to bid on the date with Jeffers but was too shy to go alone. Jeremy met Rocky, bid on the date with her, and the rest is history. This development is both nice for her and made Helen’s head explode at the unfairness

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