Page 67 of City of Love

“Are you okay?” he says as he steps in, closing the door behind him. He looks concerned. “You screamed.”

“I mean, I don’t think it was ascream,” I say. “I would call it more of a yelp. Or a shriek.”

The corners of his lips twitch, and he folds his arms across his chest. “Fine, then. Why did you yelp?”

The sinking in my stomach, which was briefly lightened by Noel’s arrival, returns. I just point wordlessly at my phone, which is now on the floor beside the bed.

Noel looks confused for a second, and then murderous. He takes two long strides and sits on the bed, bending over and picking up the phone. I watch as he enters the passcode, and then I watch as his face contorts into an expression of pure rage.

I thought I’d seen Noel angry before, and I have, but I’ve never,everseen him like this.

“You need to turn him in,” he says, looking at me.

“I know,” I say. My voice is heavy, but I feel good about the decision to tell someone. “I just need to figure out the details of that, okay?”And to work up the courage.

He nods slowly, his face softening as he stands up. “Okay,” he says. Then he holds out his arms. “Come here.”

I stand and surge gratefully into his embrace, his arms solid and bracing around me. He feels like my anchor in this moment, making sure I don’t drift too far into the waters of worry or despair or fear.

“It will be okay, sweetheart,” he says quietly, stroking my hair.

There’s a lump in my throat that’s making it hard to speak, so I just nod, tightening my arms further around him. His chest is firm beneath my cheek, and his warmth seems to heat me from the inside.

“Noel,” I whisper when I can manage it.

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry I kissed you last night.”

He laughs softly. “You have nothing to apologize for,” he says. “You were right; you’re an excellent kisser.”

I groan, embarrassed all over again. Burying my face in his chest, I say, “I’m so humiliated! And Luc was right there—”

“Shh,chérie,” he says. “It’s all right. You really don’t need to feel embarrassed. And as for Luc, next time we just won’t invite him.”

…Say what, now?

“Next time?” I say, and my voice squeaks the way Mina’s does when she’s nervous.

But Noel doesn’t respond to that; he just laughs again and says, “Let’s get out of here, all right? I need to run some errands—wrap up a few loose ends. You want to come with me? And on the way I’ll tell you about nonprofit management.”

So he’s just going to drop that bomb and then not explain? Who does that? But I can’t very well ask him what he meant. I don’t want to seem too eager to kiss him.

Even though…you know…I am.

So instead I just smile and say, “Yeah, that would be good.”

Noel nods, letting go of me. I miss him instantly. “Go ahead and get ready, and then we can go,” he says.

“Where exactly are we going? Do I need to look nice or anything?”

“No,” he says, waving one hand. “Anything is fine.”

He leaves, closing the door behind him, and I grab some clothes before heading to the bathroom. I’m still in my dress from last night, and I need to shower.

I’m tempted to stand under the water for far longer than I actually need to, because it feels so good to get clean, but I’m anxious to go out with Noel, so I hurry.

It doesn’t take long to get dressed and throw my hair into a French braid, and then I make my way to the living room.

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