Page 46 of The Kissing Booth
‘Let’s get one thing straight here,’ he said quietly and firmly. ‘Two things. First off: do you have any idea how many girls I’ll kiss at a party who, the next day, claim they’ve slept with me? And second: despite what all those girls think, they never actually want to date me. They say they do, but think about it. Who wants a serious relationship with someone who has a reputation for getting into fights, or just a fling?’
I studied his face and quickly decided he was totally serious.
Noah could be a jerk, sure – but he was never big on lying.
I saw his point. Even if girls didn’t want anything long-term, they might not mind just having a fling with a hot guy with a history of violence. I had always thought it kind of weird how so many girls said they’d slept with him when it had looked like he’d spent the night alone; Lee and I had never really wanted to question it too much, though.
‘You see my point, right?’
I nodded. ‘Yeah. But – but you’d never do something to a girl. You’re not like that.’
‘Yes, but that doesn’t seem to factor into it for them.’
‘So hang on – what are you trying to say here?’ I said, putting my hands up, palm out, and feeling more than a little confused. ‘It’s not your fault you’re a player? Or, at least, that you’ve got a reputation as one?’
‘Right.’
‘And...?’ I prompted.
He bit his lip. Did Noah Flynn actually look...nervous? No, I had to be imagining it. The only time I’d seen him looking like this was when I caught him in those Superman boxers and made him blush.
‘I just mean,’ he said slowly, looking down at the counter rather than at me, ‘that I wouldn’t treat you like dirt, as you seem to think I would.’
‘I still don’t know what you’re trying to say, Noah.’
‘I don’t either,’ he said with a sudden chuckle, rubbing a hand over his face. ‘But...’ He came closer still. Now there was about an inch between us, and his hands were resting on my thighs. My breathing suddenly turned shallow, my heart pounding in my ribcage. ‘Idoknow I want to kiss you again.’
Part of me wanted to say no, to push him firmly away. I wasn’t going to risk my friendship with Lee just to carry on kissing Noah. Besides, I couldn’t really see us as a couple.
Not to mention, I was hardly the kind of girl to be randomly kissing boys. I was the hopeless romantic.
Or I thought I was, anyway.
But when Noah lowered his head slowly to mine, giving me plenty of time to shove him away, I didn’t. Instead, I let him put his lips against mine, kissing him for the third time today. I was making out with Noah Flynn, of all people. Just this morning, I’d never even kissed a boy.
Noah wrapped my legs around his waist, and I put my arms around his neck, toying with the hair at the nape of his neck. I suddenly couldn’t get enough of him – his taste, his touch. I couldn’t understand why he had such an effect on me.
He lifted me off the counter, carrying me out of the kitchen. I really wasn’t sure if this was a good idea, but the feeling of his lips on mine clouded my mind, and I couldn’t focus long enough to think it through. It wasn’t until we both fell onto something soft and springy – a mattress – that my dormant consciousness seemed to wake up.
‘Noah,’ I said, trying to pull away. I knew where this was leading now. ‘Noah...’
‘Yeah?’ he murmured, and started nibbling on my earlobe. It sent sparks all through my body and for a second I forgot what I was saying.
‘We can’t... I’m not...’
‘Hmm?’ He drew back only far enough to look me in the eye. I still couldn’t remember what I was about to say. He seemed to understand, though, since his eyes went wide and he said, ‘Oh, no, I didn’t mean for... you know... I wasn’t...’
‘I – I can’t do this,’ I stammered. I wriggled away, standing up, making my way to the bedroom door and straightening my top. I couldn’t think straight when I was that close to him. I had to get out of here, think it through properly.
A hand on my arm pulled me back, and another hand moved past my head to shut the door. Noah was pressed right against me. I had no space at all – the door at my back, the handle digging into me, and Noah in front of me.
‘Noah,’ I said firmly. ‘I’m not going to do this. Nothing is going to happen between us because we just don’tgotogether. All we do is argue. You scare guys away from me. And I’m not some – some plaything you can just use when it’s convenient. Got that?’
Noah sighed softly, his breath blowing on my face. It still smelled and tasted of spearmint and cotton candy.
‘I never thought you were something to use when it’s convenient,’ he mumbled, looking me in the eye.
‘Okay. But tell me honestly – would you date me, Mr. Player?’
