Page 60 of The Kissing Booth
His hands caught mine and, holding me still, he broke the kiss but didn’t move back. His forehead rested against mine, our noses pressed together. I could feel the bumps where his nose had been broken. I looked into his electric-blue eyes, so bright in the darkness.
‘Rochelle,’ he said quietly, ‘we don’t have to. We can wait. I’ll wait.’
Any doubts I had about this washed away completely at those words. It wasn’t like I’d planned on this happening, especially so soon: I’d always thought that this would only happen once I was in a committed relationship with a guy I loved. But everything felt so good – soright– with Noah, that I didn’t care.
And maybe I wouldn’t have gone all the way if he hadn’t told me, in that soft voice, that he’d wait. But that was it. I knew he cared.
So I replied, my voice as quiet as his, ‘I know. But I want to.’
Chapter 13
WHEN I WOKEup, the citrusy scent that was becoming more and more familiar to me teased my nostrils, and the weirdly calming sound of spring rain pattering on the window was muffled as if by cotton wool.
The hard, smooth surface beneath my head was rising and falling slowly, and the arms curled around me were so warm and safe. If I really listened, I could hear a steady thud of a heartbeat under my ear.
I blinked my sleepy eyes open a few times, my body unwilling to wake up. It was just so cozy and peaceful here...
When Noah’s messy room came into view, the weak daylight trying to push through the drapes, I woke right up.
And then I realized exactly what I’d done, and my pulse picked up in a panic.
I’d slept with Lee’s big brother. With Noah.
I was too confused to know what I really felt about this. All I knew for certain was that if Lee ever found out, it would kill him. I was a horrible, horrible person.
I tried to stay as still as possible so I didn’t wake him up. I needed to sort my mind out, before he—
He moved underneath me, stretching out before dropping his arms back around me again. ‘Morning,’ he said casually.
‘I – I really should get going,’ I stammered, already pushing his arm away. ‘If Lee sees me here—’
‘I don’t think he came home last night, actually,’ Noah said, and yawned.
I wanted to go to the window and check for his car. If Lee reallywashere, then I’d have to make sure he didn’t see me leaving. But if he wasn’t here...
‘I should go,’ I said again, and scrambled to my feet. I picked up my underwear, pulling it all on quickly and very, very self-consciously.
Oh man, what had I beenthinkinglast night? Hiding a few kisses from my best friend was not such a big deal – butthis? Surely he’d know that something was different? And if he found out...
I hadn’t been thinking of Lee last night. I should have done. But I’d only thought about Noah – it hadn’t once entered my mind that this was some kind of horrible betrayal of my best friend.
‘Why are you in such a rush?’ Noah asked, stretching out lazily again.
I looked down at him, stepping into my jeans now. Where I’d thrown off the covers, he hadn’t bothered to pull them back over himself. ‘I – I just – it’s...’
Noah frowned, a little confused, and pulled himself up to be closer to me, now that I’d sat down on the bed to untangle my foot from the leg of my jeans. I cursed myself for rushing so much; it was only slowing me down.
‘Elle?’ He brushed my hair over my shoulder, but I didn’t look at him. ‘What’s up?’
‘N-nothing!’Damn, I stammered. That would’ve been convincing otherwise. I tried again. ‘Nothing.’
‘Elle...’ He touched my shoulder, turning me a little so I could look into those amazing blue eyes boring into mine from under all that dark hair.
‘I have to go,’ I said again. I went to stand, but he pulled me back down.
‘Not until you tell me what your problem is. Why am I getting a bad vibe here, like you regret this?’
I nearly exploded with the truth, but I managed to stop myself. ‘I – I don’t.’
