Page 82 of The Kissing Booth
I’d think about that. It seemed like a pretty good idea.
Lee trailed around after me while I bought some shoes, and then we went to the food court for giant ice-cream sundaes and sodas.
‘I can’t believe there’s only one week till the dance,’ he said.
‘Hey, and only, like, two and a bit weeks till our birthday!’ I exclaimed.
‘I know!’ He grinned. ‘Do you know what you’re getting?’
‘I think I’m getting a car, but I don’t know yet. My dad won’t tell me.’
‘So it’s a surprise but not really a surprise?’
‘Pretty much,’ I laughed. ‘I’ve seen all the car brochures he’s failed to hide. How about you?’
‘Nothing special.’ He shrugged, mouth full of ice cream. ‘I think I might get a new computer – pitch in some of my savings for it or something. My model’s kind of old now. Plus, it’s slow – and I mean, slower than those computers in the library.’
‘I know. You’ve complained about it enough times. I still think you have a virus from playing those online racing games against Dutch people.’
‘Hey, now, that game is awesome.’
‘You don’t even understand what’s going on. It’s inDutch.’
‘So?’
I laughed, but it felt and even sounded half-hearted. ‘Okay.’
‘All right, Shelly,’ he said, putting his spoon down. Everyone knew that if Lee stopped eating, things were getting serious, so he had my attention straight away. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Huh?’
‘Don’t be all “Huh?” with me. Something’s on your mind. Now, are you going to tell me what it is?’
‘Honestly, don’t worry, it’s nothing.’
‘It’s Noah, isn’t it?’
I did a double take, worried that he’d finally caught me. It had been almost two months now; I’d been starting to doubt our good luck with the whole sneaking-around thing.
But he hadn’t seemed suspicious or anything earlier... So what was he saying?
All I could think was,Huh?
‘I knew it.’
‘Lee, just – don’t...’ I stammered helplessly, feeling flustered. My palms had turned clammy, my stomach had dropped away. Suddenly my toffee ice cream with the strawberries didn’t look so appetizing.
‘Don’t let him get to you, Elle,’ Lee said gently, putting his hand on mine and smiling at me warmly, comfortingly. ‘He’s looking out for you, and I know it’s a bit too extreme, but... just bear with it, all right? Just another couple of weeks, then he’ll have left school, yeah? Things won’t be so bad next year. And he’s just trying to keep you from getting hurt.’
I was lost for words.
He didn’t know I’d been sneaking around with Noah. He didn’t know that there was something between me and his brother. He thought I was worrying about how overprotective Noah was, and how he wouldn’t let me have a date for the Summer Dance.
I didn’t know whether to be grateful and relieved or sick with guilt. It was a weird mixture of both.
I forced a smile at Lee. He was just so sweet sometimes. ‘Thanks,’ I mumbled. ‘And yeah, you’re right. I forgot Noah was leaving for college in September. Do you know where he’s going yet?’
Lee shook his head. ‘I know he wanted to go to San Diego, but I don’t think he’s decided yet. He applied to a couple of Ivy League places too.’
