Page 71 of Just My Type
“Your clothes.”
“I can see that, but what are they doing here?”
“I ran up to your apartment earlier when you were on the phone with your sisters. You needed clothes because I’m taking you out.”
I glance at my phone. “It’s almost midnight. I was on the phone with Hallie and Jo like three hours ago.”
Noah rolls his eyes playfully. “Are you or are you not a card-carrying member of the night owls club? Almost midnight isn’t late, Han. Almost midnight is when shit starts to get interesting.”
“I’m writing. I can’t go out now.”
“You were writing. And I’m fucking proud of you. But you finished writing half an hour ago, and five minutes ago you finished reading over what you wrote.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “How do you know that?”
“I knew you were finished writing because you stopped typing and you got that little furrow in your brow right here.” He rubs his thumb between my eyebrows. “The one you get when you’re trying to decide if you like what you wrote or not. And five minutes ago, you let out this little sigh of relief and grinned at the screen. That’s what you do when you’re finished and you’re happy with what you read.”
I just stare at him. “How do you know all that? I’ve only written in front of you, like, twice.”
Noah just grins and shrugs. “I pay attention to you. Now, as much as I like seeing you lounging on my couch, wearing my shirt with nothing underneath it, we have places to be, so get dressed. I’m bringing snacks.”
I set my laptop aside and stand because he was right, I did finish, and also, he had me at snacks. “Fine, but not because you told me to. Because I really need a snack.”
Noah leans in and nips playfully at my bottom lip, licking itto soothe the sting before pressing his lips to mine. “I know. You have to replenish the energy you burned writing all those brilliant words you won’t let me read yet.”
I laugh against his mouth, enjoying the hell out of him. “Soon.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll believe it when I see it.” He’s smiling when he kisses me again. “Now get dressed, Gorgeous. I want to spend midnight with you.”
“You brought me to the middle of the Boston Common?” With my hands on my hips, I glance around at the stretch of grass between the Carousel and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, lit only by the dim streetlights that line the paths. At this time of night, the Common is empty, the only sounds the lapping of the Frog Pond, the crickets humming, and the quiet din of late-night traffic from Beacon Street.
“I did.” Noah sets down the bag he brought, reaching in for a blanket and unrolling it on the grass. When I go to sit, he takes my hand, tugging me back up. “Not yet. We have an activity first.”
“What kind of activity could we possibly be doing at midnight in the Boston Common?”
Noah grins at me. “The very best activity.” He takes both of my hands in his, his face uncharacteristically serious. “I loved everything about today, Hannah. The beach, and all the things that came after.”
“Even my panic attack and subsequent spilling of my guts?”
Noah lifts my hand and presses a kiss to the back. “Especially that. It means a lot to me that you shared it with me. I know it wasn’t easy for you.”
I squeeze his hands. “It was time. I still haven’t decided when I’ll tell my sisters, but telling you tonight felt right. I’m glad youwere the first to know. I’m ready to let it go, and this felt like the right first step.”
“I’m so glad to hear you say that, because I brought you here for step number two.”
“Step number two?” I ask
Noah grins at me. “It’s time to release some of your rage.”
I consider his words, take stock of how I feel. “I don’t know…I’m not feeling all that ragey right now.”
“I know, but I think that’s a temporary state of being because of the orgasms and the tacos and all the words you wrote. I’m really good at orgasms.” Noah gives me a salacious wink, causing me to giggle. Jesus, literally giggle. I don’t even know who I am anymore. I kind of like it.
“Anyway, you told me earlier that you’re so angry, and you don’t know where to put it. I think that anger is just sitting inside of you without an outlet, and I’m no expert, but maybe that’s one of the reasons you’ve been having trouble writing.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you mansplaining my feelings to me?”
Noah lets out an exaggerated gasp that makes me laugh despite myself. “I would literally never. If you want, you can tell me to fuck right off. You know how I love it when you scratch at me. But if you think that maybe you feel like letting some of that anger fly free, the time is now. I mean, the time can also be tomorrow or the next day or any day you want, but we’re here, and it’s the best time—the moment when today turns into tomorrow. So, I thought you would maybe want to do it now.”
