Page 31 of Stolen Kisses
The doorbell rang again behind them.
“There she is,” Grace said, rushing over to answer the door.
“Who?” Noah asked, looking at Jack.
“Our other guest. Did you think you were it?” Jack shook his head. “So full of yourself.”
Noah landed a punch to his shoulder. Then his gaze caught on the other guest. “Krista.”
Krista turned her gaze from Grace and noticed him, too. She looked as surprised as he did. “Oh. Hi,” she said, and if he wasn’t mistaken her cheeks bloomed a whole new shade of dark pink. Since when did seeing him make her blush? Had she remembered their kiss?
“Okay, dinner is almost ready. I’m so excited that you two could come.” Grace hurried back to the kitchen.
Krista stared at Noah for a long moment. The usual easiness between them was gone, which felt like a body slam to Noah. He didn’t like this new tension that seemed to separate them. He didn’t like looking at her and having no idea what to say.
“So, uh…” He fidgeted with his hands.
Krista hooked a finger toward the kitchen. “I’m actually going to go see if Grace needs help cooking,” she said, cutting him off. She offered up a smile that didn’t reach her blue eyes and hurried past him.
“Wow. What’s going on between you two?” Jack asked, handing him a beer.
Noah popped the tab. He’d need this and more tonight. “I’m not exactly sure.”
“Is it that guy she’s dating?”
Noah shook his head. “She’s not dating him. She’s just been out on a date with him.”
“It’s been two dates now, I hear,” Jack said.
Noah drank again. “You know what, I think it’s great. Maybe you guys can have a double wedding.”
Jack laughed. “You’re full of yourself and full of shit tonight. You and Krista have always had a little more than friendship between you two. If you don’t get your act together and figure it out, you’re going to lose her, you know.”
The truth of that statement resonated deeply inside Noah, like a boat’s sonar sitting over the ocean, pinpointing exactly where his garbage was hidden. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, tipping his bottle back and drinking again.
“Okay, man. Have it your way.”
Noah shrugged, as if Krista and Dr. Dale were no big deal. “She has a right to date and I have a date this coming week, too.”
He said it as Grace and Krista entered back into the room, carrying plates of food.
By the look on her face, Krista had heard him. Her eyebrows lifted just slightly. “With Barbie?” she asked, setting the plate she was carrying on the table.
“Her name was Amber, and no. Someone would have to pay me to take that woman out again.” He hoped this would make Krista smile. She didn’t.
“Well, if you need to have your date on Wednesday night, that’s perfectly okay with me,” Krista said.
Her words were another punch to his gut. “Wednesday Wings are sacred.”
“Were,” Krista said, smiling stiffly now. “But we’re getting a little too old for that kind of stuff, don’t you think? I might have a date of my own that night, so…”
“On Wednesday Wings night?” Noah was aware that Jack and Grace were looking between them. “You already missed the last one.”
“I guess I could just bring my date to Wednesday Wings with me. Like you did with Barbie.”
“Amber,” Noah corrected again.
“Right.” Krista notched up her chin just slightly. It was her look of rebellion and he knew it well. Usually they rebelled together, not against one another.
