Page 7 of Kiss the Girl
He looked like he was about to say something but then the tips of his ears turned slightly pink, and he reached for his wine glass instead. “A toast to the old days and our shorter selves.”
“I’m still the same height,” I said, smiling in spite of myself, “but I’ll toast the old days.”
Our glasses made a pretty clinking noise because Miss Lily, of course, had actual crystal stemware. It was a light, fruity red wine and I took a small sip, needing to keep a clear head for the drive home. Noah took a sip of his too, but then made a small choking sound and suddenly, a splotch of red wine bloomed on the crisp blue fabric of his button-down shirt.
“Dang,” he said, picking up his napkin to dab at it. “Went down the wrong pipe.”
He was having a rough night. Food in his teeth, a cowlick sticking out, spilling wine down his shirt—
Wait.
“Noah.” My voice was stern enough for his head to shoot up.
“Yes?”
“Did you spill that wine on purpose?”
“What? No.”
“You did.” I leaned closer so I could watch his eyes. “And you made your hair stick up and you put lettuce in your teeth.”
“No, I didn’t.” His eyes flickered the tiniest bit. I wouldn’t have seen it if I hadn’t been looking.
“You’re busted.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But he dabbed at his shirt instead of meeting my eyes.
“Noah?”
“Yeah?” He kept dabbing.
“The memory of you in high school made us even. It’s like seeing someone’s bad yearbook photo.”
Now he darted a look my way. “We’re even?”
I nodded. “We’re even.”
He threw his napkin on the table. “Thank goodness. I was running out of ideas.”
I laughed. “I see why Brooke is friends with you. You’re all right, Noah.” He was cute with his big brown eyes and easy smile, and if I were sticking around, I’d be doing some flirting. But I was counting down the days until I could leave Creekville. Small town guys were all about roots, and I had no time or energy for entanglements before I left. But I could for sure sit here and enjoy some friendly—notflirtatious—dinner conversation now that we’d gotten the awkwardness out of the way.
“I really am all right,” he said, his expression serious. “The all rightest. Maybe even all right enough to take you out for dinner like I should have when Brooke suggested it weeks ago?”
When his grin flashed at me again, I wanted to say yes. My mouth almost formed the word. I had a feeling he was probably more than all right. Instead, I pursed my lips and gave him a head shake. “Tempting, even after the garden thing. But I’m not dating right now.”
He gave me an easy smile. “My loss.”
But I had a sneaking suspicion it might be mine.
Chapter Four
Noah
Grace may not have grown in height, but she’d filled out. So nicely. I was a smart enough man not to say it though. I wouldn’t risk shoving us back into awkward territory again. Whether it was spilling the wine or the mental image of my scrawny high school self, the energy between us had changed. I wanted to keep it going, and that meant backing off the flirting.
“So, Creekville. Do you like it here?” she asked.
“I do.”
