Page 80 of I Shouldn't Love This Way

“I guess that shouldn’t surprise me.”

Noah chuckled, changing the subject. “So, are you all set?”

“Almost.”

“In that case…” He took my hand and kissed it. “I’m gonna leave and let you get to it.”

My heart was breaking from despair. This was going to be the last time I would ever see him again.

“I’m gonna miss you,” I confessed, hugging him tightly.

“I’ll only be gone for the weekend.”

“I know—but still.”

Noah kissed my forehead and said, “You’ll be home by curfew, right? Because if you’re late, Vanessa’s gonna kill you.”

I was prepared to go all Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan on her ass if she so much as lifted a finger on me again.

“I’ll be home on time. Don’t worry.”

My stepmom and I had made a pact: I would stay out of her way, and she would stay out of mine. That’s how we kept the peace… well,tried to. I made a deal with her and asked her to cover for me tonight. If Noah were to call and ask about my whereabouts, she had promised me she’d tell him I came home by curfew and was sleeping. In return, I had promised to stay out of her marriage problems. Vanessa had been hesitant at first, but we eventually shook on it. It would have been easier if I’d told her I was planning to move back to New York, but I didn’t trust her with that knowledge; I didn’t trust her at all.

Searching Noah’s gaze, I was uncertain of what I was looking for. Maybe I was in search of hope; a sign that would let me know he loved me the same way I loved him. But he was hard to read at the moment. He was so good at masking his emotions, and the extraordinary thing was that he didn’t need an actual mask to do it.

My stepmom’s voice suddenly echoed in the background, letting us know the limo was here.

I looked at Noah and tried to hide my sadness as he dropped his hands from my shoulders. “I’ll let Ryan know you’re getting ready,” he said.

“Thanks.”

Once he was gone, I did another quick take in front of the mirror and grabbed my sparkly red clutch before I left my bedroom.

??

Ryan was waiting for me in the foyer, holding a fancy plastic box that had my red corsage inside of it. He looked so handsome in his black suit and red satin tie. The biggest smile appeared on his face when he saw me. Vanessa had her phone out and kept taking photos of us until the flash blinded us.

“Take good care of my daughter,” Noah said. “Or else.” He threatened Ryan in ajoking-but-I’m-actually-serioussort of way.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Hunter. I’m a perfect gentleman,” Ryan reassured him, reaching for my hand.

I didn’t want to go to this stupid prom. All I wanted was Noah. I wished he could abduct me from this lame event and fly me out to a secluded place where we could be together, no Vanessa, no Ryan, and no other judgmental eyes.

“Have fun, sweetie.” Noah smiled.

I gave him one last glance before I walked out the door with my date.

Our friends were waiting for us in the limo. I heard their laughter as we approached the vehicle. Unable to resist, I turned around and met Noah’s eyes. This was it… our last lingering gaze.

I imagined a strong ocean current crashing upon the shore, erasing the enormous heart I had drawn in the sand that read:

NOAH + ARIA

FOREVER

I was going to leave his life forever. This was goodbye.

CHAPTER TWENTY

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