Cross My Heart

7. TYLER

Chapter 7

TYLER

17 YEARS OLD

I t’s movie night, and Scar and Noah usually don’t allow anyone else to join. Tonight is different though—because I’ve gotten permission from Scarlett to bring Ashley, my girlfriend. It’s her house after all. Noah is sitting on the corner of the couch, glaring at the television like it offended him.

I invited Ashley to homecoming after all, and we really hit it off. We started dating soon after. It kind of just happened, but I have no regrets. I was originally going to ask Scarlett, but I know how that would make Noah feel, so I decided against it.

Scarlett looks at me with a smirk and makes a kissy face, pretending to kiss the air, and my face heats. She’s always making fun of me, and now that I have a girlfriend, the teasing has gotten even worse. But I’m doing what every seventeen-year-old guy is supposed to do. I’m going to school. I’m playing sports. I have a girlfriend. I expected Scar to be jealous, but she gets jealous over pretty much everything. And then there’s Noah, who I expected to be happy for me. It doesn’t quite feel that way.

Ashley grabs my hand in hers, and it’s sweaty. I shudder, trying to keep my composure, when the only thing I want to do is yank it out of her grasp. I never thought I’d feel uncomfortable being physical with my girlfriend in front of my friends, but for some reason I do.

As if he can sense my discomfort, Noah meets my eyes from the other side of the couch and lifts one eyebrow. I stare at him with narrowed eyes, daring him to say something, but instead, he tilts his head and smirks at me. Glancing between our joined hands, Noah grins and gets up from the couch, gesturing with his head to follow him. I do the only sensible thing and ignore him—for about five seconds. And then I get up and go after him.

The bathroom is on the other side of the house, and I make my way to it in an attempt to look casual. I don’t actually know where Noah went, but if his behavior was any indication, he’ll find me soon enough. I take care of business and wash my hands, and when I open the door, Noah leans against the frame. At seventeen, he looks twenty. His shirt clings to him like a second skin, his biceps bulging against the fabric in a way that is definitely indecent. It shouldn’t bother me, but it does.

“What do you want, Noah?” I ask him, pretending to be annoyed.

“We’re going to play spin the bottle, you coming?” he asks me, a glimmer in his eyes.

I smirk. “Of course I’m coming.” I grin. “Maybe I’ll finally kiss Scarlett.”

The smile drops from his face, and I frown.

“Alright,” he says flatly. “Meet you down there.”

But I just follow after him, grabbing his arm and spinning him around. At seventeen, I’m finally starting to fill out a bit more too, and I’m stronger. He comes to me easily, and I look at him carefully.

He looks upset, a crease between his eyebrows, his lips tipping down.

“Are you into Scarlett?” I ask him. “If you want her I?—”

He scoffs, “I could never be into her. I’m gay , Ty.”

I laugh at that. “Just making sure.” I pause, letting go of his arm. My fingertips burn. “Why are you so upset?”

“I’m not.” He shakes his head. “Let’s just go play.”

I sigh, trying to shake the feeling off, but it’s hard. I don’t want to fight with him, and I definitely don’t want him to be upset with me. But it seems like when it comes to Scarlett, that’s all he ever is.

Upset.

A few minutes later, we’re sitting in a circle and spinning a bottle. Noah has already kissed Scarlett twice. Ashley has kissed Scarlett, and then there’s me. I haven’t kissed anyone yet.

The bottle spins and spins and spins. Then it lands right on me, and I can feel my body start to shake. I follow the path to the other side of it, and tense. It also landed on Noah. Fuck, fuck, fuck .

Noah crawls towards me with a smirk, and my body is poised for a fight.

He leans into me, whispering in my ear, his lips against the shell of it. “Let’s get this over with?” I shiver, and he chuckles. “Come on, Ty. Don’t be a pussy.”

My breath hitches, and I pull away to look up at him. At his wide eyes, the smirk on his full lips. The room has gone quiet, and it’s as if the girls are holding their breaths. They probably think we won’t go through with it, but Noah is already leaning in.

His thumb brushes against my cheekbone, and I hold my breath.

Noah leans in further, his lips brushing against mine—barely there. But then I press harder against him, and his tongue teases my lips. I open for him and then he’s pushing his tongue into my mouth, tangling it with mine. We groan in unison, but suddenly Noah pushes away from me with heaving breaths. The rush of disappointment feels like I just got punched in the chest.

“Ty—” Noah whispers.

I frown.

My stomach flips.

A first kiss.

The only kiss.

And possibly the last.

And then Scarlett breaks the spell between us by laughing loudly. “What the fuck was that guys?”

“Oh, please.” I roll my eyes, recovering quickly. “Don’t act like you haven’t been waiting for this moment all night.”

She laughs again. “Okay, yeah, I was.” But it sounds like a lie.

I wonder if this will ever happen again.

I wonder if I’d want it to.