Chapter Twenty-Eight
Noah
I’m not entirely sure how Evie and I have ended up in each other’s arms at her birthday party. I mean, obviously I asked her to dance, but the question is why did I ask her? Not because I felt bad that the birthday girl stood alone while everyone else danced.
There was something that pushed me toward her.
An invisible force I couldn’t control. And yes, I wanted to dance with her.
Which boggles my mind because she’s Evie—the girl who’s so different from me we might as well live on different planets.
But this moment right here, we’re not two very different people.
We’re just two kids dancing to the soft, slow music.
Her head rests on my chest like it’s the most natural thing in the world. And the way my arms are wrapped around her waist feels like the most natural thing in the world, too.
What should be wrong is so right, but so confusing as well.
“Your heart’s pounding,” Evie murmurs. “It’s very soothing.”
I laugh because I don’t know how to explain my heart. “Must be from all the dancing.”
“Hmm, yeah.” She shifts on my chest to make herself more comfortable. “Your chest is so huge and buff.”
“Years of football,” I say with another chuckle. “Good thing there’s enough room for you to lay your head on.” I cringe. What the heck was that?
She slowly looks up at me. “What?”
“What?”
She glances around. Most people don’t notice us dancing together, and since it’s not the first time, no one seems to be making a big deal about it. So why doesn’t my heart do the same?
What exactly is this? Feels different from the previous occasions when we danced.
Clearing my throat, I smile at Evie. “Are you enjoying your party?”
She lowers her head on my chest. “I’m loving it. But I don’t like being the center of attention.”
“It’s only for tonight, though. And you deserve to have this special moment.”
She shrugs. “I guess. You think your parents will go all out for your eighteenth birthday?”
“I hope not.”
She laughs. “I guess since you’re only the second Musketeer baby, you’re not that special.”
I chuckle lightly. “No. You’re the only special one.”
She lifts her head and narrows her eyes. “Kind words from Noah Barrington. Must be my special day. Oh wait, it is.”
“You could say thank you, you know.” I keep my tone light, not accusing or criticizing.
There are so many things I can point out—like the paint in her hair, even though I love it, and the stain on her dress.
But tonight, I’m not Neat Freak Noah. I’m Evie’s guest Noah.
Here to uplift her on her birthday and not bring her down with my criticism.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
I tuck a loose strand of hair that has fallen from her updo behind her ear. “Nothing. Just you’re beautiful.”
Her gaze drops to the floor as her cheeks grow bright red. “Thanks, but you already said that.”
My hand moves to her cheek. “Yeah,” I murmur. “I did, didn’t I? But I meant more than physical beauty. I’m talking about the beauty inside. What you’ve done for me and the band. You didn’t have to save us from failure, but you did. I think I’ll owe you for the rest of my life.”
She tightens her hold around my neck, resting her head on my chest again. “Is that why you asked me to dance?”
“Not at all. I already told you that you’re the only person I want to dance with. Not because I feel like I owe you.”
She doesn’t say anything and we continue to sway. I hope the music doesn’t change because I’m really enjoying myself and don’t want this—whatever it is—to end.
I’m not sure how much time passes, with my heart still pounding beneath her head and loving the way her soft body is pressed to mine, before she lifts her head again.
“I need fresh air.” She stiffens and her arms drop from around me. “It’s so hot and stuffy in here. I need to go outside.”
I drop my hands from her waist. “Want me to accompany you?”
She shakes her head so quickly she’s blurry for a second. “No. I’m okay. I mean, it’s a free country and you can go out if you want. Just…I need to be alone.”
“Oh, okay. Sure.”
She doesn’t glance back at me as she bolts from the ballroom. I stare after her for a moment or two, then head to the buffet table for some food. I’m not really hungry, I just don’t want to think about what happened between us. And why she ran. Did I do something?
I busy myself with my food, trying very hard not to relive the feeling of her in my arms, how perfect and right it felt. It makes no sense whatsoever.
A few minutes pass and she doesn’t return. I know she said she wanted to be alone and I want to give her privacy, but she’s all alone out there in the dark and I want to make sure she’s okay.
After setting my plate of half-eaten food on the table, I make my way outside. I’ll just check on her and come right back.
The gardens are very beautiful, especially at night with all the lights. They’re not too bright but give just enough light for me to see where I’m going.
Some would say a stroll in the gardens at this hour could be very romantic. I’m sure Dani and Easton have done this many times.
Scanning around, I don’t find Evie anywhere. Then I spot her in the distance, in the gazebo, leaning on the low fence. I can’t see her expression from here, but she seems deep in thought. Concerned about something.
My instincts tell me to check on her to make sure she’s okay, but I’m not sure she’d like me invading her privacy.
As if she feels me watching her, her head lifts and her gaze settles on mine. I expect her to narrow her eyes and shoo me away, but she smiles in a way that lights up her face, and gestures for me to join her.
Once I get there, she motions around. “Isn’t this place beautiful?”
I smile as I take it all in. “It is. Sorry, did you want to be alone? You were gone for a while and I wanted to check if you’re okay.”
She shrugs. “Yeah, but it’s boring here all by myself.” She smiles shyly, turning away from me. “Thanks for checking on me. I just needed to get away for a bit, you know?”
Did she want to get away from me? But then why did she ask me to join her here?
“I’ve been doing some thinking,” she tells me. “About the future and everything. And I’m ready to start the next chapter in my life. I mean, I’m still nervous—I think I always will be—but I’m ready.”
Sliding my hands in hers, I smile at her. “I’m so happy to hear that. Want to celebrate with a dance?”
She glances around with wide eyes. “You mean…here?”
I shrug as I tug her closer to me. “Without anyone watching. And no stuffy ballroom. You have all the oxygen you need.”
That gets a chuckle out of her. “Noah Barrington, I would love to have this dance.” She wraps her arms around my neck, pressing herself closer to me. Immediately, I’m engulfed in her warmth.
I close my arms around her waist, pressing my cheek to hers. And we sway around the gazebo. Since we don’t have music, I start humming one of my favorite songs—a soft one, not rock.
As we circle around the small area, my humming shifts to low singing. My mouth is close to her ear as I murmur the words. Evie’s hands brush through my hair as we continue to sway and spin, not removing our arms from each other. I shut my eyes, taking in this moment.
Moving on their own, my lips trail downward and when I open my eyes, I find them inches away from hers.
Evie’s eyes are open and she stares into my eyes. Then her gaze drops to my lips, her head slowly moving toward mine.
“I’m having an amazing time,” she whispers, her breath warm on my cheek.
“Me, too,” I whisper back. The most amazing I’ve ever had in my life.
My head dips toward her lips and she lifts hers toward mine. Only centimeters separate us now.
My chest heaves, hers rises and falls heavily. Biting her lip, she gazes into my eyes again. I’m gazing into hers. Then, slowly, we bring our mouths even closer, so close that there is only a sliver of space between them.
My heart hammers wildly in my chest as I shut my eyes, dip my head even more and…
Loud laughter explodes around us. My eyes fly open. Sounds like some guests from the party have decided to stroll around the gardens, too.
With our faces still so close, Evie and I just stare into each other’s eyes, our breathing ragged. I lower my forehead to hers, releasing a heavy sigh. Lifting my hand to her cheek, I stroke it with the back of my finger.
Her nose rubbing against mine, Evie releases a breath as well, but then she wrenches away from me with a look of horror on her face. “I…I have to go.”
I reach out to her, but she dashes away so quickly she’s gone in a flash.
My heart is about to launch out of my chest as I stare at the space before me. What just happened? We were about to kiss again and then…
What’s happening to us?
We blamed the first kiss on our heightened emotions—that we were relieved because we could perform at the concert hall. But what exactly was this?
A moment out of a fairytale, that’s what.
But I’m not one to believe in fairytales.
Sighing deeply, I pace the gazebo, running my hand through my hair. My thoughts and emotions are a mess, but the one thing that I’m focused on is Evie—that I hurt her or made her uncomfortable.
She left the ballroom to possibly get away from me because whatever is happening between us is just so confusing. And then I followed her and made things even more confusing.
Evie and I have no business kissing each other. Kissing means something. It shouldn’t just happen between two people who are sharing a moment.
Should it?
I remain in the gazebo for a short while before figuring someone might wonder where I am, and decide to return to the ballroom.
My eyes immediately spot Evie chatting with Lily, Liam, Chloe, and Xavier, who are at the drinks.
Evie’s gaze darts in my direction, and she and I stare at each other for what feels like hours before she tears her eyes away and focuses on whatever Xavier is saying.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I glance around the place and take in all the people having a good time. My heart has slowed down, but it still beats at an erratic pace.
Mom and Dad are wrapped in each other’s arms in such a loving way that it causes something to poke at my heart.
I don’t know what it is, though. Not jealousy.
Why would I be jealous of my parents? I’d like to have a relationship like theirs one day, but maybe I’m putting too much pressure on myself.
“Hey, man,” Wyatt says as he and Mateo head over to me. “Where did you wander off to? We were looking for you because we want to tell you we’re heading out.”
I nod, not taking my eyes off Evie. She’s doing whatever she can to avoid me. Her brother and sister have left with their partners and she’s playing around with the small amount of liquid in her cup. She stares at it like it’s the most interesting thing in the world.
Mateo claps me on the back. “You okay?”
I clear my throat. “Yeah, of course I am. Why do you ask?”
He and Wyatt blink at me, and then, noticing I’m still staring at the birthday girl, they turn to her.
“So you and Evie danced together,” Wyatt says.
I break my gaze from her. “Yeah. She was all alone and I couldn’t leave our lead singer hanging…”
I don’t know why I said that. I didn’t ask her to dance because I felt bad for her. I wanted to dance with her, and I’m glad I did. But I can’t stop thinking about what happened after that.
Wyatt slaps me in the chest. “Such a nice guy.” He faces Evie again, who’s now at the buffet, stacking a plate. “Wonder why no one’s asking her to dance.”
My brain shouts at me to leave the guys and sweep her off her feet. But I won’t do that because she doesn’t need a guy to sweep her off her feet. And besides, even if she did I’m not that guy. She made it quite obvious only a few minutes ago.
“You said you guys were leaving?” I ask them.
“Yeah, Elliot’s already in the car,” Mateo says. He holds out his fist and I bump it. “Later.”
“Later.”
They go to Evie, exchange a few words and hugs with her, then leave the ballroom. Evie remains standing at the table, barely touching her food.
My legs carry me over there and I grab a plate and fill it with random things. She’s at the end of the table and when she realizes I’m slowly making my way down, she turns around. And when I’m only a few feet away, she walks off, heading toward the bathroom.
I force myself to eat the delicious food, but I have no appetite. I keep trying not to think about Evie fleeing from me like I’m a zombie that will eat her brain.
But my thoughts betray me and I relive that moment in the gazebo again. How close we were to nearly…
Something crashes into me and my plate clatters to the floor.
“Oops, sorry!” Brock yells over his shoulder as he chases Lexi across the ballroom. Normally, I’d smile at how adorable those two are, but I’m not feeling it right now.
I bend down to clean up the mess on the floor, but a staff member is at my side in an instant, insisting that he’ll take care of it.
“Thank you,” I tell him. “And I’m sorry.”
He waves his hand with a smile. “It’s no trouble at all.”
I walk around the ballroom, smiling and waving at some kids and family members who are all having a great time.
Evie emerges from the bathroom just as I pass on my way to where some guys from the football team are hanging out.
She goes still and I do as well, and we stare at each other. Then she whirls around and makes her way over to where her friends are dancing with their dates.
She slows down and turns her head slightly in my direction, but when our gazes connect again, she whips around.