Chapter Thirty-Two
Evie
When I arrive at school five minutes before class starts on Monday morning, I find Noah standing at my locker.
He’s leaning against it with his arms crossed over his chest and one leg crossed over the other.
His eyes assess the hallway, focusing on every student who walks in.
As soon as he notices me, he straightens up.
I hope he’s not here to bring up a certain incident that almost happened at my party. Because I’d rather pretend it didn’t almost happen.
“H-hey,” I say as I open my locker for my textbook.
“H-hi.”
“Um, are you waiting for me?”
He clears his throat. “Yeah. I want to talk to you about something.”
I shut my eyes for a second and release a breath. “Look, about what happened at my bir—”
“Who was that guy you were with at Mikey’s yesterday?”
My lips snap shut and my brows crease. “What?”
“I went to pick up food yesterday evening. You were with a guy.”
It takes a second for my brain to make sense of what he’s saying. So he doesn’t want to talk about the almost kiss?
“Were you on a…date?”
I snap out of it and narrow my eyes. “Why do you sound so shocked? You think I’m so repulsive that no one would want to go out with me?”
His eyes get huge. “What? I’d never think that about you. I just want to know who he is.”
I take a few seconds to regulate my breathing. I don’t know why I snapped at him like that. Maybe because despite my efforts, the kiss and almost kiss still haunt me nearly every second of every day. And him standing here so close to me isn’t exactly helping.
“Sorry,” I say. “Just stressed about a stupid assignment. The guy I was out with yesterday is a friend of the guy Penny is seeing. She wanted to set us up for a while and I finally agreed.”
Noah’s quiet for a bit as he contemplates the information, his brows dipping lower and lower. “I thought you’re not interested in dating until you go off to college.”
I shrug. “I thought so, too. Guess I was wrong.”
He’s quiet again.
I turn to head to first period, but he says, “Isn’t he in college?”
I spin around to face him. “Yep.”
“He’s too old for you.”
I give him a look. “Are you serious? He’s a freshman. He’s only a year older than me.”
“Yeah, but being in college and being in high school are two different things. Why would he want to go out with a high school kid?”
“I’m not a kid. In case you forgot, I turned eighteen three days ago.”
He huffs as he runs his hand through his hair. “Is he nice? A decent guy?”
“Yes, Noah. Will you quit being so overprotective? I’m not Chloe or Rylee. I’m a big girl and can take care of myself”
“I know, but—”
First period bell rings.
“I need to go to class,” I say and turn again.
“Did he say anything to make you uncomfortable?”
“I’m heading to class, Noah. You should do the same or you’ll get detention again.”
This time, I stalk away before he can try to ask me any more intrusive questions.
What’s his problem? Does he really think I’m a little kid who can’t make the right decisions?
I wouldn’t have stayed on the date if Cam had offended me in any way or made me uncomfortable.
He really is a nice guy. Trust Noah to try and spoil it for me.
Throughout my classes, I hide my phone under my desk and text Penny.
I would text Hannah, too, but she got in trouble for texting a few weeks ago and doesn’t want to risk it again.
Penny tells me that Cam told Mark that he had a great time with me and would like to hang out again.
A small flutter of delight passes through me, but honestly?
I thought I would feel something more intense.
Profound. Like a swarm of humongous butterflies would invade my stomach and make me feel like I’m going to puke.
Shouldn’t I feel immense excitement about the prospect of going out with Cam again?
Noah appears in my mind, and a tingle passes through me. It’s more intense than the flutter. I silently groan and toss him out of my head. I won’t let him ruin this for me.
When I leave my physics classroom, I nearly crash into Noah.
“Did he ask you any personal questions?”
“Noah, were you waiting outside my classroom?”
“What? No, I’m passing by on my way to history.”
I raise my brow. “Isn’t the classroom that way?” I point in the opposite direction.
His face gets a little pink. “Yeah. I was headed there.” He makes a move to go, but then he spins around. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“About?”
“If the guy asked you any personal questions.”
“His name is Cam. And of course he asked me personal questions. We’re trying to get to know each other.”
“Yeah, but did he ask you anything too personal? You shouldn’t get so personal on a first date. That could be a red flag.”
I sigh. “I’m heading to my next class now.”
Geez, no wonder Chloe constantly complains about him. The dude is taking his role as the protective brother to such an extreme. My date with Cam is none of his business. He’s the one who’s getting too personal.
I manage to avoid him and his nosy questions for the rest of the morning because I make sure to leave class at the last second. Considering he doesn’t want to come late to class, that would leave him with no option but to abandon his ridiculous quest.
And now it’s finally lunchtime. After I get my food, I make my way to Penny and Hannah, who are already seated at our table.
“We should triple date this weekend!” Penny says. “It’ll be so much fun.”
“Yes!” Hannah agrees.
“What do you think, Evie?” Penny asks. “You in?”
I take a bite of my meatballs. “Sure. But I think Cam is planning another date later this week.”
Penny hugs me. “I can’t believe you have a boyfriend, Evie! I didn’t think this day would come.”
“He’s not my boyfriend. I don’t think we’re holding there yet.”
“But you want him to be?”
The answer should shoot out of my mouth. Of course I want him to be my boyfriend. He’s sweet and smart and considerate and a good listener. Qualities I’m looking for in a guy. But I don’t feel so over the moon excited to hang out with him. Maybe as a friend, sure, but more than that? No clue.
“Everything okay?” Hannah asks me.
“What? Oh, yeah. Totally.”
“I knew you’d hit it off!” Penny says. “Think matchmaking is a possible career path for me?”
Hannah and I are about to respond, but someone drops his tray on our table and lowers himself on the chair across from me.
Noah.
What the heck is he doing here when he normally eats at the jock table?
“Did he look at you in a way that made you uncomfortable?” he asks. “You know, at your body?”
“Oh my gosh, Noah,” I groan as I open my Coke can. “No, he didn’t stare at my body like some sleazeball. He was a perfect gentleman.”
Noah frowns. “I find that hard to believe. Most guys would do that.”
“Well Cam wouldn’t.”
“What about when you ordered dinner? Did he try to order for you or force you to buy something cheap?”
“What is going on right now?” Hannah asks as her eyes travel from me to Noah.
I roll my eyes. “Noah thinks it’s his job to look out for me. Like I’m his sister.”
“That’s sweet,” Hannah says.
Penny wrinkles her nose. “Nah. More like stalkerish behavior. Like jealous ex-boyfriend behavior.”
“What?” both Noah and I nearly shout.
“What? I’m not saying you’re a jealous ex-boyfriend. I’m just saying you need to lay off her. She doesn’t tell you who to go out with.”
“Do you even know anything about this guy, Evie? Do you know anything about his family or his background? Maybe he has a criminal record—”
“Noah, you have a serious problem. Cam’s not hiding anything. He’s just a regular guy who’s super sweet and kind.”
Noah shakes his head with a frown.
“I don’t know much about him,” I admit, “but I’m learning. That’s what dating is all about.”
“But what if you guys get serious? He goes to school nearby and you’re going to be across the country. You know most long-distance relationships don’t last.”
“Your parents’ did,” I point out. “And it lasted while your dad was playing pro football.”
“Yeah, but that was different.”
“How?”
He’s quiet for a second or two before saying in a low voice, “Because they were meant to be.”
This odd sensation passes through me. Takes over my body and makes it difficult to breathe. What exactly does he mean by that? That Cam and I are not meant to be? On what basis? And is he suggesting that there’s someone else who’s meant to be with me?
“Noah, I don’t want to be rude, but you’re driving me insane. Can you please join your friends at your usual table so I can have alone time with my girls?”
Noah glances from me, to Hannah, to Penny, his lips pressed in a firm line. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to leave, but with a sigh, he gets up with his tray.
“Fine, I’ll stop bugging you. But can I just say one more thing?”
I fold my arms over my chest. “You’ll say it even without my permission.”
“Don’t let him take you to college parties. Those things aren’t like high school parties. There’s drinking and lots of other stuff…and there’s no guarantee you’ll be safe there.”
Goosebumps pop up all over my arms. Because even though he has no right to tell me what to do, the fact that he’s looking out for me is still pretty sweet.
“She’ll be fine.” Penny shoos him away. “She’s not a baby.”
He ignores her, keeping his eyes on me. “Promise me, okay?”
I nod. “I promise.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you guys later.”
“But not too soon,” Penny grumbles as he walks away. Then she says, exasperated, “Did you hear him? He’s acting like your dad.”
“More like an older brother,” I say.
“Exactly! What’s his deal? It’s not his job to take care of you.”
“It is kind of sweet, though,” Hannah says. “You know, in a non-stalker way.”
Penny watches him as he drops down at an empty chair at the jock table and slaps hands with his teammates. “He’s acting like…yeah, like a jealous ex-boyfriend.”
I gape at her. “Are you crazy? Noah as my ex-boyfriend? My ex-husband, sure, but ex-boyfriend?”