33. Dani
Noah told me he finds me attractive.
Am I dreaming or is this actually real? The irony is he’s trying to play it off like he didn’t actually say it. I mean he technically didn’t, but I’m counting it.
I’m debating whether or not I should tell him I find him attractive too or say if I should say a quality I find attractive about him like he did with me.
I’m going to go with the second option. Let’s just hope I don’t regret it after this.
Noah and I are standing in front of the passenger door of his car.
I remove my arm from his neck, moving in front of him so he can’t get in.
His eyes are looking around the parking lot, trying to figure out what I’m doing.
You got this, Dani. Tell him what quality you find attractive about him. Don’t fuck it up. No pressure or anything.
“If we’re playing this game, do you want to know one of the things I find the most attractive about you?”
He’s staring at me in disbelief.
We’re so close I can feel his body heat sizzling its way through every layer of my skin. Our lips are only a few inches away from each other.
I take a gulp and clear my throat as quietly as possible. “The way you care so deeply about your family. Honestly, just the way you love people unconditionally. It’s an admirable quality in a person.”
A big smile grows on Noah’s face, lighting it up like candles on a menorah. “You want to know another thing I find attractive about you?” he asks, closing the gap between us.
I thought I would be safe from the Florida heat by wearing my hair in a high ponytail, but I didn’t account for my body getting hot because of a guy.
Not just any guy, but because of Noah freaking Kaplan.
I wet my lips, my heart beating so loud it wouldn’t surprise me if he could hear it. “What?”
“The fact that I can make you blush so damn easily,” he whispers in my left ear, swiping the pad of his thumb over my cheek.
A small breathy giggle escapes my mouth.
His hot breath finds a home on the skin in between my neck and shoulder.
“Get in the car, Kaplan,” I demand, glaring at him.
“Move your ass out of my way so I can get in the car, Solomon.”
“I’m not moving. You’ll just have to walk around me.” I stand proud and tall, crossing my arms in front of my breasts.
He scoffs. “Fine, have it your way.”
He extends his arm to open the passenger door and pulls the handle with his hand, but he can’t open it unless I move out of the way.
“Don’t even think about it,” I say firmly.
“You don’t even know what I’m going to do.”
“I know you better than you think I do.”
“Oh yeah?” He slings me over his right shoulder.
A little scream leaves my mouth. “Put me down. Right now.” My hands are flailing all over the place as he secures me by holding the back of my thighs.
He places me down in front of the driver’s door.
After all that, he managed to open the car door for me like a gentleman. I guess that’s his way of apologizing to me for being an asswipe.
I sit down on the gray-colored fabric chair. The length of half of a basketball court is in front of me. That’s what it feels like at least.
He sits down on the passenger seat, as I search for the bar to slide my seat forward.
His eyes plant themselves on me all while studying my face. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m trying to find the stupid adjustment bar thing. It’s not underneath the seat.”
He notices the frustration growing on my face, but doesn’t fail to laugh at me in the process. “The adjuster is located on the side of the seat, not underneath it.” A smug smile appears on his face.
“Well, look at you, Mr. Fancy Pants.”
He’s holding in a laugh. All grins and no big smiles. I can tell he’s struggling because his lips are quivering. He folds his arms underneath his broad chest, muscles bulging.
Why is every inch of his body so muscular? It’s so annoying. And distracting as hell.
I press and hold the black engine button for a few seconds, pushing my foot down on the brake pedal to start the car.
“I’m impressed you know how to start my car.”
My tongue sticks up to the roof of my mouth. I proceed to bite down on my bottom lip. “Oh, shut the hell up. I’ll have you know my dad had a car just like this one.”
“Then, you should know where the mechanism is to move up the seat. Isn’t that right, Princess?” Sarcasm breaks through his voice which makes me grin like an idiot.
I turn my head towards him slightly.
“Eyes on the road!” he shouts, gesturing to the view in front of us.
“My eyes are on the road. You’re distracting me!”
You’re always distracting me.
I can see him wetting his lips out of the corner of my eye. “What if I told you I enjoy distracting you?”
He thinks he’s so smooth, but it’s not working for him this time.
We’re on Sunset Cove Boulevard, overlooking the ocean which is to the left of us.
Even though this window is closed, I can smell and taste the salty ocean air. Tall palm trees scatter the sides of the road.
We pass a couple of neighborhoods on the way home. Breakwater, a neighborhood full of manufactured homes. Lighthouse Estates, the neighborhood for the wealthy, is further down the street.
Silence fills up the car like water filling up an inflatable pool.
We haven’t talked since we left the hospital. I used to live for moments like this with Noah, but I absolutely hate it now.
After passing the clear blue ocean, we make it to our subdivision, Crystal Harbor. I bear right, turning into our community. Tall palm trees divide both sides of the road in a straight vertical line.
Pulling into Noah’s driveway, I shift the gear into park.
We sit in the car for a few minutes. Noah’s beautiful eyes are drilling a hole through the side of my head.
“Can I help you, sir?” I whip my head to properly face him, meeting his gaze.
He squints his eyes, unbuckling his seatbelt. Leaning his elbows onto the medium gray console, he places the palms of his hands on his cheeks. “Can I admire your beauty without comments or questions from the Peanut Gallery?” He moves his hand to his lips, brushing them with his thumb and index finger.
Who are you calling the Peanut Gallery, dipshit?
Heavy breathing takes over until Noah’s eyes wander to my lips, leaving me breathless.
“There will always be comments and questions from the Peanut Gallery.”
I break out of his trance and unbuckle my seatbelt. “You should go inside. Sammy probably missed you.” I smile, blinking my eyes in slow motion.
He moves his hand away from his cheek while the other hand shifts from his lips to his chin in a swift motion. “You know I bet Sammy has missed you a lot. I think you should come in with me and say hi.” His eyebrow lifts up and he grins at me.
“Fine, I’ll come in with you and say hi.”
I get out of the car and so does Noah. The car doors slam shut.
I walk to the front door, observing the porch.
Noah walks up to me with hands in the pockets of his shorts.
I look at him. “I guess my mom is still taking care of the landscaping.”
He cocks his head. “What makes you say that?”
“Everything’s alive.” My voice goes up an octave, giggling with my mouth closed.
“Are you accusing my family of being plant murderers?” He bites down on the corner of his bottom lip.
“Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not. You’ll never know.” I hold in a laugh, grinning ear to ear.
As we step closer to the front door, I can hear loud barking from inside the house.
I point to him. “I want you to know Sammy is the only dog I tolerate. No dog will ever compare to him.”
I have never been a dog person. I don’t hate them, but I don’t love them either. I’ve had cats my entire life, so I gravitate towards them more.
“I know how much you love dogs, so it means a lot to me you’re here to visit him. I know it means more to Sammy though.” Sarcasm rings throughout his voice.
He puts his hand on his upper chest, eyes closed and lips spread as a flat line.
Inserting the key into the lock, he turns it until it makes a clicking noise and twists it so the door opens.
Sammy comes running out and heads straight for me.
His tail wags back and forth, breathing heavily to express his excitement. He’s gotten so big since the last time I saw him, which was in my sophomore year of high school.
“Look who it is, Sammy boy. It”s Dani. You remember her, right?”
He gives me a nudge in the ass and comes back around. He sits in front of me, panting with his tongue sticking out.
“Hi, buddy.” I pet his head, feeling his soft fur underneath the palm of my right hand.
I meet Noah’s gaze like magnets that stick on a refrigerator.
This is how I’m going to be murdered.
By looking into Noah Kaplan’s eyes.