33. Noah
NOAH
“So, tell me more about this little firecracker,” Jeremy jokes as he checks his hair one more time in the visor mirror.
“Just ask her for yourself. I don’t know much about her because I just met her last night.”
“Yeah, but you said she’d give me a run for my money.”
“That’s because she basically threatened my life last night.”
“Wait, really?” he stops fussing with his hair and slams the visor shut. “Why?”
“She just said that she had Willow’s location and that she knew what I looked like. She’s very protective of Willow.”
“Hmm…So does she have the eyes?” he asks, and I’m instantly confused.
“The eyes?”
“You know, the crazy eyes. Fuck, dude. Have you ever fucked a chick that had those kind of eyes?” he closes his eyes and groans as if he’s savoring his favorite flavor.
“No. I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
“The psycho, obsessive eyes.”
“Oh…I couldn’t tell you. My eyes were on Willow.”
“Lame. You’re a horrible wingman.”
“No, I’m just obsessed…with her.”
He follows my finger pointing down the parking lot to two women getting out of an Uber in front of the bar. Both are wearing black dresses and black boots. One looks like she’s made of pure darkness. The other is made of pure light.
“Oh, oh, oh. Can I guess which one Willow is? Please? Pick me, pick me,” Jeremy starts shouting.
“What gave it away?” I laugh.
“The hair. Dead giveaway. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you date anyone who doesn’t have strawberry blonde hair. Dibs on the dark-haired Goddess.”
“She’s all yours, Cuz. But make sure to tell her how sweet she is. She loves that kind of shit,” I lie.
It’s not that I want him to get his tongue ripped out of his mouth like Willow said Jenna would do if anyone called her sweet…but at the same time, it would be kinda funny.
My phone goes off in the center console, and I open the screen to see a text from my little rabbit. We walk into the bar just as I start reading the rest of her incoming texts.
Willow
Hey.
I’m here. I got our table.
Not our table.
I mean the table we had last night.
Sorry.
So how far away are you?
I step up behind her as she stares at a different stack of board games. She hasn’t even felt my presence.
“I’m right here, Little Rabbit,” I whisper against her neck.
Her hair is pulled up into a high ponytail, exposing her neck and shoulders.
“Fuck,” she screeches as she turns, swinging.
It catches me off guard. Her fist connects with my jaw, and I can taste copper.
“Damn. I knew you were upset about losing so many times last night, but did you really have to hit me?” I ask as I start laughing.
“Jesus, Noah. Don’t do that. You could’ve given me a heart attack!” she shouts as she smacks me in the chest, then turns her attention to the blood on the corner of my lips.
She grabs a napkin off the table and stands on her tiptoes to start dabbing away the blood. It’s taking everything in me not to wrap my arms around her waist and pull her against me. I need to feel her in my arms again.
“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” I say as she finishes wiping my lip.
I trail my knuckles down her bare arm. I can see the goosebumps slowly appearing along the trail my touch leaves behind. Her chest rises, causing the already tight bodice to push her tits out even further. Fuck, calm down, Noah. Don’t let her see how badly she affects you.
“So, guys? Can we order something to drink?” Jenna asks as she sits back down at our table.
Our table.
She said our table.
Ours.
We already have an ours.
“Yes, sorry. Oh, Jenna, this is my cousin Jeremy. Jeremy, this is Jenna.” I gesture between the two of them before making one last comment. “Both of you, play nice. No biting.”
Jeremy just looks over at me and rolls his eyes, but not Jenna. She’s just staring at Jeremy.
“I don’t bite…hard,” she smirks, and I can see the second the desire hits his eyes.
Goddammit, he’s going to be writing his wedding vows by morning.
I love Jeremy, but he can be a bit obsessive, and that’s saying something coming from me. His is more of an instant obsession, as opposed to a desire built over years of longing like mine.
Every woman he meets and feels some sort of connection with instantly becomes the next Mrs. Anderson.
I think it’s been three women this year alone that have caught his eye.
Veronica was the latest, but I think after this, she’ll be long forgotten, and Jenna will become his new obsession.
Honestly, that will be perfect. Double dates are fun as long as she doesn’t kill him first.
“So, who’s ready to drink?” Jenna asks as she picks up the drink menu.
“Are you going to get the butter beer again, Willow?” I ask as I take a seat next to her, and Jeremy slides into the booth seat next to Jenna.
“I’m not sure. What are you going to get?”
“I’m thinking something sweet.” I lower my voice as I lean slightly closer.
“I was thinking a boozy shake,” she says softly.
“Hmm. Which one?”
I wrap an arm around the back of her chair to look at the list of boozy shakes in her hands. She doesn’t pull away. If anything, she leans a bit closer and angles her body so I can read the drink menu.
“I’m torn between the chocolate-covered cherry or the maple bacon bourbon,” she says, then bites her lower lip.
“Can I get you four started with something to drink? Maybe one of our beers on tap, or we do have a few cocktails on special,” the waitress asks.
It’s the same one we had last night, and after she realizes it’s us, she smiles down at Willow and me.
“Butter beer again?” she asks.
“Not this time. Can we have a chocolate-covered cherry boozy shake and a maple bacon bourbon one as well, please? Oh, and two ice waters,” I order for us so that she doesn’t have to choose, just like last night.
“And for you two?” the waitress asks Jeremy and Jenna.
They both look like deer caught in headlights. Were they even looking at the menu?
“Can I just have a diet for now, please?” Jenna asks.
“Sure. And for you?”
“Can I please have an amaretto sour?”
“Any appetizers to start?”
“Oh, my God. They have pulled pork Doritos!” Jenna exclaims excitedly, and Jeremy looks like a puppy in love.
“We’ll take an order of the pulled pork Doritos, please,” he says.
“Sure thing. Is this all on one bill or split?” the waitress asks, and before either of the women can answer, I cut in.
“All on one, please. Thank you.”
She nods and walks away as Willow turns and playfully swats me on the shoulder.
“You could have let us split it.”
“I’m still trying to bribe you,” I tease.
She rolls her eyes, but she can’t hide the smile on her lips. Those perfect lips I’m dying to taste again.
Fuck me. This is going to be a long night.