Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Noah
Side Quests
I didn’t know Savannah worked, let alone where, so I have no idea what time she’ll be home.
The guys all went to Slapshots for the half-price wings, but I’m sitting in my computer chair, pretending to be studying, waiting for her to message me.
Or block me, I’m not sure which is more likely.
I was a horny teenager who wanted too much and is going to end up with nothing, which sucks, but I have a lot more trouble living with the fact that I made her doubt herself and think me wanting her was some kind of prank.
When she thanks me for the plant, my relief feels like a physical thing, because I was so terrified that she would never talk to me again, but while I’m preparing to grovel and promise to be on my best behavior, she goes and knocks everything upside down.
Peaches
The thing you bet before you kissed me. You can try. But no sex.
I stare at my screen for a full minute, rereading her words over and over again.
I want to keep rereading, because I must be missing something, but it seems like the kind of thing I’d be freaking out about if I texted and she didn’t respond within seconds.
I want to ask if someone stole her phone, or a question to confirm her identity, considering how fast she ran out this afternoon, but instead, I call her.
“Don’t you know our generation doesn’t like talking on the phone?” she asks, so nervous and vulnerable that I wish I’d FaceTimed her, so I could make sure I didn’t break her into agreeing to this.
“I needed to hear your voice. To make sure it was you.” She scoffs. “Are you sure?”
“Trying to make me change my mind?”
“If it’s not made up, then yeah. Anything that isn’t a hell yes is a fuck no.”
I think she’s considering it before she asks, “Did you mean what you said in the letter?”
I don’t know which part she’s referring to, or even remember all I wrote, but I know I meant it.
“Every word.”
“Can this be friends first, with you trying to win a bet as a side quest that never overrides the main goal?”
“I didn’t know you were a gamer.”
“I have brothers.”
“Then they should have told you the side quests are where it’s at.”
“Noah,” she warns.
“I meant it, Savannah. I’d rather drop it than hurt you or lose you as a friend.”
“Are you saying you changed your mind?” She’s nervous and I hate it.
“I’m saying there’s nothing…” I sigh, because honesty is terrifying, but she needs to hear this. “Right now, I feel like I need to kiss you again more than I need my next breath, but I would gladly give that up if the alternative costs me you.”
“Sure you’re not the writer, with all that sweet talking?”
“It comes from the heart.”
“You mean your balls.”
“Sometimes I forget how funny you are.”
“That’s your first mistake.”
Playful and teasing Savannah is one of my absolute favorites, but she’s dead wrong. My first mistake was falling for her, then convincing myself I could kiss her without sealing the deal.