Noah
I was on the edge of my seat waiting for her reply. Maybe a little too much, if I’m being honest. I still can’t believe she unblocked my number.
“You’re gonna crack your phone from staring at it so much, man.”
Liam chimed in, and I tossed a pillow his way. He laughed as he caught it effortlessly.
“Look at you, all lovesick. What do you think she’d say if she knew she had you wrapped around her finger?” Adonis commented, glancing through emails at his desk.
I rolled my eyes at both of them. She doesn’t have me wrapped around her finger.
Sure, I get a rush when she texts back, and my heart does a little dance when I see her.
And yeah, if she asked me to take someone out, I’d probably jump at the chance.
But that doesn’t mean she’s got me under her spell.
I am not some lovesick idiot I tossed my phone onto the table, shaking my head.
No way I cared if she replied. Why would I?
But then, out of nowhere, my phone pinged.
Without a second thought, I snatched it up and opened the message.
My eyes widened, and my mouth fell open in disbelief.
“Dude, you, okay?” Liam asked, glancing up from whatever he was focused on, while Adonis looked up from his own little world.
“She… she said yes,” I managed to stammer, still reeling.
Adonis jumped up from his desk and grabbed the phone from me. I was still in shock, and Liam exchanged a knowing look with Adonis as they both stared at the screen.
“Well, what the hell are you just sitting there for, you lovesick fool?”
Adonis shot back, and that snapped me back to reality.
“Right, I need to go!”
I exclaimed, yanking my phone from their grip. I bolted for the door a little too fast. As I swung it open, I nearly knocked Lillian over.
“Oh shit, my bad,” I said, catching myself. She smiled at me.
“Where’s the fire, Noah?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. I glanced between her and the guys.
“I’m sure they’ll fill you in, Lills. I gotta run,”
I said, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. She chuckled and waved me off. This was it; I was kicking my plan into gear today. So why did I feel that gnawing pit in my stomach?
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As I stepped into the house, I brushed past my brother.
“Whoa, whoa, Noey, what’s going on?” he asked, and I shot back over my shoulder,
“Can’t talk right now, I’ve got to get ready.”
“Is that you, Noah?”
I heard my mom call from somewhere inside.
“Yeah, Ma, it’s me. I’ve got to get ready,” I replied, feeling like everyone was trying to block my path today.
“Son, come here for a sec.”
Dad's voice echoed down the hall, and I groaned, turning back toward the living room. Mom was settled in her favorite chair, lost in a book, while Dad tinkered away on some wood project, football droning in the background.
“Noah, you look flushed,” Mom said, closing her book and rising to meet me. I groaned again.
“I’m not sick, Mom. I just have something important coming up.”
Her gaze locked onto mine, and I swear she could see right through me because suddenly her face lit up with a huge smile.
“Mark, Noah has a date!”
She squealed, and Dad looked up, stunned.
“Really, son? Is that true?”
He rose from his chair, striding over, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
“Okay, fine, yes, I do, and I have to meet her soon, so can I please—”
“No freaking way. Noey has a date?”
Jackson chimed in from the other room.
“Is it that girl in the photo you keep staring at?”
A wave of embarrassment washed over me as I rubbed my neck.
“Oh, she’s really pretty, isn’t she, Mark?”
Mom turned to Dad; her eyes sparkling.
“Oh yeah, Sherry, I haven’t seen Noah this excited since we bought him his first motorcycle.”
Dad chuckled, and I couldn’t help but smirk.
“All right, let’s get you ready, then, son.”
Panic surged through me.
“No, no, you really don’t have to—”
He cut me off.
“Nonsense. She could very well be my future daughter-in-law. I can’t have you showing up in just a black shirt and some decent jeans.”
I recoiled at his words.
“No, I wasn’t going to wear that.”
He adjusted his glasses, smirking.
“Oh, is that the truth?”
He raised an eyebrow, and I sighed in defeat.
“I wasn’t going to wear jeans.”
He laughed and gave me a gentle shove toward my room.
“Come on, let’s get you dressed, then.”
“For God’s sake, Mark, fix his hair too, please!”
Mom shouted from the other room. I just hoped this didn’t backfire on me.