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“Shit baby. I-” He stops what he’s saying and quickly flicks his eyes up to mine. I raise an eyebrow and get real curious, real fast. He clears his throat and looks back down at my hands. I follow his eyes. My hands are pretty bad. The heels of my palms are beat red. Blood streaks my hands as well from where a few very large splinters entered and a dozen small ones. Honestly, it didn’t hurt until I looked at it. Fuck, those splinters are going to hurt coming out.
“I told you we should have rented that sander and fixed the floors.” He steps away to grab one of the many first aid kits that litter my house. I get injured a lot fixing this house. We have a love-hate relationship. “I am sorry I hurt you. I wasn’t thinking. I just wanted to get to you.”
“It’s more than fine. I’ll take this over whatever those shadows would have done.”
“Yet, you still want to stay here.”
When Noah steps back in front of me I cringe. He sets the kit on the counter and rummages through it. He pulls out tweezers. He holds my left hand in his and starts picking out the large splinters. I flinch at every one. Once they are pulled out he grabs my right.
“Stop being a big baby. Their just small-”
“Twigs Noah. Branches if you will. I feel like there is a whole ass oak tree in my hand.”
“Meh. It’s only about half.” He punctuated his words by ripping one out and taking some flesh with it. It’s almost like these twigs are barbed. Like, this house wants to know how much it hates my color scheme. When he gets the last branch out he puts the tweezers down and grabs the rubbing alcohol.
“You’re a real dick. You know that?”
“I haven’t done anything yet. So I resent that statement and I’d like to think I’m a real charmer.” He pulls my hands over the sink.
“You’re a charmer alri-” I let out a loud hiss when the alcohol touched me.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you over the hissing toddler.”
“You're lucky my hands are incapable of forming fists right now or you'd be chewing on them.” Hmm. That sounds more painful for me than him.
“I think you should learn better comebacks.” It’s like he can read my mind and I hate it. But now is my time to ruffle his feathers. I need answers before my heart flutters away.
“So…” I drag out the word. “You gonna talk about that weird slip a minute ago?” I look at him and he turns beet red. He gives an awkward laugh and scrubs a hand down his face.
“Uh, well…” He starts rubbing the back of his neck and a faint smile playing on his lips. Then he starts pacing while I still sit on the counter watching him wear a trail on my kitchen floor. Well, I have ruffled his feathers greatly. “I…god, why is this so difficult.” He stops to look at me. A look of longing, a look I have dreamed about deep, deep down. My stomach swoops down and I start breathing faster.
He walks up to me and grabs my face, pauses for half a second like he’s questioning himself. “Fuck it.” he growls and pulls my lips to his.
I sit for just a moment, stunned. He moves his hands down my neck and around my back. Pulling me closer, stepping in between my legs. My hands moved to his shoulders, then his neck, forgetting the pain and I lose myself in the kiss for a moment before I push him back. My brain and heart are warring with each other. I want him but I don't want to lose him. Noah steps back father and I can see him working his jaw in frustration, whether at himself or me remains to be seen.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn't have. I should have kept this strictly friends only.” He backs away quickly and leaves the kitchen. Leaving me to ponder what the fuck just happened.
I jump off the counter and walk out of the kitchen. I round into the living room and find him walking back and forth in front of the TV. Then, he sits in one of the arm chairs but only for a second before he’s up pacing the floor again.
“Since when Noah?” He looks up quickly and pulls his hand down from his lip. “Not that that wasn't the best kiss of my life.” He smirks at that. “But what I would like to know is what you are feeling. Because the last time this happened you were drunk and you never said anything about it ever again. I thought you thought it was a mistake or you didn’t remember.” He frowns at that.
“Last time?” He asks, looking very confused. I roll my eyes. Of course he was that wasted.
“Yes, the last time we had drinks, a few months ago. You ended up staying the night because you had one too many. But you kissed me, damn near the same spot as just a few minutes ago.” I say swinging my hand back towards the kitchen.
“Jesus and his disciples.” He groaned. “I'm sorry I don't remember that. But I’m not surprised. I’ve been trying to ignore these feelings for years thinking you only wanted friendship. You never hinted that you wanted something like…that from me and I didn’t want to lose you. I need you in my life in any way I can get you.” He puts his hands through his hair and starts to burn a trail in my floor again. “It would just make me happier if it was under me.” My eyebrows shoot to my hair line and wonder what alternate universe I fell into. Noah snaps his head up to me realizing he said that last part out loud. “Uhh, fuck. I’m sorry. What the hell is wrong with me?” He says the last part to himself.
“Well, god damn, we could have saved both ourselves the trouble years ago then.” I say with a laugh. Throwing my arms in the air. Which turned into a cackle, which turned into me crying. This day was too much, clearly. Crazy old dead coots, ghosts in my car, passing out, creepy shadows and now a lovers confession. I walk to the couch while trying to calm the mental breakdown swirling around my head. Noah sits next to me and pulls a blanket around my shoulders.
“Dana, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have sprung this on you. I know you have had a shit day.” He kisses the crown of my head like he has a hundred times before and pulls me in closer.
“It’s not that. I mean it's part of it but today has just been overwhelming. I don't know what to say about this recent development but know that I don't hate it.” I wiped the tears from my face. “I have liked you more than just a friend for a very long time. But I figured you weren’t feeling the same way so I never acted on it.” He lays us down on the couch. My back is pressed up against the back of the couch and he lays in front of me, so I'm guarded on all sides. “Can we talk about this in the morning? I’m so tired.” He nods his head as I close my eyes and he gives my forehead a kiss. He pulls me down so my head is nestled against his neck.
“Do you think it’s safe to stay here?” I ask, my face pressed into his neck.
“I haven’t heard or seen anything. I’ll keep an eye out. You sleep.”
“Okay.”
