I look at her, holding my hands up. “What am I supposed to do? Confess again? And again? And again until she files a restraining order?”
“Yes,” Kiara says instantly. “Exactly that.”
“Kiara,” Noah mutters.
“I’m serious,” Kiara insists, softer now. “If it’s real, you don’t walk away just because she’s afraid. You give her time to realize she doesn’t have to be.”
Holy shit. She’s right.
Noah exhales through his nose, shaking his head slightly before looking at me. Then he gives the smallest, crooked half-smile.
“Dude,” he says, voice calm. “I already approved you like… weeks ago. Don’t make me regret that.”
A surprised laugh slips out of me. “Love you, man.”
He huffs. “Yeah, yeah. Go before I change my mind.”
I look around the table, heart beating way too fast. As I push my chair back and stand, Kiara points a finger straight at me. “By the way, I am still angry at you for not telling us—”
“—same,” Noah cuts in, grinning.
“—but first,” Kiara continues dramatically, jabbing her finger toward the door, “GO GET OUR GIRL.”
A laugh escapes me as I grab my keys and phone off the table. Behind me, I hear Liam lean toward Mel and whisper, “This is insanely romantic.”
Mel snorts softly. “Yeah. They’re winning cutest couple of the year.”
“They’re gonna overtake us,” Liam agrees.
I shake my head, and glance back at them. “I’ll see you guys later.”
“GO!” Kiara yells.
I push through the café door, the bell above it chiming too loudly for how fast my heart’s already pounding and I break into a run toward my car.
48
MADDY
Are you worth the risk?
“Oh my God, this is so much fun!” Bailey’s voice rings across the water, bright and breathless as she balances on her board.
I laugh, pushing a strand of wet hair out of my face while we float side by side beyond the small breaking waves. The ocean is calm today, sunlight glittering across the surface like someone scattered tiny mirrors everywhere.
“You’re doing really good,” I tell her. “Just keep your shoulders loose. And don’t look down, look where you want to go.”
“Great.” Bailey smiles and glances toward the beach, then suddenly lowers her voice. “Okay but… that dude over there? Totally checking me out.”
I follow her gaze and spot a boy pretending very badly not to stare. I snort. “Yeah. He totally is.”
She straightens instantly. “So… is this the moment where I run dramatically out of the ocean like in Baywatch?”
I laugh. “Only if you remember the hair flip.”
Bailey flips her braid over her shoulder with exaggerated elegance. “Like this?”
“Perfect,” I say with a smile.
