Noah’s eyes lit with realization, and one side of his mouth turned up.
“You didn’t appreciate me interrupting his bumbling attempt to ask you out?” An eyebrow quirked. “Are you interested in him?”
“No, but you didn’t even let me turn him down nicely.” I conveniently ignored the fact that I’d been putting my foot in my mouth before Noah stepped in. “Instead, you embarrassed Charlieandme by marking your territory as if I were a freaking tree. And I’m not even your territory to mark!”
He frowned, glancing at the door. “You looked like you needed help, but I didn’t mean to… urinate on you.”
I gave him an incredulous look, my lips twisting into a scowl. “Geez, what is wrong with you? Don’t say it like that! Are you kidding me?”
“It was the same metaphor you used!” Noah defended hotly with an accusatory finger pointed at my chest. I wanted to be angry at him for overstepping, but it was difficult when he honestly looked absolutely adorable with that little scowl on his face. I smiled in reflex and let out a surprised laugh before lightly smacking his hand away.
The butterflies took a twisted pleasure in his admission, curling up together in my stomach for a little catnap. He may have gone about it the wrong way, but this was probably the first time Noah had genuinely shared his feelings with me.
Maybe Finn had some competition after all.
“And it wasn’t about that boy. I just thought you’d like to improve your grade,” Noah said. “We made a deal, after all. I’m holding up my end.”
My cheeks hurt from grinning. “Sure. You were concerned about my grade. That’s all.”
“Stop smiling.”
I laughed, rubbing at my sore cheeks. “Stop lying, and I’ll stop smiling. I thought you said I was ready for tomorrow’s test.”
He pinched his lips together and paused before answering. “It can’t hurt to overprepare.”
I leaned closer and dropped my voice to a stage whisper. “If you wanna ask me out, just ask me out.”
Noah’s eyes narrowed to slits, and such an action shouldn’t have made a thrill shoot up my spine like it did.
“Do you want to study or not?” he asked.
I pretended to think about it a little, as if I hadn’t already asked him to study a few minutes ago. But now I had something else in mind. “Actually, my brain is too overloaded to even think about looking at books right now. How about a coffee? Since it looks like your schedule opened up and all.”
He considered it before his eyes narrowed further. “It’s not a date.”
I rolled my eyes and started for the door. “I wouldn’t dream of calling it a date.”
CHAPTER14
A Reason
Dear Diary,
Today’s the day. The dreaded Music Theory test.
This test could decide whether or not I have to drop the piano program, yet somehow, it’s the last thing on my mind.
I’m still working my way back down to earth after my not-date with Noah last night. There was coffee and talking and walking around until Noah said he had to drive home since he lives off campus.
But now I’m at a crossroads. I just decided not to friendzone Finn, andnowNoah is acting all interested?? Throw in the recurring dreams about Oliver Bishop—the most recent of which involved us playing a duet atop an elephant—and, Houston, we’ve got a problem. Is this the universe’s idea of a joke? Teresa thinks it’s hilarious, and she teased about setting up a calendar for me to keep my dating schedule straight.
It wasn’t funny.
What am I supposed to do now? Maybe this is one of those situations where I shouldn’t put all my eggs in one basket. I’ve heard that’s good advice. There’s nothing wrong with playing the field, right? Not that I know anything about sports. Or is that saying about farming? I don’t know anything about that, either. Or relationships, apparently.
And I thought Slade’s test today was supposed to be my biggest worry.
Help me, Diary!
