Page 129 of You Fall First

This is the part where Noah admits he’s been picking up signals over the past couple of weeks that suggest I might be growing feelings for him, and unfortunately, he simply doesn’t see me that way. To him, I’m Just Jo. Dex’s little sister. The girl in the grocery store with the box of supersize tampons.

And with a sheepish bob of his head, he’ll tell me he still thinks I’m great. Really great.

Then the humiliation will be complete.

End scene.

The truth is, I’m too much. Forever and perpetually taking leaps that others aren’t. I scare people off. Well, adults, at least. Kids like Dutton think I’m fun, but only because they’ve got no filter or judgment either.

Noah lowers his chin, still not speaking. This is what he does when he wants me to make eye contact. But I can’t do that knowing I might see pity there. Or worse than that, guilt. I absolutely loathe the fact that I might have filled Noah with more guilt.

“Look at me,” he says. “Please?”

I shutter my lids and give my head a little shake. “It’s okay,” I sniffle. “I prefer to hear what you have to say without using my actual eyeballs.”

His finger finds one of my cheeks, pressing softly, like there’s a button there. “I like this dimple. A lot.”

My eyes fly open. “You do?”

“This one too.” His hand feathers over to the other side of my face. “Maybe even more. And for days now, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about your smile.”

I blink up at him, and my mouth curves up, slowly.

“I knew I’d miss this when you moved out,” he says, his thumb tracing my lips. “But I had no idea how much.”

A wave of shimmery brightness bubbles up into my throat. “You miss my smile?”

“I miss you.”

Whoa.

This has literally never happened to me before. And I still have no idea what’s going to happen with Noah in my future. All I know is that this time, he said the words first.

And that’s enough for now.

“I miss you too,” I say softly, like the moment might disappear if I speak with my whole heart.

Noah slowly skims his hand behind my head. Then he inches forward, and I drift back until I reach the office wall. He pauses, pupils dilating, and I lean in, just a few degrees of an invitation.

Then his large frame tents around my body.

The heat of his gaze warms my skin from the outside in. And with his eyes on mine, so careful and intentional, he plants his palms on the wall on both sides of me. I’m locked in Noah’s sphere, and I’ve never felt safer. Or more protected.

He’s going to kiss me.

The certainty hits my bones, and my lips part slightly, ready for him to take charge. Except he doesn’t. Instead, his face slides sideways, and at the last moment, his mouth detours to my ear.

“Do you want this, Jo?” The question is a feather against my skin. “I won’t make a move until I hear the words.”

“I … you …” My knees threaten to buckle.

“Please,” he begs. “I need to kiss you.”

Need. Not want.

“Yes,” I whisper.

Then his mouth is on mine.