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My mind spins, anxiously searching for the purpose. For the meaning.
Of what Mason did and why.
Of Chase’s words and the reason he’s sharing them.
“Why did you lie?” My voice comes out lower than intended.
A shadow falls over him, and while his chin lowers the slightest bit, he doesn’t look away. “Come on now.”
Because I would have gotten angry.
Because I would have punched Mason back.
Because I would have assumed I meant more to Chase when I was so sure I didn’t…
Did I mean more to you then?
When did you let me go?
I hastily bend at the knees, my movements jerky as I pick up a few discarded can tabs from the ground.
“Arianna—”
“Why did you tell me that?”
“You said I hit on Jake’s girlfriend. I wanted you to know that wasn’t true.”
But why, I want to ask. That was two years ago, so what does it matter now? I don’t ask because what purpose would that serve?
He said he wanted me to know, fine. Now I do. So that’s that.
I pop a shoulder with overfed dramatics and do my best to wash away the entire conversation with some lighthearted teasing.
“Well, that’s a relief. She was a biatch and matched quite well with her douchey boyfriend, so consider your character redeemed.”
“One goal fulfilled,” he jokes back. “A dozen more to go.”
Looking up, I meet his green eyes, and we share a small smile before going back to the task at hand.
Chase and I tie off the bags, and when he faces me, his beanie slips even higher, now barely hanging on. With a low laugh, I step forward, tugging it back into place. My eyes move to his, and the corner of his mouth lifts into a broken smile.
“Thanks,” he mumbles as I step away.
We turn toward the metal dumpsters, located several yards away, but the slight squeal of brakes sounds behind us.
We both look over our shoulders, finding Noah rolling to a stop at the top of the hill.
“I wonder why he came back,” I think out loud, taking a step in his direction, but quickly pause turning back to Chase.
“Must be something he didn’t want to leave behind.” He stares a moment, slowly facing me, and in the next, his hand is stretched out as a frown builds across his face.
Hesitantly, I pass over my bag.
He’s already walking away before, “Thanks,” leaves me, and so I spin around, jogging up the short hillside.
Noah’s eyes are pointed past me, but lower to mine as I reach him, a small smile finding his lips.
I’m about to ask him what happened when I notice two hot coffees in the cupholders and two breakfast sandwiches sitting on the dash.
“Couldn’t have you burning the forest down trying to make your own,” he drawls lazily, his head sinking to the seat behind him.
A chuckle bubbles out of me and I grip the doorframe, bringing myself closer to him. “Thank you.”
Noah stares into my eyes, slowly sliding his hand into my hair and pulls my lips to his. He kisses me slowly, almost achingly so, and I want to fall into him.
After a moment, he sighs and says, “I don’t want to leave you here.”
I love the way he says what he means. He never leaves me to wonder, and if I ever do, he sees it and answers my concerns without a question asked.
I lower my chin to my forearm and whisper, “So don’t.”
Noah’s eyes grow curious, and I smile.
“I don’t have to crash your visit. You could take me home first, or I can nap in the truck. Get reacquainted with cafeteria food,” I joke.
Noah licks his lips. “You’d leave with me now?”
I sigh loudly, shrugging my shoulders. “I’d have left with you thirty minutes ago if you had asked.”
Noah grips my chin and my lips press together in a grin. “Go pack your bag, Juliet.”
I step back and pull open his door.
He looks at me like I’m crazy, dropping against his seat when I grip the steering wheel and haul myself into the cab, my side squishing against it.
“I’m a good camper, Mr. Riley. Everything stays packed and zipped up tight, so no bugs get in. Cam will grab it for me.”
He eyes me, halting me with a palm to my ribs when I try squeezing past him. “Just like that?”
I tip my head. “Unless you have a problem with me looking like a homeless person, whatever you decide to do with me, yes. Just like that.”
His nod is slow, his fingers spanning out over my stomach. He holds me there a moment, and then he lets go. I crawl into the space beside him.
Noah waits for me to buckle up, and once I am, he passes me my coffee. “Extra hot.”
“Just the way I like it.”
Noah smirks to himself, his hand falling to my thigh, and it only leaves the spot when absolutely necessary.
