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“Are you drunk?”
His pupils were blown but not glassy like they would be if he was drunk. But he seemed… different.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” I said, my voice a little shaky, the air unbearably thick. “I’m—”
“I’m not drunk, shortcake. I’m perfectly in control of myself right now.”
I’m glad one of us was because I was a mess. He was too close. Too gorgeous. Too everything.
Ever since I’d arrived in Lakeshore, Noah had made it his mission to push himself into my life. I’d hated it at first. Resented it even. But bit by bit, he’d started to crack my resolve. It was a dangerous game, though. He was a Laker. Their resident playboy. I’d heard the rumors. Seen the proof with my own two eyes. A guy like Noah would break my heart in two without so much as realizing it.
But I couldn’t seem to stop myself from falling for his charm.
“I can’t stop thinking about you in that dress.” His voice was a low gravelly whisper that made my stomach clench as he reached out to toy with the ends of my hair. “What did they say to you, Aurora?”
It was a soft demand. One that hit me straight in the chest.
“Nothing I’m not already used to hearing. I should never have let you all talk me into wearing that stupid costume.”
His jaw clenched, anger radiating from him as he stared down at me. “You’re beautiful, shortcake. Don’t ever let anyone ever make you feel any less.”
“Noah, I…”
He kissed me. Noah pressed his lips to my forehead and let them linger there. A bolt of lightning went through me, so deep and profound that I thought I might melt into a puddle.
His hand slipped around the back of my neck, holding me there, his thumb brushing my skin with a gentle possessiveness that rocked me to my core.
“I won’t be that girl, Noah,” I said quietly, breaking the spell.
“What girl?”
“Whatever girl you’re hoping I’ll be.” I gave him a sad smile. “Friends with benefits isn’t my style, and I can’t be with somebody who is sleeping with other people.”
“Whoa there, shortcake. Talk about jumping the gun.”
“Oh, I thought… forget it.” I pulled out of his hold, sheer mortification washing over me.
“Aurora. Shit, I—”
“No, it’s fine. I drank too much, and it’s late. Sleep, I need to sleep, and you probably have stuff to do.”
Girls to do. Pretty, perfect puck bunnies.
“We should talk about this.” He gave me a stern look.
“Talk about what? Nothing happened. You did a nice thing coming to check on me, Noah. But I’m fine.” I smiled. Too brightly. Too widely.
Too fake.
“You can go now, and everything can go back to how it was.”
The lie sounded convincing enough.
Because there was no going back.
But there was no future for us either.
CHAPTER 12
