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“I’m just saying it might be good for you to get out there, have some fun. Harper said he’s an English major, so you’ll have a lot in common.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” The smile didn’t reach her eyes, hurt gleaming there, cementing the guilt in my chest. “Maybe I will.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
The air crackled between us as we stared at each other. I didn’t want her to date some English major. I didn’t want her to date anyone. But it wasn’t about me; it was about Aurora—her self-esteem and self-worth. If going on a few dates with a guy who wasn’t me helped give her some confidence, then it was a good idea.
No matter how much I hated the idea.
Until she said, “Maybe you should take Harper out, and we can double date.”
Because… Fuck. That.
I wanted her to feel better about herself. I didn’t want to feel shitty about myself, watching her with some guy who wasn’t me.
I couldn’t be that guy, though.
Even if she wasn’t Austin’s sister, I didn’t have time for a relationship. And I would never ask Aurora to be in a friends-with-benefits situation.
No matter how much I wanted her.
And I did.
I’d had a little taste, and now I wanted to devour her. Preferably with my teeth and tongue.
“Noah?” Her eyes twinkled with uncertainty as she gazed up at me. But I saw the flicker of hope there. The willingness to tug gently on the thread that seemed to stretch and tighten between us every time we were close.
I wondered if she knew that she was throwing off all the right signals.
Something told me she didn’t.
Aurora was too blinded by her skewed perception of herself to believe that I could ever reciprocate whatever was bubbling between us.
“I don’t date, shortcake.” I sealed our fate. “You know that.”
“You won’t make an exception this one time? For me?”
Such a loaded fucking question.
She meant Harper, but there was another question in there somewhere.
“No exceptions to the rule.”
Disappointment glittered in her emerald eyes. “I see. She’s going to be disappointed.”
“I’m sure she’ll find someone else. We should head back downstairs.”
Because I needed to get out of this room, out of her space. Before I broke my own fucking rules… again.
I turned and walked to the door, but Aurora called after me.
“Noah?”
“Yeah, shortcake?” I glanced back at her.
“Why did you kiss me?” Defiance shone in her eyes, and I realized she wasn’t going to let this go.
