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“The chicken tenders are really good,” the waitress adds eagerly, obviously missing the joke.
My mother hasn’t though. Not by the way she’s glaring at Daisy once again.
Up until this point, I’d been doing such a good job of staying quiet. But to my dismay, I release a snort, provoked by her naive comment.
Big mistake.
Because now Noah’s sharp glare is on me…and I’m frantically trying to throw water on the inner fire I’m suddenly feeling.
“Something funny?” he asks casually, his stare intense on my features.
Gulp.
I’d never had anyone look at me like this.
It’s…too much.
For as much as a part of me craves attention, the far bigger part of me prefers to stay blended into the scenery. Noah’s stare seems to see all of that, and then some. Somehow, in that moment, I know I’ll never be able to hide from him again, for as long as he’s in my life.
That’s…unsettling.
“You’ll have to forgive Sky. She’s frequently embarrassed of me,” inserts Daisy, saving me from having to reply to…him.
“Do you not talk?” Noah presses, cutting me off from the fantasy world where I did indeed not have to talk.
I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out.
“I’ll have the clam chowder,” my mother says quickly trying to fill the awkward silence. “And some of those cheddar biscuits for the table.”
Everyone else’s attention moves back to ordering, but not Noah’s. He’s still studying me, a knowing smirk on his pretty lips.
I quickly stare down at the menu, feeling the tips of my ears growing red. At least I was able to hold in my blush for a minute.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid, I think to myself.
Daisy kicks me under the table and when I glance up at her, she’s shooting me a sympathetic frown. “Fuck him,” she mouths, and I grimace at her…still feeling his stare on the side of my head.
“And for you?” the waitress asks me, her lips now laced in displeasure as she examines Daisy and me…almost like she’s sizing up potential competition for Noah’s attention.
Down girl. There isn’t a world where I’d be a threat to you…and Daisy’s just added him to her shit list for making me squirm like I did.
“The shrimp salad,” I answer quietly, proud that my voice actually comes out steady. The whole situation is overwhelming me. It was hard enough meeting Curt…but adding Noah to the mix? I’m ready to either throw up…or faint.
She nods and sniffs, like she finds my order underwhelming before turning back to Noah, her frown changing to a wide, simpering grin.
“Thirsty much?” Daisy mumbles under her breath, but Noah catches it all the same.
He pulls his eyes away from me and my sister and directs them back to the waitress.
“I’ll have you when you’re off,” Noah answers at last, and I choke on my water. Literally choke.
“Noah!” his dad barks, obviously having enough with his antics. Meanwhile, the poor waitress seems to be melting in place, a puddle of lust at her metaphorical feet.
“A burger and some fries,” Noah says with a wink, not seeming put off at all by his dad’s obvious fury across the table. Even his order seems to be mocking his dad. Like it had been intentional that he hadn’t ordered seafood.
But maybe I’m just reading into things too much.
“Of course,” she squeaks before scurrying off as fast as she can, only throwing a few glances over her shoulder at Noah as she moves.
