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“If you’re going to tell me to sugar-coat it, then don’t,” I warned him. “That’s exactly what happened, and I’m not going to wrap myself in cotton wool because of it. Denying it won’t change what happened to me.” I rolled my shoulders. “I understand why she was upset, but again, not a me problem.”
Noah sighed. “She should leave you alone now.”
“I doubt it. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, after all. As far as she’s concerned, I scorned her, even though I didn’t even do anything. She most certainly will not leave me alone.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Your only crime is that I loved you first.”
Butterflies went crazy in my stomach. Even after how we’d left things, I still couldn’t help this feeling inside me. I wished I could tear these emotions out and flush them away, but I couldn’t.
I’d never gotten over Noah, and I didn’t know if I ever would.
“Again, that’s not my fault.” I held up my hands. “And loved is right. Whatever you feel is for who I used to be, not the Charlotte you know now. I’m a different person.”
“I know,” he said softly. “And if you’d let me, when you’re ready, I’d like to know this version of you.”
I wrapped my arms around myself again, looking down. “I don’t know. Maybe. A lot has happened, Noah. We really aren’t the same people anymore, and we don’t have the luxury of an innocent summer romance like we used to.”
“I understand.” He paused. “But when you do, I’ll be here.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do. I haven’t gotten over you in ten years. I doubt I’m about to start now. Not with you actually here.”
I looked up just in time to see him make his way out of the door. It closed behind him with a click, and I sighed, staring at it.
All I could think about was how it felt for those fleeting few minutes I was in his arms after he’d rescued me from the car. How he’d wrapped me up and tucked me against his body, kissing my forehead, whispering to me that it would be okay, that I was safe now, that he couldn’t hurt me anymore.
I’d believed him.
Every single word.
I’d been at peace. I’d felt safe.
Those feelings had gone the moment he’d handed me over to the paramedics so they could treat me, and I’d never been as lost as I was then.
I was right. We didn’t have the luxury of an innocent summer romance anymore, but we had the chance to look at something more.
If I was brave enough to be honest with him.
I pushed off the counter and walked to the door, quickly tugging it open. Noah was halfway into the car, and he stopped when he saw me.
“Are you all right?”
I walked down the steps and across the drive to his car, then leant on the door, gripping the top of it. I brought my gaze up to his and said, “Thank you. For taking care of me after the crash.”
Noah’s lips pulled to the sides into the barest of smiles. “I was only doing my job.”
“No,” I said softly. “No, you weren’t.”
“It was a little personal,” he admitted after a moment of silence. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“I will be.” I swallowed and glanced at his car, then back up at his eyes. “Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when you came to the B&B? After my stupid drunk hissy fit?”
He briefly closed his eyes. “When I almost kissed you?”
“Right before I found out your girlfriend thought she was pregnant? Yeah.”
“Ex-girlfriend.”
