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‘Well, as you can see, I made it home safely and your chivalry is appreciated,’ he says as we step up to the screen door, though I can barely hear him over the sound of the rain on the tin roof. He turns, and blows out a long breath. ‘It’s been a weird night.’
‘Again, I’m sorry.’ It feels like I can’t apologise enough.
‘I know you are.’ For some reason those words feel so validating. ‘You can make it up to me by winning tomorrow, and maybe also with a six pack of doughnuts from that shop we went to.’
‘Deal.’
Rain hits my back. I step in closer, narrowing the space between our bodies. Noah swallows, and I notice the way his throat moves, the way his jaw flexes. He takes a half-step backwards and his back finds the screen door. He looks at me, confused, and I wonder if I’m fucking this up, but then his dark gaze drops to my lips. Without thinking, I lean forward to kiss him. Noah’s hands grasp my shoulders, fingers digging in, pulling me closer and closer and—
Our lips don’t meet when I think they’re supposed to.
‘Argh!’ Noah cries as he falls backwards through the doorway. I stumble forward, trying to catch myself on the warped remains of the screen door even as I realise what’s about to happen. But it’s too late; I can’t stop myself as I fall on Noah with anooft.
‘OW!’ he cries underneath me, wriggling—
Immediately, I try to get off him. Our bodies are too close together, but as soon as I get my hands under myself, I’m body-slammed by an overly enthusiastic dog.
‘Sadie! Sadie!’ A woman’s voice bounces down the hall. ‘Sadie, get off him! Oh dear, are you two okay?’
‘I’m fine.’ Noah winces as I crawl off him and submit to being licked by the dog. The older woman stares down at us both. ‘I thought you’d locked the door.’
‘Oh dear,’ she murmurs as she steps over our bodies to examine the door frame, which is hanging askew. ‘The door is so rusty, the hinge must have broken.’
‘Top-notch security,’ Noah mutters as he stands. We look at each other for half a second before I clear my throat.
‘I’ll, um, go,’ I mumble. My face feels hot. ‘I’m sorry about the door.’
Then, without waiting for a response, I turn away, hurry down the steps and through the gate and throw myself into the back of the car. With my ego, heart and shinbone bruised, I direct the driver back to the hotel and sink my head into my hands. What an absolute mess.
I grab my phone but immediately wish I hadn’t. Phoebe’s texted me.
Never find someone special, my ass.
12
Noah
Ithink about the kiss all night. The almost kiss. The kiss that should have been. I think about Gabriel pressing me up against the door and how it felt to have his body against mine. I think about him as my hand slips under the waistband of my boxers. Except in my fantasy, he’s the one touching me.
My phone wakes me, buzzing on my bedside table. Blearily, I pick it up. It’s just after eight and the morning sun casts a warm light into my bedroom.
There are three messages and one email.
Hungrygabriel73:I’m sorry about last night. Ihope the door is okay . . . Iam sorry Itripped. Ihope you will still come today. My manager Victor will meet you at the gates near the station.
Hungrygabriel73:Please tell papa we’ve known each other longer than four days. Keep it vague.
Hungrygabriel73:See you after the match.
Tripped?Tripped? Was that what happened? I remember him stepping closer. I remember he’d smelt of citrus and wood, like when I used to pick oranges from the tree in my backyard and the smell of the peel would linger on the tips of my fingers.
Had Gabriel leaned forward just to open the door? Is that why the hinge buckled?
I flick to the email.Don’t forget! University Open Day is coming up!
Placing my phone back on the table, I drag myself into the shower. The warm water soothes the ache in my shoulders that’s set in overnight. I wince as I roll my neck. It’s one thing to fall on your arse, but it’s another to be crushed by a professional athlete on your way down.
To be honest, I’m not sure how to feel about everything that’s happening with Gabriel. On the one hand, when I’m with him, everything else feels kinda blurry at the edges. I can’t remember the last time I felt the stomach-churning thrill of a crush.
