Perfect for You by Ashelyn Drake
To first loves, because there are few better things in this world.
PERFECT FOR YOU
Ashelyn Drake
Chapter One
As the sun lowers in the sky, I lie back on the tennis court and think about Ash. After five months, my stomach still gets butterflies every time I see him. His touch makes me want to smother his lips with mine, and he has a way of making me feel like I’m the only girl in the world—at least to him. He’s perfect in just about every way.
“You’re tense, Flannigan. I can tell,” Noah says, his head mere inches from mine. He turns to give me one of his killer one-dimple smiles and I melt, the way I have since I first laid eyes on him two years ago.
Why did he have to wait until now to show an interest in me? I’m falling in love with Ash. I know I am. But Noah…
“Am I making you nervous?” Noah invades my personal space, something he’s made a habit of doing over the past week. He’s the best player on the guy’s tennis team, and he’s helping me improve my game. We get along really well because we have a lot in common, but we’re just friends. That’s all, because that’s all we can be. He leans forward, and I forget to breathe as our faces get closer and closer. Is he going to kiss me? He reaches one hand behind my back and lifts me closer to him. He is going to kiss me! Holy crap! I can’t do this.
“Noah, I—”
Before I can finish, he’s pushing me back down again, and I feel a tennis ball under my shoulder blade.
“Now lie still for a few minutes, relaxing the muscles around the ball. It should get rid of that tension. You’ve probably got a knot from all the extra practice you’ve been putting in.”
Yeah, but it’s not the knot in my shoulder I’m worried about. It’s the one in my stomach. The one that formed when I thought Noah was going to kiss me, and I didn’t really want to stop him.
This is bad. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be in a situation where I think a guy might kiss me. Where I think I might let him. Ash doesn’t deserve this.
“I should go.” I sit up abruptly, smacking my head into Noah’s. “Ow!” I fall back down, but he puts his hand under my head before it cracks into the hard court.
“Easy! If you get a concussion or a cracked skull, Coach Moyers will hunt me down and use me as target practice for the JV team.”
“Sorry. Did I hurt you?” I rub my forehead and am thankful there isn’t a huge lump.
“Thick head. At least that’s what my dad tells me.” He’s still cradling my head in his hands.
“Hey,” Ash’s voice calls from the gate.
Oh, God! Ash! What time is it? He’s done with practice already? I sit up too quickly and wobble a little.
“Seriously, take it easy,” Noah says, helping to steady me.
Ash runs over and crouches down next to me. “Are you okay? I thought—” His eyes go to Noah and back to me. “Are you all right, Meg?”
“I’m okay. I hit my head.” I leave off the part about hitting it against Noah’s head. “Noah stopped me from bashing my skull into the court, thankfully.”
Ash turns to Noah. “Thanks, man. I’ve got her from here.”
Noah’s gaze is back on me. “Tomorrow?”
I nod, cringing at the throbbing in my head.
“Take it easy.” He smiles at me and grabs his bag. I don’t watch him leave. Not with Ash staring at me the way he is, like I’ve betrayed him.
“What was that about? Why was he here with you? I thought you were practicing with Grayson.”
I lean my hands behind me for support. “I was. She left around seven, after Noah showed up. Coach asked him to help me get ready for the first match. Kendall Mercer is my toughest competition this season.” I hate lying but seeing the look on Ash’s face right now, I know he’ll freak out if I tell him the truth. He won’t understand me wanting to be friends with someone like Noah. He’s the guy every girl at Treemont High wants to date. And his actions—the way he always finds a reason to touch me—make me wonder if he’s into me. I’m so screwed.
“Oh.” Ash sighs. “When I walked down here, it looked like…like he was kissing you.” He stands up and runs his hands through his hair. “It’s stupid. I never should’ve thought that. I know you’d never do something like that to me.” He reaches for my hands and gently pulls me to my feet. “Do you forgive me?”
Forgive him? Now I feel like a major jerk. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I’m the one hanging out with another guy, one I’d totally date if I wasn’t with Ash.
“I’m sorry things looked that way to you.” It’s not the apology I want to make, but it’s the one that won’t hurt him.
He shakes his head like he’s trying to erase the image from his mind. “It’s been a long day. I’m tired. The heat is getting to me, and I missed you like crazy.”
I reach up on my toes and kiss him. He pulls me close and places his hand on the small of my back, making sure I don’t try to get away, not that I plan to. He deepens the kiss as I bury my fingers in his hair. My body is pressed up against his, and I stay that way until my lungs are aching for air.