Perfect for You(19)

Until I see Ash walking over to us.





Chapter Nine


“You were amazing,” Noah says, his lips brushing my ear.

I tap his shoulder. “Could you put me down, please?” My eyes are locked on Ash, who’s getting closer by the second and not at all happy about seeing me in Noah’s arms.

Noah sets me down and turns, following my gaze. He doesn’t look at Ash for long. “Guess that’s my cue to leave.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Great job again. I knew you could do it. We’ll talk more later.”

“Thanks. For everything. I couldn’t have beaten her without your help.”

He smiles as he walks away, not even looking in Ash’s direction, and I’m thankful for that. The last thing I need is Ash getting kicked off the team for fighting with Noah.

“Hey.” I rush up to him, forcing a smile on my face. “I won!” I go to hug him, but he grabs my arms, not letting me get any closer.

“I don’t even know where to start, Meg.” His hands shake as they hold my arms. “First I see him here, which makes no sense to me because I thought you two stopped hanging out. Then, I rush over here to catch the end of your match and I find you with your arms wrapped around him.” He lets go of me, like he can’t stand to touch me after I hugged Noah.

“Ash, it was nothing. Noah came to support me because he’s a good friend.”

“A good friend?” Ash is practically yelling, and people are starting to stare.

I pull him toward the track and away from all the listening ears. “What do you want me to say? He told me Kendall’s weakness. He told me what to do to beat her, and he was right. Besides, it’s not like I could ask him to leave. The match is open to the public, and I was too busy focusing on beating Kendall to even think about Noah being here.” Not entirely true. I liked having Noah here. He gave me the confidence I needed to win. And it’s nice having someone who understands tennis to talk to. Someone other than Grayson or the other girls on the team. Ash is always busy with football. I got him to play tennis once, but he couldn’t get the hang of it, and he never asked to practice with me again after that.

Ash runs his fingers through his hair and stares out at the courts. I have no idea how my teammates are doing. I should be there cheering on Grayson. It’s her first varsity match, and I know she’s nervous.

“Ash, I have to get back to my team. If I’m not there to support them, Coach is going to be pissed.”

“What about me? Don’t you care that I’m pissed?” His eyes are red, and I’m not sure if it’s from anger or if…“I feel like I’m losing you, Meg.”

“What?” I reach for his hands, not letting him push me away this time. “Ash, no. I’m not going anywhere. Noah is just a friend. That’s it.”

“I don’t get it. He’s totally into you, and you’re either too na?ve to see it or you like his attention and won’t set him straight.”

Ouch. Neither of those options sounds like something I want to admit to. I let go of his hands and reach for his waist, pulling my body up against his. “Ash, I’m with you. I only want you. Maybe Noah does like me, but it doesn’t really matter. I love you.”

He sighs and lowers his head, resting his forehead on mine. “I don’t want him to come between us.”

“Then don’t let him.” I reach up and kiss him, softly at first, but his hands wrap around me and he deepens the kiss. I can feel all of his insecurity, his fear, his anger. All caused by me. I have to make it go away. He’s so good to me, and he doesn’t deserve to feel this way. We back up, getting lost under the cover of the bleachers. We’re a tangle of limbs. Ash’s lips move across my face to my neck, making me moan.

“Meg?” Jess’s voice is a loud whisper. She must be finished with her match.

I pull away from Ash, but he doesn’t want to let me go. “It’s Jess. Coach must have noticed I took off. He’ll kill me if I don’t get back to the courts.”

Ash groans in protest.

“Come with me.” I tug his arm, practically dragging him out from under the bleachers.

Jess is rounding the bleachers when we come into view. “There you are. Moyers is going to flip his toupee if you don’t get back to the courts. I covered for you and said you ran to the bathroom. Girl stuff. That shut him up, but if you don’t show up soon…”

“Got it. Thanks.” I reach for her arm. “How did you do?” Jess should be a guaranteed win, but you never know.

“I won. Grayson and Leanne aren’t doing so well though.”

I nod and take off running toward the courts. Ash jogs next to me, still holding my hand. I wonder if he’ll ever let go.

We take a seat on the grass by Grayson and Leanne’s court. “Come on, Gray!” I call. She’s getting ready to serve. “Remember what we practiced!” Without looking my way, she nods and tosses the ball in the air.

Ash wraps his arm around me and pulls me closer. Jess smiles at us. “You guys are too cute.” We kind of are. We’re perfect together. So why can’t I get Noah out of my mind? I hate feeling this way. I hate betraying Ash. Even if I’m not physically cheating on him, it’s still wrong that I feel this way. It’s wrong that I like Noah’s attention. I like the way he looks at me. I like the way he smiles at me with that dimple that’s sexy as hell. I don’t know what to make of my feelings for Noah. Can I really have feelings for both Ash and Noah at the same time? Or does it all come back to Derrick and how Noah reminds me of him?