Perfect for You(26)

“Coach is inside. He won’t know if you cut out early.”

“He’ll be back.” He coughs, and I realize talking to me is only making this harder on him.

“I’m sorry. This is sort of my fault.”

“No—”

“Don’t talk. Just run. Call me later.”

I stop running, watching him continue. He turns back. “Worth it,” he yells. I smile. I’m not sure there’s any punishment he won’t take for me.

***

Friday night and I’m sitting home. Grayson didn’t feel well after practice so the movie is off, and Ash will be at the pre-game football party, so it’s just me and my trig book. What fun. Noah was right. I really do need to find a group to hang out with outside of school and tennis. I talk to just about everyone, but talking to and being friends with are two totally different things. My cell rings. Ash. I love the picture that pops up on my screen. I took it while I was tickling him since he can’t smile for pictures.

“Hey, handsome.”

“I like that.” I can hear the smile in his voice.

“Sorry about earlier with Coach Larsen. I hope he wasn’t too hard on you.”

“Nah.” He wouldn’t tell me if he was hurting because he wouldn’t want me to feel bad about it. “I miss you. I thought about that kiss, and what we were talking about before it, the entire time I ran laps.”

“Then I guess it’s a good thing there won’t be any girls at this party tonight. I don’t want you having thoughts like that around anyone but me.”

“Oh.” His voice is laced with worry. Something’s wrong.

“Oh, what?”

“I thought you knew the cheerleaders come to these parties.”

Cheerleaders—as in Liz. “No, I didn’t.” It takes all my energy to keep breathing and not throw my trig book at the wall.

“Do you want me to stay home?”

He’d do that for me? Wait, why am I surprised? Ash is amazing. “No. You need to go. Besides, I trust you.” It’s Liz I don’t trust. Neither of us says a word for a moment. I stare at the clock on my nightstand, watching the blinking lights count the seconds that pass. Finally, I get up the courage to say what’s on my mind. The watered-down version at least. “Do me a favor.”

“Stay away from Liz?”

“Yes, please.”

“I’ll call you the second I leave. Maybe I could cut out early and we could…”

Yup, he has a one-track mind right now. I’m not sure his head left that stairwell. “One more favor. Take a cold shower before you go tonight.”

“Got it.” He laughs. “You know you can trust me.”

“I know.” Ash is one of the good guys. He’s not Derrick.

“Well, the cold shower awaits. Call you later.”

“Love you, Ash.”

“Love you.” He hangs up.

I sigh, missing him already, but the doorbell rings. Mom and Dad are having a date night, like they do every Friday, which leaves me the only one to answer the door. I grab my cell and race downstairs, thinking Grayson’s feeling better and wants to see the movie after all. I fling open the door, but it’s not Grayson.

“Noah?” What is he doing here? I didn’t think I’d see him for…well, ever. Not after the incident in the stairwell. But here he is, smiling at me.

“Hey. Check it out.” He moves aside so I can see the Camaro parked in my driveway. It’s silver and totally hot.

“You got a new car?” The surprises keep coming.

“Yup. Come see.” He grabs my hand and pulls me out the door. My mind is spinning. What is going on? Why isn’t he mad at me? Why would he show up here thinking I’d be home on a Friday night, especially after seeing Ash and me together after school?

We stop at the hood of the car, and Noah lets go of my hand. He takes a step back, admiring his new ride. The car is beautiful.

“Wow,” I say.

“I know, right? So, what do you think?”

I thought “wow” covered it, but apparently not. “It’s great.” I walk around to the passenger side and peek inside. Leather interior and, judging by the size of the speakers, the sound system is incredible. “Better than great.”

“Can you see yourself in it?” He’s right behind me now and I can feel his breath on my shoulder.

My eyes snap to him. “See myself in it?”

“Yeah. Hop in.” He opens the passenger side door.

“No, I can’t.”

“Ash has that party tonight, right?”

“Yeah, but—” How did he know that?

“It’s Friday. You’re not sitting home alone waiting for your boyfriend to call when he’s finished having fun. That’s depressing. Get in.” He nods toward the car.

“I can’t.” I’m not making this mistake again. I’m not letting Noah back into my life.

“I know this little movie theater one town over. They play super old movies no one wants to see. Believe me, no one from school will be there, and no one’s seen my new car yet, so you don’t have to worry about anyone recognizing us on the road either.”

That’s not the problem. Well, it’s one of them, but there’s a bigger issue. Ash. And my feelings for Noah. Okay, two bigger issues. “I really can’t. It’s not right. What you said earlier in the library is true.”