Perfect for You(31)

I giggle. “Oh, very sexy.”

“I couldn’t wait until after the game. I wanted to call you when I woke up, but I knew you’d still be asleep.”

“You can wake me up anytime, Ash.”

“I love you, Meg.”

“I love you, too. Good luck today. I’ll be there soon.” I hang up, my mind a jumble of happy images. This was the right decision. Ash is who I’m supposed to be with.

I get dressed and grab a quick breakfast, pretending to listen to Mom and Dad talk about how much fun they had on their date. I kiss them both goodbye and head to the school. The parking lot is packed, and I’m kind of surprised. The football team has never been good, yet a lot of people showed up for the game. Maybe this year’s team has some hope after all.

I head to the bleachers, searching for number ten. Ash, my perfect ten. He turns and catches my eye immediately. His Meg radar is working fine. I smile and wave, taking my seat in the first row to be as close to him as possible.

“Head in the game, Davidson,” Coach Larsen says, clapping his hand down on Ash’s shoulder. “Your girlfriend came to watch you, not the other way around.”

I smile at Ash and motion for him to get focused. While the players take the field and get in some practice throws, I scan the bleachers. I don’t see Noah. Thankfully. But I do see Liz. My body tenses. I really want to go over there and smack the bright red lipstick right off her face.

“Down girl.”

I whip my head around to see Noah. How did he sneak up on me? “What are you doing here? I asked you not to come.”

“Relax. I won’t sit by you if you don’t want me to.”

“Thank you.” I turn back toward the field, toward Ash.

“So, did something happen between Liz and Ash last night?” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Noah sit down in the row behind me, two spots down.

I turn back to him. “Do you have a spy on the football team? Or maybe one of the cheerleaders? And by the way, that’s totally not what I meant by not sitting by me.”

He laughs. “Still too close for you? And, yes, I do know some people on the football team and the cheerleading squad.”

Of course he does. He’s popular.

“Didn’t like her hanging all over him, huh?”

“Are you trying to piss me off?” My voice is laced with anger.

“Not at all. I’m sorry you got hurt is all.” He sounds sincere, which I’m sure he is.

“I’m fine. Ash and I are fine. Better than fine, actually.”

He cocks his head to the side, staring at me so intently I feel self-conscious. “You didn’t.”

My eyes widen. He couldn’t possibly know I slept with Ash, could he? “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I need to focus on the game.” The toss falls in our favor, so Ash is taking the field. He turns to me, and I smile and nod in encouragement. Hopefully he doesn’t notice Noah.

The first half goes by without Noah saying another word to me. He definitely knows about Ash and me. I don’t know how. Maybe something in my body language is different. Maybe I look different. Who knows? But I’m okay with it. This is how it has to be.

“Oh, God, I just want to grab his hot body and…ugh! I can’t believe he’s dating her.” Liz’s voice carries over to me.

I stiffen, unable to believe she just yelled that. She’s not even trying to hide the fact that she’s going after my boyfriend, and she’s dissing me in the process. I can’t control myself. I’m not letting some freshman slut badmouth me. “You bitch.” I stand up, but Noah grabs my arms and forces me back onto the bleachers, taking the seat next to me. “Did you hear her?” I ask him.

“Yes. I’m guessing she wanted you to hear her. She said it loud enough for this whole section of the bleachers to overhear.” He turns my face toward him. “Hey.” His eyes burn into mine. “If you go over there, it will only make things worse. Right now, she looks like the idiot. You have Ash already. You don’t need to prove anything.”

I shake my head, not understanding Noah’s behavior at all. “I don’t get you. You say you want to be with me, but here you are helping me with Ash.” My eyes go to the field to make sure Ash is too involved in the game to notice Noah sitting next to me.

He shrugs. “What can I say? I don’t like to see you unhappy.”

No. Don’t be sweet. Don’t say things that are going to make me…“I slept with Ash.” Where the hell did that come from? It’s clear he already knows, so why did I feel the need to say it?

“I know.” His eyes lower for a second, but then he faces me again. “It doesn’t change how I feel about you. But if Ash is the one you want, I’ll respect that.” Noah really is a nice guy. “The only thing is, if you keep giving me ins, letting me get close to you…well, I’m human. I’m going to keep myself in the picture. Give you the opportunity to choose me.”

“Why would you do that? How can you watch the person you want be with someone else?” I couldn’t handle Derrick kissing Stacy. That was the worst pain I’ve ever felt. How can Noah watch me be with Ash and still want to be with me?

“We’re in high school, Meg. People date. People break up. It happens all the time.”