Perfect for You(33)

Noah meets my gaze instead of looking at Liz. “No, thanks. You definitely have some growing up to do.”

He doesn’t like younger girls. I can’t keep from smiling. Liz storms off with her friends, leaving Noah and me staring at each other.

“I guess I owe you again. That’s twice today you’ve kept me from getting suspended.”

“Well, if I let you get suspended, I wouldn’t get to see you at school, so there is something in it for me.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever understand you, Noah.”

“You will. One day.” He walks away, brushing his hand against mine so discreetly I bet no one else saw it. But I sure felt it and the intent behind it. He knows he can make me feel something for him.

I wait outside the locker room for Ash and am totally shocked when he comes out before any of the other players. His hair is wet and his shirt’s damp, which means he got dressed before he finished drying off after his shower.

“Are you okay? Some of the guys said they saw you and Liz going at it.”

I reach for his hands. “I’m fine. We argued. Nothing physical.” Guys and their fantasies. I’m sure Liz and I were rolling around on the grass and pulling each other’s hair in the version of the story Ash’s friends told him.

He cups the side of my face. “She didn’t hurt you?”

“What makes you think I couldn’t take her in a fight?”

“I do think you could take her. I just don’t want you fighting, especially over me.”

“Really, I’m fine.” I reach up and kiss him.

“I told the guys I’m done with the parties. If she’s there, I’m not. I’d rather be with you anyway.”

“Ash, you can’t skip the football parties. They’re tradition.”

“Fine. Then you’re coming with me.”

“But girlfriends aren’t allowed, unless they’re cheerleaders.”

“I don’t care. I’m captain. I’m making a new rule.”

I wrap my arm around his waist, and he drapes his arm over my shoulder as we walk to our cars. “What do you feel like doing for the rest of the day?”

He raises one eyebrow. Why am I not surprised?

“Tell you what.”

His face falls.

“Ash, come on.”

“Sorry. You got my hopes up.” He sighs. “Go on.”

“Tennis.”

“Tennis?”

“Yeah, I want to teach you.”

“We tried that once, remember? It didn’t go so well.”

True, but tennis is the common factor with Noah and me. Maybe if I teach Ash to play, it will bring us closer and lessen my attraction to Noah. “Please.” I stop walking and pull him into me, kissing him lightly on the mouth and then on his neck.

“That’s so not fair.”

I laugh, knowing I’ve won. “Come on. I have a few rackets in my trunk.”

Ash puts his football gear in my car instead of walking to his. Neither one of us is dressed to play tennis, but it doesn’t matter. We walk hand in hand to the courts.

“Okay, if I’m going to do this, we have to work out a reward system.”

“Reward system?” This ought to be good.

“Yup. Every time I get the ball back in the court, I get a kiss.”

“So, we have to stop playing so I can kiss you? We’ll be here all day.”

“I’ll keep track until the point is over. How’s that?”

“And what if you win the point? What are you going to expect then?”

He pulls me into him, kissing me hungrily. We wind up kissing more than playing, but I’m not complaining.

***

I’m up early on Sunday, which isn’t normal for me. Ash goes to church and then out to lunch with his family, so I’ve got a few hours before I see him. I grab my car keys and drive to the courts. Since I didn’t really get much practice in with Ash—well, not tennis practice anyway—I want to get in a few hours, work on my serve for this week’s match. I see Noah the second I pull up. There’s no way he could’ve known I’d be here. This isn’t my normal Sunday routine.

“Hey,” he says as I walk onto the court. “Following me?”

“Cute, but no.”

“You’re never here on Sunday morning. I know because it’s my set practice time.”

So this really is a coincidence, nothing more. “I woke up early and didn’t know what else to do.” I do a few stretches to warm up.

“Where’s Ash?” Noah walks over to me, standing much closer than necessary.

“Church.”

“Why didn’t you call Grayson to hit with you?”

Grayson! Crap! I’ve been totally ignoring her. With all the drama between Ash and Noah I forgot to even check up on her to see how she’s feeling after being sick Friday afternoon. I’m officially the worst best friend.

Noah waves his hand in front of my face. “Did I lose you?”

“Sorry, I was thinking about Gray.”

“Well, you want to play?”

Why not? We’re both here. “Sure, but I get to serve first.”

He bounces the ball to me. “That’s my girl.” His words stop us both. I’m not his girl. I’m Ash’s girl.