Girl Online(49)

So, any chance you can escape from the party early? I don’t normally like long goodbyes but this time I’ll make an exception. (I told you you’re making me act all weird!) N



How early?



Now early?



Are you here?!!



Yes—in the service car park. Just say the word and I’ll come meet you in the kitchen . . .



Mum and Dad are getting up to dance.

“That was Noah,” I say. “He’s here already. Would it be OK if I go and see him in the kitchen?”

“Of course,” Mum says.

“Bring him through here,” Dad says over his shoulder as he leads Mum to the dance floor. “I’m sure Cindy and Jim won’t mind.”

I slip off into the kitchen and find Sadie Lee wiping down one of the huge stainless-steel counters. I’ve barely seen her all day as she’s been holed up out here overseeing all of the meals.

“Hello,” I say.

“Hello, sweet girl.” Sadie Lee turns to me with a beaming smile. Her face is slightly flushed and a few strands of grey hair have made their way out of her bun but apart from that she still looks effortlessly chic. She looks me up and down. “Why, don’t you just look adorable!”

“Thank you, it’s my evening attire.”

“It’s beautiful, that’s what it is. Let me get a look.” Sadie comes over to take a closer look at the beading on my dress. “You look just like a picture I have at home of my grandmother. She was one of the original flapper girls. Oh my! Noah’s eyes are going to pop right on out of his head when he sees you.”

At the mention of his name, I instantly blush and feel super-self-conscious. “He just texted me to say he was here—in the car park.”

Sadie Lee nods and gives a knowing grin. “I know. He’s on his way up.”

“Thank you for inviting us to spend Christmas with you.”

“Oh, honey, you are so welcome. I love having a full house at Christmas. It will be just like—” She breaks off and I guess she must be thinking about Noah’s parents.

“I was so sorry to hear about—about the accident,” I say quietly, hoping that it isn’t too forward of me.

She gives me a sad smile. “Noah told you?”

I nod.

“He’s very taken with you, you know.”

I smile back at her. “I—I really like him too.”

Sadie Lee comes closer, and her voice takes on a more urgent tone. “I’m so glad he’s met someone he can talk to. He’s under—”

“Hey, what’s up? Oh my!” I turn to see Noah staring at me, his eyes wide.

“What did I tell you!” Sadie Lee nudges me. “Popping right out of his head.”

“You look—majestic!” Noah says, still standing rooted to the spot over by the door.

“Thank you,” I say shyly. “So do you.”

Noah’s wearing black skinny jeans and a scuffed leather biker jacket, over a pale grey hoodie. His hair looks shinier and softer than yesterday, like it’s freshly washed, and his eyes look even chocolatier than I remember them. As he starts to smile, the dimples return on either side of his mouth. He looks so cute I can’t decide whether I want to hug him or take a picture of him.

“Do you have it?” he says, glancing quickly at Sadie Lee before returning his gaze to me.

“Sure do,” she says, bringing a wicker picnic hamper out from under the counter.

“I was wondering,” Noah says to me in a fake posh voice, “if you would like to accompany me on a picnic.”

“A picnic?”

“Uh-huh—but not just any old picnic,” he says with a twinkle in his eye.

“Oh no?” I say, playing along.

“No. I’m talking about a moonlit picnic.”

Instantly my heart sinks—there’s no way Mum and Dad will let me leave the hotel.

“On a secret roof terrace,” Noah continues. “Right behind this very kitchen.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Sadie Lee starts to chuckle.

“I would be honored,” I say. I look at Sadie Lee. “Please could you tell my parents where I’ve gone? They’re through in the reception, probably embarrassing themselves on the dance floor.”

“Sure thing, honey.” She looks at Noah, concerned. “But isn’t she going to freeze out there, in that dress?”

He shakes his head. “Don’t worry, G-ma, I’ve got it covered.”

“Now why doesn’t that surprise me?” Sadie Lee says with a chuckle. “OK, y’all have fun—and don’t go keeping her out there too long. We don’t want her folks thinking she’s been abducted.”

Sadie Lee heads off into the reception room, leaving Noah and me alone.

“So,” he says, bringing the hamper over to me.

“So.” I feel so self-conscious I have to look at the floor.

“If you could invite any fictional character to a picnic, who would it be?”

I instantly smile. Noah’s random questions are definitely great icebreakers. “Augustus Waters from The Fault in Our Stars,” I say. “So I could bring him back to life.”