Girl Online(50)

“Great answer,” Noah says. “I’d bring that sappy guy from Twilight—so I could kill him.”

I laugh and look up at Noah, and the second our eyes meet I feel a kind of jolt inside. It’s so powerful it almost takes my breath away.

He smiles and looks away. “It’s good to see you again.”

“You’re welcome,” I say. I don’t know why I say it—well, I do: it’s because I’m an International Embarrassment Waiting to Happen, cursed by the God of Awkward Moments.

“I’m welcome?”

“No.”

“I’m not welcome?” Noah tilts his head to one side and grins at me.

“Yes, you are—it’s just—I—I didn’t mean to say that. I don’t know what . . .” I turn away slightly, so he doesn’t get third-degree burns from the heat coming from my face. “I meant to say, thank you.”

“You’re welcome!?” Noah says loudly, and we both crack up laughing. “Come on,” he says, guiding me toward a door that I’d assumed was to a cupboard. The door actually leads to a narrow passageway, which leads to a fire exit. “Sadie Lee told me about this place,” he explains. “It’s where the kitchen staff come for a smoke.” He gives me a bashful grin. “Which makes it sound like the least glamorous picnic venue ever but don’t worry—we’ll make it cool. And, much as I hate to see you covering up that dress, I’d hate for you to get pneumonia out there.” He pulls a fleecy hoodie from his bag.

It’s so huge on me it almost comes down to my knees.

“Hmm.” Noah frowns. “How come it looks a whole lot better on you than it does on me?”

And, just like that, he ignites my confidence and it starts to grow.

Noah opens the fire exit and we step outside onto an expanse of flat concrete rooftop surrounded by high metal railings. He takes me over to an alcove in the wall, where he lays out the tartan blanket from his truck.

“After you, ma’am,” he says, gesturing to me to sit down.

Noah sits down across from me and opens the hamper. He takes out a flask and a couple of cups. Then two plates and some really fancy cutlery and various parcels wrapped in tinfoil. I watch, my mouth watering, as he unwraps the parcels to reveal a selection of beautiful handmade canapés and chocolate-covered strawberries and fairy cakes. Then finally he pulls out two candles and a book of matches. “This must be Sadie Lee’s idea,” he says with a grin. “That woman’s such a romantic.”

He lights the candles and we sit there for a moment, grinning at each other, then looking away.

“I was hoping it would be a clear night,” Noah says, staring up at the dark sky. “I was hoping we’d be able to see the moon again.”

“It doesn’t matter. This is perfect.”

Way down below us I can hear the noise of New York but we’re so far up that the sirens and horns could almost be as soft as birdsong.

“I was thinking,” Noah says, unscrewing the flask. Steam spirals up from it into the cold air. “Maybe we could write each other once you get back home—and Skype—and instant message?” He looks at me and sighs. “Look, Penny, I wish you weren’t going tomorrow.”

I instantly grin. Sadie Lee obviously hasn’t told him that we’re staying. I wonder if she deliberately left it for me to tell him.

“There’s no need to look so happy about it,” Noah says, shaking his head.

“I’m not,” I say, my grin getting even wider.

“Really? You could have fooled me!”

“I’m not happy because I’m leaving—I’m happy because I’m not leaving. Not tomorrow, anyway. My mum’s been asked to organize a party, here in New York, the day before New Year’s Eve. We’re staying here till the new year!”

Noah’s mouth drops open. “You’re kidding?”

“Nope.”

He beckons to me across the picnic blanket. “Come here.”

I get onto my knees and shuffle toward him. As soon as I’m close enough, he grabs one of my hands. I feel giddy with anticipation.

“And do you want to know the best bit?” I say.

“That isn’t the best bit?”

I shake my head. “No, the best bit is Sadie Lee’s invited us to spend Christmas with you!”

Noah starts to laugh. “Yep, that’s definitely the best bit.” Then his expression goes all serious. He looks at me and I feel a weird tugging in the pit of my stomach. “So . . .” he says.

“So . . .” I echo back, my heart pounding.

He’s so close I can see a tiny fleck of ink on the side of his face. His hand closes tighter around mine and this automatically pulls me even closer, until our faces are just centimeters apart. He’s going to kiss me! Is he going to kiss me? What should I do? I close my eyes to try to block out any panicky thoughts. And then I feel his lips on mine—as light as a feather—and I feel myself kissing him back. Somehow, miraculously, I seem to know what to do. And then he lets go of my hand and I feel his strong arms wrapping around me, pulling me even closer. As the kiss gets more intense, I feel as if I’m melting into him.

And then my phone starts to ring. I let it go to voicemail while Noah hugs me tight.