Page 58 of My Fault

I tried to calm the waves of anger that had crashed over me as I’d imagined Noah lying in bed with her ex-boyfriend, doing anything but sleeping. I remembered that she was scared of the dark, and that awakened something tender inside me.

Her breathing was soft and regular. I’d never just watched a girl sleep. It was fascinating. I walked over close, wanting to confirm a theory. The closer I came, the harder my heart started beating. I felt relieved…strange but relieved. My hand twitched, I wanted to touch those lips so badly; they were succulent, the color of cherries. Every inch of me wanted to touch every inch of her, and I knew then that everything had changed. It didn’t matter if I hooked up with Anna or anyone else. Nothing would be as intense as the feelings I had for that girl now sleeping in my home.

21

Noah

I got up later than normal that morning. I didn’t know if it was all the contradictory thoughts I’d gone to bed with or the knowledge that I had a hard day ahead of me, but when I saw the clouds in the sky, I knew I’d made a mistake asking for a favor from Nicholas and that nothing good would come of my ex staying at my home. I put on a swimsuit and a sundress, telling myself I’d just have to hang on till seven, when I could go to my new job and avoid whatever problems Dan had in store for me.

I’d thought it over a long time before falling asleep, and the only feelings I still had for the guy who’d been everything for me were rage and resentment. I was angry. I didn’t want to see him. I felt stupid for ever letting him kiss me. Maybe that was just because he wasn’t in front of me to stir up old memories. But I hoped it stayed that way that morning. I didn’t even want to see his face.

When I went to the kitchen and saw Dan sitting at the table with a cup of coffee staring at his phone, I couldn’t keep myself from scowling at him. I walked straight past him to the fridge and got out the orange juice.

“I was waiting for you to come down,” he said, standing upand leaning on the counter. I ignored him as I sliced the bread and put it in the toaster. “Your parents are gone.”

“My mother’s gone,” I corrected him. “William is not my parent.”

Dan sighed, and finally I looked over at him. His hair was well combed, and he’d put on jeans and a T-shirt with a stupid phrase on it.

“You don’t want to talk to me?” he asked. “I want you back, Noah. I didn’t come here from another country just for a vacation. I came here to get you to forgive me.”

“I can’t forgive you, Dan. You cheated on me, and not just once. I’ve got photos, I don’t know who sent them, but I’d assume it’s one of your little girlfriends. They never liked you and me going out, and I guess they don’t like you going out with my best friend, either.”

Before Dan could respond, Nick came in with no shirt on, wearing pajama pants that hung low on his hips. His hair was scruffy, his feet bare…and he made my heart start pounding. Dan looked over at the young man who had immediately entranced me.

Nick stopped in the doorway and analyzed the situation. I bit my lip. What would he do now?

“Hi, we haven’t been introduced,” Nick said, stretching out his hand. Dan reacted a second late. I could see the veins in my stepbrother’s arm tense as he squeezed Dan’s hand. Dan visibly tried as hard as possible to pretend it didn’t hurt while I stood there fidgeting. “I’m Nicholas.”

“Dan,” my ex said.

The next thing that happened must have shaken him to the core: Nick walked over and bent down to kiss me lovingly on the lips.

“Morning, Precious,” he said, eyes glimmering in a way I couldn’t quite decipher. Then he poured himself a coffee and walked out into the yard.

Wow, Nick. Thanks for putting me on the spot.

“What’s this all about, Noah?” Dan asked, seething.

I shrugged, trying to ignore him.

“It means that I’ve moved on,” I said, sitting down and taking a sip of my juice.

“You didn’t even need two weeks to find that meathead to replace me?”

“You didn’t even need twenty-four hours.”

Dan walked over and grabbed the back of my chair.

“I know what you’re doing. I get it. You’re trying to give me a taste of my own medicine. But that doesn’t change anything, Noah. You and I have a relationship.”

“Had. Wehada relationship,” I said, getting up and raising my voice.

“What else do I have to do for you to forgive me?”

I laughed. “What else? What the hell have you done? Let my mom buy you a plane ticket? My God, you’re pathetic.”

I walked out the door into the yard. Nick was lying on a deck chair. I sat down beside him. He took off his sunglasses and looked at me impassively.