Page 66 of One Last Time

I caught my breath and let out a sharp laugh. “Oh my God, seriously?”

“It was probably about Levi,” Rachel agreed seriously, sipping her wine.

“You too? This is crazy. Noah’s gotno reasonto be jealous of Levi.”

They both pulled a face and then tried to go back tonotpulling a face, but it was too late by then. Rachel was helpful enough to point out, “But you did kiss him.”

“He did kind of have a look,” Amanda added with a sympathetic expression.

“Whatlook? What are you talking about?”

“You know, that…” Amanda’s head wobbled and her eyes drifting side to side as she looked up at the ceiling, her lips pursed lightly and her eyelashes fluttering. There was something dreamy and wistful about it.

I snorted. “Okay, I don’t know what you’re talking about, butthatis not a look I’ve ever seen on Levi’s face.”

“Looks pretty accurate to me,” Rachel mumbled into her wine.

“Okay!” I grinned at them both, knowing my eyes told a different story—one that said,Screw you both, I don’t have time for this.“Well, you guys are drunk and clearly don’t know what you’re talking about, and I’ve got a missing boyfriend to track down and talk some sense into.”

“No, stay! Watch home movies with us! Um…” Rachel looked at the bottle of wine, which wasn’t far from being empty. “Iguessyou can have what’s left of the wine.”

“But no chocolates,” Amanda decided.

“I’m good, thanks. I’d really better go find Noah.”

“Good luck,” they both called to me. I stopped by my room to grab a jacket, then passed Lee on his way back from the kitchen, already digging into a heaping plate of macaroni and cheese.

“I’m gonna go look for Noah.”

“You sure you don’t wanna stay and hang out? He’ll probably come crawling home soon.”

I shook my head, fidgeting with the jacket I was holding. “Nah, I…I’d rather just clear the air, you know?”

“Any idea where he is?”

I shook my head. “I figured I’d go check down on the beach, then—”

As I said it, we both turned at the noise of Noah’s motorcycle engine growling outside. The sound cut a moment later.

“Mystery solved,” Lee muttered. He shoved some more pasta into his mouth, set the fork down on the plate to pat my shoulder, and then carried on to the rumpus room. I braced myself as I went in the opposite direction, opening the front door to find Noah stopped halfway up the porch, fiddling with his keys and scowling at the floor, his lips moving silently—like he was giving himself a pep talk.

He glanced up, looking surprised to see me. “Oh.”

“Expecting someone else?”

“I…figured you’d still be mad at me.”

I shrugged. Maybe I still was, just a bit. Enough that I wasn’t going to forgive himtooquickly.

Noah sighed heavily. His hair fell into his eyes, such a bright blue that they were striking even through the dark. He was wearing the T-shirt I’d seen him in earlier and his usual leather jacket. “Can we go for a walk?”

I nodded, pulling on my jacket and closing the door behind me. Noah offered his hand, and for a minute I considered not taking it and walking ahead of him, just to make a point, but…

My hand slipped into his, fitting so well. Our fingers slotted together like this was exactly where they belonged. I got a waft of that citrus scent I would forever associate with Noah. It was comforting, even if we were technically still having an argument.

This far out, it was a private stretch of beach, for residents only. We both took our shoes and socks off, leaving them behind as we walked down to the shore, the sea washing over our ankles.

“It’s so quiet. I’ve never seen it this quiet.”