Page 60 of Your Fault

24

Nick

When I opened my eyes that morning, the first thing I saw was Noah’s face a few inches away. Her head was resting on my shoulder and almost her entire body was on top of mine. I had to struggle not to laugh; it was as if she had tried to climb me and had gotten stranded halfway up.

I brushed a lock of hair out of her face and let my thumb stroke her skin covered in freckles…those freckles that drove me wild, not just on her face, but on her breasts, her thin shoulders, her lower back… I loved being the only person who knew every inch of that body perfectly, where every mark, every curve, every wound was…

I looked at that little tattoo behind her ear, the same one I had on my arm. I had decided to get it because I liked the idea of a simple thing being so strong if you just tied it the right way, but now it meant so much more. Now I liked to think I had gotten it because of her… It was ridiculous, but the idea kept going around and around in my mind, both of us getting that same tattoo because somehow we knew we’d end up finding each other…

My phone rang. I stretched my arm out and grabbed it. It wasAnne, Maddie’s social worker. I still couldn’t believe my mother had agreed to let me have her for my birthday weekend, but I wasn’t going to complain. This year, there would be no parties, no stripteases, nothing out of this world: this year, I would spend the day with the two girls I loved most in the world.

Maddie was excited to be with me. She couldn’t be happier. I talked to Anne for a few minutes to find out when the flight would be in and where we would meet, and I hung up with a huge smile on my face. Finally I would be with my sister the way I’d always wanted.

The painters got there soon afterward. I’d wanted them there before seven because I had to leave for the office at eight thirty. When I showed them the room, they said it was small enough that they’d be done in a few hours.

I wasn’t happy about leaving my girlfriend asleep in my apartment with those guys, so I woke her up just as they were getting started.

“Noah, get up,” I said, patting her on the shoulder.

She grunted and kept sleeping. I got dressed, watching the clock on my bedside. If I didn’t want to be late, I needed to leave right then.

“Don’t you know what the wordssummer vacationmean?” she said, turning in the sheets and burying her head under my pillow.

Goddammit. I didn’t have time for this.

I grabbed my phone. On the third ring, Steve picked up, alert and awake, as always.

“Nicholas.”

“I need you to come to my apartment and stay with Noah till the painters are done.”

Noah opened her eyes when she heard this. “You’re kidding, right?” she said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes like a four-year-old.

No, I wasn’t joking one bit.

“I’m on my way now,” Steve said.

“I’ll wait here,” I said and hung up.

Noah crossed her arms, angry, staring at me. “You honestly need a shrink.”

I smiled, ignoring her tone, and continued putting on my clothes. I was going to be late, but I didn’t care. Better than leaving Noah alone with two strangers.

“I’m just taking care of you,” I said, knotting my tie.

“I know how to take care of myself,” she replied, getting up and walking past me to the bathroom.

I sighed as I heard the water start to run in the shower. She could get mad if she wanted to, but there were too many crazy people in the world to take those kinds of risks, especially with her. She’d already been kidnapped once. I’d make sure she never was again.

She came out ten minutes later, her hair dripping, wrapped in a towel. “You’re still here?”

I smiled. She looked sexy when she was pissed. “Steve’s parking, so I’ll head out now… Where’s my kiss?”

She was to die for. I walked over to her and slipped my tongue in her mouth until her legs trembled.

“I’m going to get you wet,” she warned me, taking a step back.

“I always get you wet, so I guess that’s fair,” I responded with a smile.