Loving Noel (Wildcat Graduates Book 1) Page 7

  Stacy’s voice softens as she says, “Oh, Xan, don’t cry. She’s not worth it. Noel chose to take you home because he wanted to, not because you had to beg him for a ride. Wait to talk to him before you make any rash decisions on where you want things to go with the two of you. You know I’m right. Now, do I need to come over with ice cream before your mom gets home and keeps us from eating it before dinner?” Stacy laughs softly and waits patiently for me to answer.

  Wiping the tears from my eyes, I laugh a little and say, “Thanks Stace. You always know the right things to say, and thanks for the ice cream offer, but Mom hid a few of those cookies from yesterday, so I think I’ll eat those before she gets home. Besides, I’ve got a new chapter to study in Chemistry before I can work on the review sheet. That’ll keep my mind occupied for a while.” I stand up and work my way down the hall to the kitchen to look for those cookies.

  “I can’t believe she had you start a new chapter, especially a long one like that. I’m glad my teacher didn’t start anything new. I won’t come over now, but if you change your mind, I can be over in ten minutes with ice cream. Just try and let it go and call me later if you need to.” I can hear Stace tell her grandma she’s about to get off the phone, so I cut the rest of our conversation short.

  “Thanks, Stace. I will. Tell Grandma ‘hello’ for me. I’m going to go drown myself in cookies and homework. Later.” Stacy tells me goodbye and we hang up on each other. I set my phone down on the counter, and begin looking for those cookies. Where did she hide them? Just as I find the cookie tin hidden in the pantry, my phone begins to buzz and chime with a text message. Walking over to my phone with the cookie tin in hand, I see that it’s a text from Noel. Just what I need right now.

  Picking up the phone, I look at it for a minute, trying to decide I if I want to read it or not. Since I have little control when it comes to Noel, I read the text.

  NOEL: Sorry about Mercedes. Can I come over?

  Can he come over? What part is he sorry about? I can’t deal with this right now. I dismiss the text and put the phone in my back pocket. I grab a Pepsi out of the fridge and walk back toward my room to start on my sugar and caffeine coma and homework. Can he come over? What would he need to come over for? I almost knock over my Pepsi when my phone buzzes in my back pocket. I had forgotten I put it there. I pull it out and look to see who is texting me. Noel, of course.

  NOEL: If you’re finished helping your mom, can I come over? I’d like to talk to you.

  I shake my head at his text and place the phone on my desk. I pull out my Chemistry book and get started on the assignment. I’m halfway through the section and five cookies when my phone buzzes again. Another text. From Noel. He doesn’t seem like he’s going to give up.

  NOEL: Please talk to me? I want to come over and see you.

  ME: Sorry. Busy helping Mom and I have tons of homework. I’ll see you at school.

  NOEL: Xan, I want to talk to you tonight.

  I toss my phone onto my bed and go back to my homework, forgetting all about Noel and Lexus. I’m working on the section review questions when my phone rings. Distracted by the question I’m working on, I answer it without looking to see who is calling.

  “Hello,” I say as I begin to write down the first answer.

  “Xana, I’m glad you answered,” Noel tells me and I stop writing. Noel. Why on Earth did I not check to see who was calling? I really don’t want to have this conversation right now. Why can’t he just let things go and let us go back to how we were before the dance?

  “Hey. Yeah, I can’t really talk right now, sorry. I have to finish up some stuff for Mom and I have a lot of Chemistry homework to work on.” I bite my lip and wait for Noel to respond. Please believe it and just let me go.

  “Okay, can I come by later? When you get through with everything?” Noel sounds kinda upset. I have to be strong and just get it over with.

  “I have a ton of homework, Noel. It’s probably gonna be late when I get done with it all. We can just talk tomorrow at school.” I stand up from my desk and look down the hallway. I can hear Mom in the kitchen starting dinner. Thankfully she hasn’t made her way down here to talk.

  “I don’t care how late it is, Xan. Just call me when you think you’ll be done,” Noel urges me.

  “I don’t think that’s gonna work. I have to go, Mom is calling me. See you tomorrow. Bye.” I hang up before Noel has a chance to say anything else and turn my phone on silent. Hopefully he’ll just let it go and wait until tomorrow. I need to finish the homework and get my emotions in check before they get any more off balance. Going back to my homework, I am able to finish the Chemistry and start on the English review sheet when Mom steps into my room.

  “Hey, Mom, what’s up? Do you need help with dinner,” I ask as I turn around in my chair.

  “I can always use help with dinner, but that’s not why I am here. Noel’s here to see you,” Mom says as she grins at me. That Cheshire cat grin is not a good look on her.

  “Noel,” I ask as I try to hide my nervousness. “Did he say why he was here? What he wants?”

  “He said he wants to talk to you, silly,” she laughs as she ushers me to the hallway. “Now go see what he wants, Xana. Don’t make the boy wait forever. He’s in the living room.” Mom turns and walks back to the kitchen. Oh, crap. Why did he have to come over here? Can’t he wait and talk to me tomorrow? What can be that important to come over here now?

  Hesitantly I walk down the hall and to the living room, where I find Noel sitting on the couch. My stomach is in knots, as usual when Noel is involved, and my heart has started to race. I stop just inside the living room and Noel stands up when he sees me.

  “Hey, Xana,” Noel smiles at me, and I almost forget why I’m not ready to see him.

  “Hi,” I reply, holding my hands in front of my stomach. “Why did you come over here? I thought we would see each other tomorrow?”

  “I know that’s what you wanted, but you hung up on me before I could say anything. I really need to talk to you.” Noel takes a few steps toward me and I take a step back.

  “I can’t really talk right now. I’ve got to help Mom with dinner, and then I have to finish up studying.” I can’t look him in the eye. I know I’ll never be able to keep lying to him.

  “It won’t take that long, Xan. Besides, your mom told me she didn’t need you to help her right now.” Noel walks toward me and grabs my hands. “Go for a ride with me? I won’t keep you out too long. You’ll have time to get all of your work done. I promise.” Noel lifts a hand to my chin and raises it to look at him. “Please?” Those eyes, they are so green and beautiful, begging me to go with him. He’s so close to me that I can smell his cologne. The combination of the two might very well be my kryptonite.

  “I don’t know, Noel. I really have a lot of homework to do,” I say with shaky breath. I don’t even sound convincing to myself. Noel raises his eyebrow at me, and turns toward the door, pulling me behind him.

  “Noel,” I start to protest, but Noel cuts me off when he looks over his shoulder.

  “Don’t. We’re going for a ride, Xana. I’m not waiting anymore.” Noel starts to open the front door when I stop him.

  “Wait, Noel. I don’t have any shoes on.” I try to free my hand from his, but he won’t release my hand. Noel stops and turns around to look at me. He glances down at my feet and then back to my face. He releases my hand, only to bend down and pick me up over his shoulder and carry me outside and to his car.

  I hit him on his back as I yell at him, “Noel, what are you doing? You can’t just pick me up and take off with me!” I can feel him open the car door as I hit him on the back again. Looking down at the ground, I notice Noel’s nice, firm jean-clad butt, and what a nice butt it is. I almost forget what is going on when Noel slides me over his shoulder to where I am chest to chest with him.

  “I’m carrying you to the car since you don’t have any shoes on, and now I’m going to put you into the car so you
don’t have to get your socks dirty.” Noel reaches down with one arm and places it behind my knees, scooping me up into his arms to place me in the front seat.

  “Buckle up, Sweetness,” he says as he leans in to kiss my forehead before closing my door. He walks around the front of the Mustang as I sit in my seat with my mouth wide open. He just carried me to his car. OVER HIS SHOULDER! What was that all about? Why am I even still sitting here?

  I start to open my car door when Noel slides into the driver’s seat. “Don’t leave, Xan.” He reaches over and turns my face toward him. “We’re just going to talk. Your mom knows I am taking you out. She said dinner wouldn’t be ready until six thirty. We have time, so just go with me, okay?” Noel leans over the console and kisses me briefly on the lips before looking me in the eyes.

  “Please,” he asks as he continues to look at me.

  I look at him for a moment and release the breath I was holding. “Okay.” Noel smiles at me and rubs his nose along mine.

  “Buckle up, Sweetness.” Noel lightly kisses my lips again, and turns to start the car. I buckle my seatbelt and glance over at Noel. He backs out of the driveway and turns to look at me and winks before looking back at the road.

  “Where are we going, Noel? Why couldn’t we talk tomorrow,” I ask as we turn toward town.

  “Because I want to get things straight between us. I didn’t get that chance after school like I had planned.” Noel glances at me and smiles apologetically.

  “Oh.” I look out my window and notice that Noel is taking us toward the ball fields. That’s a surprise. “The ball fields?”

  “Yeah, I didn’t want any distractions this time, and I don’t want you to try and leave.” Noel reaches over and grabs my hand and gently squeezes it. “I need you to hear me out, Xan.”

  Searching his eyes, I reply, “Okay. I’ll listen.” Noel smiles at me and reaches up to run his thumb over my lips.

  “Xana, I like you, a lot. I’ve liked you for a long time. I want to date you. Not just as friends going to a dance, but as your boyfriend. I want that a lot.”

  I inhale at his confession, my thoughts all going faster than I can figure them out. “Noel, I…” Noel cuts me off before I can continue.

  “I’m sorry about what happened after school with Mercedes. I don’t know why she wanted me to take her home. There were plenty of people left that could have taken her home. I wasn’t going to take her home, but when you said you didn’t mind, I felt like I had to. Then I saw how she acted and how much it bothered you, but it was too late.” Noel cups my face and looks at me, very seriously.

  “Noel,” I start when he interrupts me again.

  “No. I saw how upset you were, and it made me so mad that you were upset. I don’t ever want you to be upset or hurt. I can’t stand it,” Noel tells me as he cups my face with both of his hands. “I want you to be my girlfriend, just mine. Yes, we’re great friends, but I want more than that, and I think we can handle that.” Noel places his forehead against mine and places a soft, slow kiss on my lips. “So what do you say, Xana Bradford? Will you be my girlfriend?”

  Noel looks in my eyes for a moment and leans forward to kiss me, this time more thoroughly. My hands reach for his chest before sliding up and around his neck to run through his short, blond hair. Releasing any tension I have, I press my lips against his with every emotion I have spilling forth, as my fingers tangle in his hair, pulling him closer to me. His hand moves from my cheek to cup the back of my head, as the other wraps around my waist, forcing my body as close to his as it can get with the console in between us. Our kiss is deep, passionate, like our souls are entwining. It’s too soon when Noel pulls away, causing a small whimper to break free from me. He smirks as he looks me in the eye. “So, Xan, will you be my girlfriend?”

  “I really like you, Noel. You could have any girl you wanted, and it worries me that you could change your mind and we’d lose our friendship. I don’t think I could handle that. I’m not like Mercedes. I’m just plain old me, but I really like you, too.”

  “I’m not looking for someone like Mercedes. I want you because you are just you. You’re funny, and smart, and beautiful.” I can feel my face blushing as he talks. “You may not believe me, but you are. I want you, not anyone else, to be my girlfriend.” Noel strokes his thumb across my cheek.

  “I want that, too,” I say as I lean the rest of the way forward and take his lips with mine. In return, he takes over and draws my bottom lip into his mouth, and I find one of my hands cupping his face. His kisses move from my mouth to my neck, just under my ear. Oh my coconuts, I could die right now and be happy. There is no other feeling like this. Noel likes me. Just me. How did this happen?

  Pulling away from me, Noel says, “I’d better get you home. I can’t have your mom mad at me now. I’ll need her approval for our dates in the future, because I plan on there being a lot of them.” Noel kisses my forehead and brushes my curly strawberry blonde hair behind my ear. He turns around to start up the Mustang and backs out of the parking space before he reaches for my hand. Lacing our fingers together, he uses our joined hands to shift gears as he drives me back home. Noel glances at me occasionally before saying, “Are we good, now? We’re going forward together, right?”

  “Yeah,” I say as I look him in the eye. “We’re good. Together.” I squeeze his hand and smile at him, and he smiles back before looking back that the road. “Did you really have to kidnap me and carry me to the car,” I ask as I let out a little giggle.

  “You left me no choice. You were shutting down on me, and I couldn’t get you to listen. I know you, Xana. We may have just met this year, but I know you already. I can tell when you’re bothered by something, and I can definitely tell when you’re hurt and shutting people out. I had to do something like this to get your attention. Am I right,” Noel asks as he turns down my street.

  “Yeah, I guess you really do know me. How do you do that,” I ask him seriously.

  Noel grins quickly at me before he answers. “I watch you, Xan. I see you.” Noel raises our joined hands and places tiny little kisses over my fingertips. WOW. What can I say to that?

  Noel pulls into my driveway and parks the car. He turns his body toward me and leans over to cup his free hand over my right cheek, thumb brushing over my lips. “I’m glad we finally got things out in the open. We’re on the same page.”

  “Yeah, same page,” I breathe as he brushes my lips with his thumb once again. Noel grins and moves forward to touch my mouth with his, dragging his tongue across my lips before crushing his mouth into mine. Man, can he kiss. He always leaves me breathless when he kisses me like that. Noel pulls away from our kiss and rubs my nose with his. He seems to like doing that.

  “You’d better get inside before your dad is sent to come and get you. Hold on,” Noel tells me, and gets out of the car to come to my side. He opens my car door and reaches in to unbuckle my seatbelt. His kiss left me so bothered I forgot to unbuckle my own seatbelt. How embarrassing.

  He reaches in and picks me up out of the car. I wrap my arms around his neck so that I don’t fall after I reach out and close the door for him.

  “I can walk, you know. It’s not like I can’t wash my socks,” I tell him as he walks up the sidewalk to my front porch. Noel laughs at me as he makes his way up the stairs.

  “I know, but I like this.” Noel places me down on the porch in front of the door. We’re chest to chest, and he moves my chin up to look him in the eyes. I can’t help but breathe in deeply and take in his scent. Noel leans down until his lips are inches from mine. “I’ll see you in the morning, girlfriend.” He closes the gap and kisses me, his hand wrapped around the back of my head. Pulling back inches away from my face he says, “Goodnight, Sweetness,” and walks back to his car. He just did it again. Kiss and leave, and I am just standing here like a statue, again. I really need to stop doing this.

  I make my way into the house and head to the kitchen for dinner. Mom and Dad are just sittin
g down at the table when I walk in. “There you are. We heard Noel’s car in the driveway, so we just now started dinner. Everything alright?” Mom asks, as I wash my hands at the sink before sitting down as well.

  “Yep, everything’s good. We didn’t get to talk after school, so Noel wanted to do it before I got started with my homework.” I look at Mom and smile, and then get ready for the prayer.

  Mom and Dad tell me about Mike and how his classes went during this last semester. They tell me about what classes he will be taking next semester and what he and his fraternity brothers have gotten into, but I’m not really paying too much attention to them. I’m thinking about everything that happened today, from Noel walking me to first hour, to the ride home, to his kidnapping me and making me his girlfriend. Girlfriend. That sounds so weird to me.

  I help with the dinner dishes and head to my room to finish my homework. Luckily, I had already gotten a good start on my Chemistry assignment, so my main focus can be working on the exam review sheets that I had gotten in class today. As I set my drink down on my desk, I notice my phone blinking with a message notification. Stace. Five times. She must have something to tell me to text me that many times. Then again, sometimes you really can’t tell what Stacy’s going to say.

  S: Are you still okay? Do I need to come over with ice cream?

  S: You’re not answering. Are you okay?

  S: Don’t do this to me, woman. Answer my texts!

  S: You had better be in the hospital to not be answering me!

  The next text was just two minutes ago.

  S: That’s it, I’m coming over!! What is going on?!

  Oh, crap. If I don’t text her right now everything is going to be aired out in front of my parents. I can’t let that happen, so I text her back as fast as I can.