Page 11 of Naughty Noelle
I hesitate, looking at the door. My friend must be worried. I think about the knife I saw flashing in the dark. I’m worried abouther. Did she know Tom was violent? Did he do anything to her? She must be okay if she’s texting me, right? I clench my fist, Hiro’s warnings echoing in my head.
I flip my phone over so I can’t see the notifications. Everything is so quiet here. It’s a far cry from my apartment on campus, where I might technically live alone, but Karli and my other friends are always around. Plus, in an apartment building you can always hear other stuff going on, not just from residents, but from outside. A dog barking. A siren wailing. Here it's like everything is muted by the snow. Even when I’m home, with so many siblings, cousins, friends, and the house staff, it’s never quiet, no matter which property I happen to find myself.
I press my forehead against the glass, the cold easing the ache there and just watch the snow steadily falling for a minute. Is Henry just being paranoid? I don’t pretend to know everything he does to keep our various holdings and business interests organized and profitable. I imagine it’s a lot like running several countries at once, at least that’s how our father used to describe it. I squeeze my eyes shut. No matter where Daddy was in the world, we were always together for Christmas.
A shuddery breath escapes me, and I head for the bathroom, stripping off my clothes. Goosebumps race across my skin when my feet touch the chilly tile floor and I switch the shower on, letting the hot steam rise around me. The shower matches the rustic feel of the cabin, an alcove of natural stone with a large skylight so it feels like I’m standing outside when I step in and gaze up.
I rake my hands through my hair, tugging at the tangles before I soap up with a bar that smells like I’m walking in the woods. The hot water stings the raw skin at my knees, and I wish I could call Karli and ask what is going on. Is that Tom guy her new boyfriend? Why did he follow us out to the parking lot? What happened after we left?
The water beats down on my shoulders, easing the tension from the long drive and I sigh, arching my back and turning to let the heat wash down my front, my breasts heavy and sensitive.
A sudden wave of dizziness hits me, and I reach for the ledge holding the soap and bottles. I breathe shallowly, slowly rinsing the soap out of my hair and switch the water off.
I step out onto the soft towel and sink to my knees. I should have had more than candy for breakfast. Nausea washes through me.
I definitely should have been more careful about what I ate, considering the drinks I had last night. I shiver in the cool air,water trickling around me from the ends of my hair as I suck in streams of air between my teeth.
“Noelle?”
I flinch as the door swings open. How fucking embarrassing. Naked on the floor with some combination of low blood sugar and a hangover. “Get out,” I mumble.
A warm towel wraps around my back. “Did you fall?”
“No, I’m just sick and stupid. Leave me alone.”
Gentle fingers comb my wet hair back from face, and a soft towel covers my head, those deft hands working some kind of fancy towel origami that wouldn’t be out of place at my usual salon. “I’m going to pick you up, Noelle. If you feel like you need to throw up, just tell me.”
Hiro lifts me like I weigh next to nothing and cuddles me against his chest, striding into the bedroom. I’m caught somewhere between mortification and relief as he lowers me to the soft bed and the shivery feeling passes.
“What happened?” he asks.
I bite my lip. “Maybe one too many drinks and not enough food,” I mumble.
“Did you eat and get enough sleep through your finals?” he inquires, his voice quiet.
I think back over the hectic last couple of weeks. I had three back-to-back exams in a twenty-four-hour period and had to turn in a paper within that same time. My fifth exam gave me some breathing room, but the exam counted for the majority of the final mark, so I couldn’t slack off, not that I would have. Then there were the late-night calls with Karli and getting ready for the end of the year parties… I’m not certain when I last ate a full meal, to be honest.
Hiro smooths the lines across my brow. “You’re probably the one Black who is the most like your brother. He’ll go until he drops too.”
The mattress shifts as Hiro stands. “Are you going to be okay if I leave you for a few minutes?”
“I’m fine.” The room is silent and the soft quilt smells faintly of lavender. My forehead tingles where Hiro brushed his fingers over my skin, and I drift off thinking about the way he carried me in here and his comment about me being too young. Am I imagining the gentleness in his hands when he touches me? Is it wishful thinking or did he actually press his lips to my hair before he put me down?
“Noelle?” His low tone vibrates through me. “You need to eat something.”
My eyes pop open and when I lean up and can drag my eyes past the site of Hiro in soft, gray sweatpants and a rugby shirt I see he’s set up a little side table with a tray. “You get Uber eats up here?” I ask.
He rolls his eyes but there’s a grin tugging at the side of his lips. “I can cook. Did you not see all the groceries downstairs?”
I reach for a small plate filled with crackers, cheese, almonds, and strawberries. “I mostly saw cereal. Don’t you have someone who comes in and cooks for you?”
Hiro shifts to give me access to the table, propping some pillows behind my back for comfort. “I don’t. When I’m here, I like my privacy.”
I pause in the middle of chewing. “Mumph,” I mumble. These strawberries are delicious. I swallow and then glance at Hiro’s muscular thigh, so close to mine. I swallow again. “Sorry I crashed your party for one.”
He shrugs. “I’m happy to help Henry.”
I huff a sigh. “Right. It’s like dog-sitting for your bestie.”
