Page 39 of All of Him
He ordered a craft beer, then turned to face me in his seat.
“You look great, by the way.”
“Did you drive here?” he asked, ignoring my compliment.
“Teel dropped me off.” I shrugged. “Bold ofyouto assume you’d be able to drive after having a night with me,” I joked.
Noah laughed and shook his head.
“My last intoxicated night resulted in painting the fireplace, so…”
“Oof.” I cringed, thinking back to the painted brick.
The bartender slid us our drinks, and I held mine up toward Noah. “Cheers to new friends?” I asked.
Noah nodded and smiled, clinking his glass with mine before taking a drink.
“So, what’s your story for tonight?” he asked, getting right to the point.
I had carefully gone through my list and picked one that wasn’t too horrible. Still, as was everything on that list, it was embarrassing.
“My first kiss,” I started.
Noah wiggled his eyebrows and laughed to himself as I took another sip from myverystrong drink.
“I was fifteen and at homecoming with a guy I had a huge crush on. I’d left my hair down, and he leaned in to whisper in my ear after we kissed. His lip ring got stuck in my hair, and we had to have a chaperone help us get apart.”
“Oh man,” Noah responded, amused. “Rough first kiss.”
“Was yours rough?” I asked, intrigued but also trying to change the subject.
He shrugged.
“Nah. I was seventeen, and it was some girl from my math class. We were supposed to be studying, but she basically hopped on my lap once we got to her bedroom.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“I know; seventeen is old for a first kiss. I was sheltered.”
“That’s still funny though. But you had no idea whatstudyingmeant? Come on, Noah.”
“I still don’t understand women,” he admitted. “I know nothing. Even my ex used to make fun of me for being so clueless.”
“Did you love her?” I pressed.
Quickly, I caught myself and tried to backtrack, but Noah didn’t seem to mind the question. He shrugged, tugging at the label on his beer as he thought about an answer.
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I thought I did, but then she cheated, so that whole relationship was a lie anyway.” His eyes faced front as he took a long sip of his beer, seemingly in thought.
Someone cheating on him, let alone two women, had hit him right in the heart. Between relationships and his parents, I wondered if he truly trusted anyone.
“Did you ever tell her you loved her?”
He shook his head.
“Maybe that’s why she cheated,” he said. “I know it’s not a good reason—nothing really is—but we were definitely at the point where it should have been said.”
Noah sat back and stared at his beer. I wasn’t sure if he was waiting for me to talk or if he needed a second, so I just gave him the silence I thought he could use.
