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Grace
What the hell just happened?
I walked into the apartment, slumping down on the seat beside Harper. Did Noah Miller just ask me out a second after I forgave him? I repeat, what the hell? This wasn’t close to what I was expecting to happen. Far from it.
After telling Harper what has been happening, she filled me in on a few details about Noah (things that only she could dig up). I knew that since I was done with finals that I had to go make peace with him. But for the last couple of weeks I didn't want to talk to him. I felt guilty because of how rash I acted. He was going through a horrid experience and I never stopped to wonder why he acted this way. I was a part asshole too. At this point, most of me was asshole.
Harper eyed me as I sat down beside her.
"So, how did it go?" She didn't kill me when I told her that I was secretly working for him. She commented that she knew I had something to do with him but didn't know what. To be fair I couldn't tell her thanks to our agreement and I barely did anything.
"I am going out with him tonight...I think.” She grinned like a cat that got cream.
"Noah asked you out. I guess he's finally over what happened, or he is going to use you as a distraction. Either way, he’s a fine piece of man meat."
I continued packing up a few boxes and getting things ready for Saturday. I hated the idea that I'd be moving but Harper is moving with me. We both would be moving back; her parents bought her a huge duplex and she asked me to go with her. It was closer to my father's house so I wouldn't have to move back into my childhood room, and I didn’t have to pay rent or mortgage since her parents said they’d cover that (she’s just ever so slightly spoiled).
Harper emerged at my door about an hour later.
"I have a plan." Oh boy. If she starts a sentence with those words, you just know that something is about to go down and it most likely wouldn’t end well for you.
She opened my closet door and rifled through my clothes, "What is this plan?"
"Just a little bit of sweet revenge before you never see him again." I didn't even want to hear any more. She sighed and pattered to her room, a few seconds later she came back with a jaw dropping dress.
"It doesn't matter where you are going because this would be perfect anywhere." I eyed the black tight dress that stopped an inch before the knee.
"That looks too tight." I don’t do tight. I do sweatshirts and oversized t-shirts. I don’t even think he’d care if I pitched up in a gorilla suit.
"That's the idea, but it's classy tight. He said he wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot pole, right? Put this on and we're going to prove him wrong." I could feel my whole body cringing.
"I don't want him touching me." It felt as if my eyes were about to bulge out. Harper didn’t care.
"That's what you say now until he actually touches you. I have seen how he looks at you, even that night of ruining his painting it's not hatred, my sweet naïve friend. If those fingers could make masterpieces out of nothing imagine what they'll do to you."
My jaw went slack.
Did she miss the part about us previously hating each other? We might actually still do.
I reluctantly put on the dress with a pair of heels that Harper threatened me to wear; she also untied my hair and let it hang over my shoulders.
Just before I had to leave, she finished threatening me and plastering me with makeup.
"Your revenge idea sucks; I look like a hooker," I whined while she glared at me.
"Oh shush, he is probably going to be here any second and I want to see his face-you should be ecstatic. I mean this kind of revenge might mean you're not coming home tonight." She wiggled her brows suggestively.
Before I could protest, I heard a car pull up in front of the duplex. I looked around eagerly for a spot to hide and Harper glared at me yet again.
"You know, I have no idea how you came to be a college graduate when you can hardly have an adult night out." She rolled her eyes at me and ushered me closer. I grabbed my bag and jacket and slowly opened the door. Harper and her curious self was basically ogling him to see his reaction. She peered through the side of the curtain at him to stay hidden. I think that he would still notice her.
And she says she's the grown up one here.
I stopped at the door for a second, taking steadying breaths. I am a grown ass woman- I can do this.
He studied me just as he stepped out of his luxury car. His eyes lingered over me, taking in every detail with a well-trained eye. I didn't know where to turn. For one, this dress didn't really make turning such a great idea since a breast would probably jump out and secondly, his eyes were burning holes in me.
I unhinged from the spot and walked down the steps to him.
He quickly opened the door for me and helped me into his very low car.
The air tensed up as soon as I sat down. He didn't say much and for one didn't have a snarky remark about my outfit. I was half expecting him to make a jab. Well even if it kills me to admit it, I think Harper's plan for revenge might be working. Oh boy. I felt calmer when he started driving but he was obviously trying hard to not even glance at me.
His jaw was clenched as he grasped the wheel tightly.
We stopped at a restaurant that wasn't too far away. I've heard the name before, but I don't think I've ever been here (who am I kidding, I couldn't even afford to breathe the same air as around here thanks to my shoestring college budget).
When we entered the restaurant it was quiet, we got a seat near the window. The view was amazing, it wasn't near the sea but there was a small river that ran past it and you could see it in detail. The water flowing past the river rocks made a low whooshing sound that helped me calm down.
The host's fingers lingered on his shoulder for a few seconds more than what would be appropriate as she ogled him and handed us the menu. The waitress that took our order also ogled him like he was some cheeseburger waiting to be eaten. A moment later she handed him a note.
He ordered us wine and while he was pouring a glass for me, I broke the eery silence," You can go if you want." I stated.
"What? Where would I be going?"
"The note, her open invitation to the...uh...alley." My eyes drifted away from his intense gaze to the couple that started dancing on the dance floor.
"For one, I'm not a male prostitute, alleys are not my cup of tea I prefer beds and secondly that would be pretty low of me to go, have dirty sex and then come back to dinner. Like I said I-" he pointed to himself to state his point.
"-am not a man whore." I rolled my eyes, that's what he says but I'm thinking he's slept with more women than all the bottles of beer on the wall.
"Prostitutes get paid, so whore is the correct term to use," I stated taking a sip of wine, intently studying the couples who danced. He glared at me with a frown.
We ate in silence and I watched the people strolling onto the dance floor, it's fascinating to see how these lovers interacted. It was a strange world to me that I never quite could understand. I've never had a real relationship so seeing others deciding to settle together for the rest of their lives was more than intriguing to me.
The closest thing I've ever had to a romantic relationship was one night before I left for college, the night I lost my virginity. I don't think that counts as a relationship per say but that was in all honesty the only time I could comprehend that sharing body and soul for a lifetime could be possible.
"Do you want to dance?" Noah followed my eyes locked onto the dance floor.
"I can't dance."
"Let me show you, there's a slow song coming on now." Without warning, he grabbed my hand pulling me up from the seat to the dance floor. As soon as we stepped onto the dance floor, he pulled me closer. He placed his hands just above my hip and I put my hands on his shoulders.
"See, you can dance." I rolled my eyes; every time I'm close to him I roll my eyes-it's probably an allergic reaction.
I felt my heart speed up as we instinctively moved a bit closer. After another sway we were pressed flush against each other. I had to admit that it felt good to be so close to him, especially after feeling guilty about everything.
I turned to face him, looking into his green eyes. You could see his baggage weighing him down. For a second there was an intense moment between us where I was just looking at him and we weren't dancing anymore.
He pulled away from me walking back to the table.
I walked back to him, he frowned and hurriedly asked for the bill.
"What's wrong?"
"You."
"You're really going with that ‘It's you, not me’ dick comment?" It took him a moment to comprehend and he frowned annoyed.
"That's not what I meant." I followed him as he rushed out of the restaurant.
"What do you mean then?!" I hated this bickering; I mean come on I didn't even say something while we were dancing and now, I’m doing something wrong.
"That moment back there...I know that if you continued looking at me like that, I'd kiss you and that certainly means that I'm going to sleep with you. You deserve more than that."
I crossed my arms over my chest.
"You're not god's gift to women-I would not sleep with you."
"Oh really?” He stared at me. I saw the traces of his stubble etched on his face and I could feel my heart galloping as I intently took in the lined of his face for the first time. I released a breath. Harper was right-I'm sexually deprived.
Our previously partly aggressive conversation simmered down when he pulled me closer to him, his lips slowly merged with mine. I really wanted to fight it, but I didn't because his lips made all sorts of fires burn inside me. I instead kissed him back eagerly.
After having a breathless and utterly steamy kiss, I pushed him away hastily.
I can't believe I kissed him. I should've have slapped the shit out of him.