Then his head turned, just a little, toward me.
And when he dipped his chin, staring at me from over those aviators, his gaze washed over me like a breeze caressing my skin, subtle but impossible to ignore.
My pulse tripped.
He flicked his stare down to my new sandals…then back up.
I didn’t need his approval. But there it was. That tiny smile? It said, I see you.
And I—I didn’t know what to do with that.
We were friends. I was fresh off a breakup.
This was just Noah. A guy could be helpful and nice while still being hot, right?
I was…grateful. That was all.
Right?
“Shopping?” he asked.
I lifted one foot. “Chacos.”
His grin spread. “Nice choice.”
Before I could say anything else, his mother appeared beside him, cheeks a little pink from the sun.
“You certainly look rested, Luna,” she said politely.
“I am, actually,” I said, awkwardly showing my new water bottle. “I’m not gonna slack on the water again, that’s for sure.”
She nodded and moved ahead, calling out to Babs.
Noah lingered.
I wanted to thank him—for everything he’d done last night—but Josie was just a few steps away, fiddling with her phone.
He’d come to my room. Stayed. Sat with me while I was damn near delirious. Made sure I drank, put Band-Aids on my blisters, watched over me while I slept.
So instead of saying any of that, I reached into my bag and pulled out a few crumpled bills. “For the Gatorade. And the crackers.”
He looked down at the money like it had personally insulted him.
When he didn’t take it, I reached forward and stuffed the bills into the pocket of his shorts. “Those vending machines are highway robbery.”
His hand caught mine before I could pull back, and I had no choice but to take a step forward. Into his space. With my hand trapped in his pocket.
His scent hit me—the woodsy scent, but warmer now, hints of sun and salt, and—Noah… I was suddenly hyperaware of the space between us. Which wasn’t much.
“You don’t need to give me money.” His voice was low.
“But I do.”
I had my head tilted back to meet his stare.
His pupils had dilated, eclipsing the stormy blue.
He was looking at my mouth. I was looking at his.
