Noah watched the tears slip down her cheeks. “I do not understand. I have never resented you or your words to me. I loved the way you told me the truth without covering it with lies.” He stepped closer to her. “It’s like you said. It is one thing for family to give you praise. But for someone else to see the good in you? Or to urge you to be the best version of yourself? That is what you have been to me. I know I can trust you, and what you say to be true. That is invaluable to me.”
Hannah drew in a long, wavering breath.
“Hannah, what is wrong?” He took her hand. “Why are you upset?”
“My mother doesn’t want,” she paused and swallowed, swiping at the tears on her cheeks before continuing, “me to spend time with you anymore.”
“What?” The word burst out of him. “Whyever not?”
Hannah looked at the ground and ran her hands along the edging of her cloak.
“Hannah?” he asked again.
She shook her head. “I don’t know how to say it.”
Noah leaned down so he could see directly into her eyes, and he was just able to make out their soft green color. “Hannah, you are worrying me. Why has your mother not allowed you to see me?”
Hannah’s gaze darted about, looking from one side of his face to the other, but her lips remained pressed shut.
“Hannah?” He leaned closer and put his hand to her cheek. “You know you can tell me anything. Please, just say it.”
The next moment seemed to slow and fly by all at once—a warm hand slipping around his neck, Hannah’s face coming closer, her breath against his lips, and then her mouth pressing against his.
Chapter 20
HannahwaskissingNoahBradley, and it was glorious and liberating—until she noticed that not only his body but his lips were frozen in place.
Regret began to seep in. But he had been so close to her, so sweet as he asked her what was bothering her. And when she couldn’t find the words to tell him how she felt, her body had seemed to react for her.
Hannah tucked away the memory of his warm soft lips before she pulled back, only to find Noah staring at her with wide eyes, his lips still slightly puckered. She put a hand to her cheek as it burned with embarrassment. “Noah . . .”
Noah’s wide-eyed stare made her stomach fall to her feet.
“Say something,” she whispered.
But his lips did not move. Only his eyes, which seemed to widen in disbelief one moment, then narrow in calculating thought the next.
“Please say something,” she said again. “I cannot bear it.”
Finally, he took a deep breath and opened his mouth, turning his face away so she could only see his profile as he ran a hand up the back of his neck. “Th-thank you.”
He spun back toward her, and the pity in his eyes was enough to break her. A warm tear dripped down her cheek.
“Thank you?” Her lips quivered, and she bit down on them.
“I—” Noah pushed his hands back into his hair, his thick locks wavy from the salty sea air. He ran his hands down until they covered his face. “I’m sorry. I wish I had words, but I find I am at a loss. I just need to think. Please give me a moment.”
She swallowed and threw a hand over her mouth. Bursting into tears and theatrics would only make this moment worse. If she did her best, she might be able to convince him it had been a mistake, that she had only been caught up in the moment.
So she tried another tactic. “Goodness,” she said, wiping a tear on her cheek as she tried to regain control of her emotions. “You should see your face, Noah. I was only teasing, of course.” She sniffed.
Noah’s hands fell from his face, and his features crumpled before he forced them to remain still, shaking his head as he watched her. “Hannah, don’t do this. Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not,” she said with a shrug, wiping her cheek again to try and dry it.
He narrowed his eyes. “Is . . . is that why you invited me here tonight? To play a cruel joke?” He swallowed as he clenched his hand at his side. “Or, perhaps the truth is that you wished to tell me something. Something important.”
She raised her chin, her eyes fluttering as she tried to keep the tears back, her lips trembling so much she feared she wouldn’t be able to stop the sob from breaking free. “What would you have me say?” She wrapped her arms around herself, looking up at the stars as she tried to clear her eyes. She felt a hand on her elbow, and on instinct, she jerked away. Looking down, she saw Noah take a step back.
