ChapterFive
Morgan
I'm panicking.
He kissed me; I kissed him?
We kissed.
I haven't felt the touch of a man's mouth on mine in five years.My lips tingle, and my stomach is still flipping.It hasn't escaped my notice that Noah is facing the counter while drying already-dry bowls; hiding a bulge?
Thank god I'm a woman and you can't tell how wet my panties are…from a single kiss.
A brief, aborted kiss.
But holy hell, what a kiss.
Mallory suspects something, I can tell.She's got that mischievous smirk that she gets when she knows something she shouldn't.
I scratch my nose, using the movement to disguise a quick swipe of my wrist over my lips.Thankfully, I was running behind this morning and skipped even the most rudimentary of makeup, so there's no lipstick or lip gloss to get smeared.
"Captain Austin was kind enough to drop me off," I tell her."I may have injured poor Cherry.We’ll have to call Ed's in the morning."
Noah hangs the towel up and turns around, seemingly having gotten himself under control; my eyes steal to his zipper, which only makes me blush because now I'm wondering exactly how big the bulge was.
My god, Morgan, get a goddamn grip.You’re a thirsty-ass bitch, all of a sudden.
"I got it handled," Noah says."You got somewhere to be in the morning?"
"Noah, you don't have to—" I start.
He smiles and shrugs, shoving his hands in his hip pockets."Ed'n, I go way back.Don't worry about it.Soon as he lets me know what the deal is, I'll let you know."He has his phone out, types rapidly, and then I hear thebloopof an outgoing text message.A moment later, I hear the incoming messagebloop."He's on the way and will have Jake take a look at it tonight."
Part of me revolts against his ham-handed maneuver, getting my car towed for me without so much as asking if that's what I wanted.My mouth opens to tell him off, but Mallory beats me to the punch.Sort of.
"That's so thoughtful of you, Coach," Mallory says."Right, Mom?"
Noah's lips twitch."Morgan, I'm just trying to be nice."He gives me an earnest look, then."If I'm overstepping, please let me know."
"No, no," I say, sighing while covering my face with my palms."I've been taking care of everything myself for so long that I've kinda forgotten how to let anyone do things for me."
"Well, I've got atonof homework to do," Mal says, a little too loudly."So I'll just go upstairs to my room and put on headphones."
Noah's snicker of laughter prompts a snort from me."Subtle, Mal."
She gives me a wide-eyed, innocent look."What?"
"You just spent the last…what?…four hours studying at Gemma’s?You don't have homework.Stop being nosy, sit down, and eat some dinner."
Mal rolls her eyes as she takes a seat at the island, reaching for a slice of crusty bread while Morgan ladles stew into a bowl."Well, maybe there's nothing going on—I don't believe that for a second, but I won't push it.I’d just like to go on the record that if therewassomething going on here," she gestures from Noah to me, "then I'd approve."
"Noted," I say, avoiding Noah's gaze.
Noah's phone dings."Hey, did you leave the keys in it, or do you have them with you?Ed's at your car right now."
"I have them," I say."Not in the habit of leaving my keys in my car, dead or not."
"Well, drop them off at Ed’s whenever, and he'll have Jake take a look and see what's what.Or, if you'd prefer, I can take them.I pass Ed's garage on the way home."
