Page 33 of More Than Just Friends

‘You know what I’m asking.’ I rolled my eyes. Noah was enjoying watching me prise this info out of him. And part of me knew that he should just tell me it was none of my business and refuse to answer, but I really hoped he didn’t.

‘Yeah, I hook up. I meet women on the apps or just out.’

‘Just out?’ I frowned.

‘Y’know, when women ask for my number at a bar or in the coffee shop.’ He shrugged. ‘Or the gym, but that can get awkward, so…’

‘Wait. Women just walk up to you and ask for your number?’ My jaw dropped.

Growing up, Noah used to be shy. He came out of his shell when he moved away for uni, but even then, as far as I knew, he never attracted a lot of female attention. Now from the sounds of it, he’d had more pussies than a cat sanctuary.

‘Don’t sound so surprised!’ Noah said.

‘No, it’s not that I’m surprised that you’re getting a lot of lovin’ from the ladies. I mean you’ve always been cute. I guess I’m just shocked that you’ve become a Casanova.’

‘I wouldn’t go that far. It’s not like I’m shagging a different woman every night. Just every other evening, that’s all.’ He grinned and my eyeballs popped. ‘I’m joking!’

‘Many a true word is said in jest,’ I said. ‘I’m not judging; it’s just… you seem different, that’s all.’

‘Maybe I am. I just got tired of always being the good, sweet guy that women walked all over. The one they said was “nice” right before they dumped me for the hot bad boy. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right?’

Hearing that made me feel a bit sad.

Noah was perfect just the way he was. I hated that he felt he needed to change and take on a tough persona just to get women.

‘So what, you just decided to become some kind of fuckboy?’ My face crumpled. I stepped to the side, just missing a young couple who’d stopped in the middle of the street to take selfies.

‘No. I’d never do that. I’m always clear that I’m only interested in something casual. A lot of the time, women just want some fun anyway, so it’s mutually beneficial. What I meant was, I stopped taking dating too seriously. Instead of hoping that things might lead somewhere, I just decided to go with the flow. I like sex just as much as the next man, so when I started getting more attention, I thought I might as well go all out and enjoy it.’

‘Oh,’ I said, my stomach twisting. ‘Good for you.’

Hearing all of this about Noah was a revelation. He really had changed. It wasn’t like he hadn’t had girlfriends before, but I’d never known him to be into casual sex. Instead of satisfying my curiosity, hearing that he’d been regularly hooking up just made me want to know more.

A barrage of questions swirled in my mind.

Had Noah slept with a lot of women?

If he was only interested in something casual, why had he come to the Love Hotel to find his Mrs Right?

I didn’t know why I was so bothered. Noah was perfectly entitled to sleep with whoever he wanted, but I still couldn’t shake the curiosity.

Anyway, it wasn’t important.

He had Kayleigh now, so I was sure his casual dating days were over.

We both had bright romantic futures ahead of us.

With other people.

Which was exactly how it should be.

12

NOAH

It was almost lunchtime and we were on the coach to Oia, one of the most famous villages in Santorini.

I was doing my best to focus on the views, but instead I was thinking about Ali who was sitting beside me again.