“Hell, no,” Rhett said. “I never give nicknames to guys. Only girls.”
“Okay, fine.” Georgie sat up in her chair a little straighter. “Luce can’t be the only one with a horrible nickname. I’m ready for mine—since your poor brain doesn’t have the capacity to remember Georgie.”
“Oh, trust me, my ‘poor brain’ will forever remember your name. This one—” Rhett nodded in my direction. “He said your name enough times yesterday that it will be forever burned on my cortex.”
I had? The easy smile left Georgie’s face and a different one—a fucking adorable one—replaced it. “He did?”
“Yes,” Rhett answered. “Annoying, right? Okay. Nickname. Nickname. What will your nickname be?” He rubbed a hand over his shortly shaved head, thinking. “I know.” He looked in my direction. “Wild Card.”
That fucking bastard. If she was anyone’s wild card, she was my wild card. And, apparently, I had a big mouth. I must have revealed too much while drinking yesterday. What else had I told him about Georgie?
“Wild Card?” Georgie shrugged. “I guess it’s better than Lollipop.”
“Hey,” Luce said. “I’ve got a brilliant idea. Want to give the guys nicknames? Rhett’s nickname will be Jerkoff. What do you think, Georgie? Want to give Noah a nickname?”
I really wanted to hear this, but Georgie couldn’t answer. Because a second later, Ellie came rushing up to our table without any drinks.
“Guess who’s here?” She collapsed in chair beside her sister, grasping her arm. All eyes were on Ellie. “Oh,” she said, noticing that she had the table’s full attention. “Nobody you all know. Sorry. Ignore us.” Ellie leaned in closer to Georgie.
Rhett, never one to care about Ellie’s crazy tangents, obviously didn’t care to listen to her now. Instead, he started explaining the rules to the made-up drinking game I started yesterday. The rules had vastly expanded in the last twenty-four hours. But I couldn’t pay attention to Rhett—not when I so desperately needed to hear what Ellie had to say.
“Sonya Fletcher,” she whispered to Georgie. “And she’s here with Logan. Your Logan.”
CHAPTER 12
GEORGINA
You’re beautiful, sweetheart. I’m not sure how that fact didn’t consume me before, but it’s all that consumes me now. I need you to stay close to me tonight.
Noah’s words—they had to have been the kindest, gentlest words anyone had ever said to me. And I was having a really good time with him and his friends. They were easy to be around. Granted, I barely knew them, but somehow it felt right—in a way that was brand new to me. I hoped Noah felt it too.
Rhett was a character, a ‘wild card’ himself, but kind of silly and easy to joke around with. Luce was sweet. She had short brown pixie hair and a hibiscus tattoo that covered the left side of her neck. I liked her immediately. Even Trevor wasn’t so bad. The guy had dyed black hair and more ink on him than even my sister, but he smiled easily, and his eyes protectively watched over Luce.
Then Ellie muttered, “Your Logan.” And the mood at our end of table died in an instant. The softness and easiness on Noah’s face dropped. My heart dropped along with it.
“Who’s Logan?” Noah asked. His eyes set intently on mine from across the table.
“Duh,” Ellie answered before I could speak. “You know who Logan Tyler is. Jeez, sometimes I swear you never pay attention. Logan is her ex-boyfriend.”
“No,” I muttered—because the last thing I wanted was to lie to Noah. And in my book, even omissions of the truth could be lies. I hadn’t realized it, but I guess by not telling Noah about Logan I’d been lying to him. “He’s still my boyfriend. Technically. Maybe—” I shrugged, my eyes still locked with Noah’s. “Honestly, I don’t know what we are. We haven’t spoken in four months. It doesn’t matter though…because I don’t love him.”
Noah continued to stare at me for a couple long seconds. Under the table, my hands trembled in my lap. I waited for him to say something—anything. Instead, he said nothing. He stood, his chair scooting along the deck floor boards, and left the table. I watched his back disappear into the crowd.
“Don’t worry,” Ellie said. Her hand found mine under the table. “He’ll be back in ten minutes. I’d bet money on it.”
I didn’t believe her. I should have told Noah about Logan before now. I should have told him that even though I hadn’t officially ended things with Logan, I knew it was over. Now it was too late. Whatever thing I had with Noah—well, it was probably over, too.
Keep breathing, I told myself, counting each inhale of air I took. But nothing could have prepared me for how badly this hurt—because it hurt pretty fucking bad. And my breathing ritual wasn’t doing its trick.
Ellie squeezed my hand tighter. “I’m being serious. He’ll be back.”
My eyes burned with unshed tears. To make this moment even more embarrassing, Luce noticed something was wrong from the other end of the table. “You okay, babe?” she asked, cutting off her conversation with Rhett and Trevor.
All attention jumped to me.
I nodded, quickly brushing at my eyes. I didn’t want Noah’s friends to think any less of me. I was already much younger than them. What would they think if I started crying at their table? “I’m fine.”
“She’s fine,” Ellie repeated.
“Quick,” Rhett said, resting his elbows on the table and leaning closer to me. “Let’s all talk about Noah while he’s gone.” This mischievous smile lit up his face. “Ready, go.”
“Actually, I think I need to use the bathroom.” I stood to my feet.
“Me too,” Ellie said, following.
“No, I’m okay.” When Ellie didn’t make a move to sit back down, I firmly said, “Seriously, I’m okay. You don’t have to come with me. I’m sure I can use the bathroom by myself. But thanks, though.”
“Alright.” Ellie tentatively sat back down. She pointed at a line that had formed against the wall, on the other end of the restaurant. “I can see the bathroom from here, kiddo. And the long-ass line you’re about to wait in. Wave at me when you get close to the front and I’ll come cut.”
“Fine,” I groaned and set off across the room. The clientele was a mixture of biker-dudes, women who shouldn’t be wearing bikinis indoors or ever, and happy-go-lucky tourists. What an odd combo. And if Noah hadn’t just left me cold, effectively ripping my heart out of my freaking chest, I might have found that combination amusing. None of my high school friends ever came here. It was—
Speak of the devil.
I never made it to the bathroom. Because a moment later, I ran into Logan Tyler.
* * *
Tall.
Logan was taller than I remembered. He had a very athletic body—even as a boy his arms had definition. He was cocky, confident, and easily one of the most popular boys at our school. Was. I had to remind myself that high school was over.
The sparks I used to feel around Logan had faded long ago, and they certainly didn’t resurface today. Mostly…seeing him again made me miss my brother. Logan and Ben had been inseparable growing up.
“Logan,” I said. “Hi.” I glanced over my shoulder, checking to see if Ellie was watching. She was. Like a hawk. And Noah still wasn’t back at our table. My gaze returned to Logan. “My sister said she saw you here. With Sonya.”
“Yep,” he answered. His voice was deep and rich—like always. “We’ve been hanging out some. Sonya’s just over there.” He pointed. Sonya was watching us too. I guess she wasn’t coming over to say hi though. “She told me she saw you the other day. She told me you were finally home.” And suddenly, despite all the eyes on us, he stretched out his arms and gave me a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay. You look really healthy. It’s good to know you’re healthy.”
He dropped his grip, and I was surprised to find that the moment wasn’t as awkward as I might have imagined. “Thanks, I guess.”
“I saw you come in here with Noah Clark.”
Holy shit, bring on the awkward. “You did?” Breathing became slightly difficult and I wasn’t sure why. Maybe just hearing Noah’s name did funny things to me. “And?” I asked, demanding.
“I don’t know.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, shrugging. “It’s weird seeing your ex-girlfriend with anyone. I hear things about Noah. I know he’s Ellie’s friend and all, but are you sure he’s really a good choice for you?”
What the hell did that mean? Not only that—he said ex. So that defined it. “I’m your ex?” I thought aloud. “I never remember us officially ending anything, but I figured the same.”
“Well,” he answered, his tone turning slightly clipped. “I’m pretty sure you officially ended things when you tried to kill yourself.”
Ouch.
“Jesus, Logan,” I whispered. “Why don’t you tell me how you really feel? So that’s why you never called me once in the last four months?” Suddenly I wanted to be anywhere else. No. I wanted to be in the guest bedroom at home, snuggled with Noah in the waterbed. That felt like a safe place. This didn’t anymore.
“The phone goes both ways,” Logan said, but then he seemed to become cognizant of his attitude and his voice softened, if only slightly. “Sorry, you’re right. I should have called and checked on you during that time. I should have made an effort to talk to you before today. This is hardly the place.” Logan groaned, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “It’s just—” He shrugged, not finishing his thought.
“Say whatever you need to. Please. We’ve been sugarcoating with each other long enough.”
He nodded. “Okay. Here goes—” He took a breath. “If you really loved me don’t you think you’d have wanted to live? For me? For us? I know things weren’t great this past year. Actually, our relationship had become downright awkward and breaking up probably would have been inevitable either way. I’ve come to terms with that now. But you could have come to me, confided in me, leaned on me. I lost Ben, too, ya know.”
I nodded. He was right about this. I fell out of love with him a long time ago, long before Ben’s death. But leaning on him or confiding in him? He wasn’t the person I needed. He never fought for me, not when it mattered most. But in truth, I guess I never fought for him either.
“I’m sorry,” I said and meant it. “I should have handled things differently. But at the same time, I’m also kind of relieved it’s over between us. Breaking up was inevitable and maybe if we would have realized that a year ago, things could have been easier—not as forced as they’d become.”
He swallowed hard. Then nodded. “Agreed.”
“Well then…” I reached out a hand for him to shake.
“A handshake?”
“Friends?” I asked firmly.
He took my hand. “Always, Gina. Always.” Then he gave me a hug.
It took an overwhelming amount of effort, but I managed not to cry in that moment. In the very beginning, Logan and I really did have something special. I was not sure where we went wrong. Perhaps the night he cheated on me while drinking at that party. Perhaps I never fully forgave him for that. Or perhaps when Ben left for the Coast Guard and part of the link that held Logan and me together left with him. The answers didn’t matter because that chapter of my life was over. But still, I couldn’t help feeling a little loss over Logan. And the feeling was compounded by a million since I might have just lost Noah, too.
Logan and I exchanged goodbyes and a false promise to call one another more often. Then I sucked in a breath and gathered whatever courage I had left, ready to return to the table with Ellie and no Noah. But as I turned around, I saw the table wasn’t quite as empty anymore. Shit. I hesitantly walked across the restaurant—my head and my heart screaming at me.
Because Noah had returned to his seat.
His face was expressionless as his eyes observed me move toward the table—toward him. My emotions were still buzzing out of control from my conversation with Logan. I was not sure if our conversation had made me feel better or worse about the last year of my life. I guess, at the very least, it had settled the argument about my relationship status. But still, either way, I’d already known Logan and I were over. I snuggled with Noah, I shared a kiss with Noah, and I came here with Noah—all of it knowing that there was no one else but Noah.
And then suddenly he stood, leaving his chair before my brain could even comprehend the moment. He had to walk around the table and cut through the crowd of people, but he did it quickly and met me in the middle of the room. He stopped a foot in front of me. A stray piece of his blond hair fell in his face and his jaw was set hard as he stared down into my eyes.
“You can’t be pissed at me,” I said, speaking loudly over the noisy room. I really wasn’t in the mood for a second break-up conversation. Not that Noah and I were ever even anything to begin with, but I could guess where this was heading. It was over before it had started. But if that were the case, then I was going to give him a piece of my mind—be fierce and reckless like he’d told me to be.
“You can’t leave a table in the middle of a conversation,” I argued. “So, I had some unfinished business to clear up with Logan. So what. It’s cleared up now. But on your account—” I pushed a finger into his chest, fired up now. “That was a crappy and hurtful way of ending things with me. Mostly hurtful. I liked you…I mean, like you…and you shouldn’t—”
He looked down at my finger still pointed into his chest. Realizing how rude I was being, I went to remove my hand. But Noah caught my wrist and pressed my palm flesh against him. My stomach flipped. Because his chest was hard underneath my touch and I could feel the rapid, racing beat of his heart.
I wasn’t the only one fired up.
Glancing from his chest up to his face, I desperately needed to see his eyes. Where I expected to find anger, I found a tenderness and a desire no man had ever looked at me with. “I’m not fucking ending anything,” he said. And then his hands were suddenly in my hair and his mouth on my mouth. This was no quick kiss like before. This was passion and need and want all bubbling to the surface and breaking free. This was hope and life and a little bit of danger all mixed together as one.
And my own heart raced wildly because of it.
The rest of the world faded into the background and only Noah remained. And seriously—Oh. My. Word. The guy knew how to kiss. His lips were soft and lingering, rushing nothing. The warm feel of his breath mixed with my own, sweet and hot. His hands moved to hold my face still, control his for the taking—and he fully took it. He teased me with his light and tender kiss, making my body ache and scream for more until he was ready for more. His tongue trailed the seam of my lips and then, finally, dipped inside my mouth.
Holy shit, Noah!
Part of me was slightly pissed off that this kiss with him hadn’t happened sooner. As in years ago sooner. Because this one little kiss—it literally rocked my world. He was morphine, and I was an instant addict.
My knees felt weak and I reached up to grasp his shoulders to hold myself steady. A little moan escaped my throat, but I hardly cared because his tongue was caressing mine, playing in a light dance of sorts, and I’d never felt so much energy pumping through my veins.
Far too soon, Noah broke away. He pressed one last quick, tender kiss to my lips and then rested his forehead against mine for a moment. His breathing was heavy. “What the fuck are you doing to me, pretty girl?”
He draped an arm over my shoulder and motioned toward the table. I was at a loss for words and could only lean into him, letting him lead me wherever. We approached the others. And I might have felt embarrassed because surely they all just witnessed that kiss, but I was too stunned to worry about it.
“Well, that was mean,” Rhett said to Noah. “I’m trying to nurse a wounded heart here, while you go and rub dirt in my wound.” I had no idea what he was talking about. “That was rough, man.”
Noah didn’t respond. His eyes were on Ellie. She was putting something away in the ta
n satchel thingy she carried everywhere. “What was that?” Noah asked.
“Um. It might have been my new camera,” Ellie answered.
Uh oh.
“You got the camera?” Noah held out his free hand. “Let me see.”
Ellie groaned, like a child being reprimanded by a parent. “Seriously, I took like three pictures. It’s not a big deal. I don’t know why you have to be such a hard ass.”
She dug in her bag and pulled out the camera. It was white, compact, and probably cost a hell of a lot of money. Noah dropped his hold on me to flip through it for a moment. Then he handed it back to Ellie.
“You’re not going to say anything?” she asked.
“No,” he answered, smiling. “But let’s get out of here. Rhett—your mystery girl knows where you live. Maybe you should be waiting at the house instead of at this crowded bar.”
“Mother Eff!” he shouted, jumping to his feet. “I should have thought of that. Let’s go, people.”
CHAPTER 13
NOAH
Frankly, I was mad as hell. Finding out she still might have a boyfriend…well, it metaphorically bulldozed me off my fucking feet. And I should have expected it too. C’mon, Noah. She was beautiful and addictive, smart and fun. Why wouldn’t there already be someone else? I walked away from that table feeling incredibly unsure.
But I didn’t get very far.
Leaving Chancy’s, I reached the water and that was where I stopped. The Turner’s house was only a mile and a half down the beach. On occasion, if Ellie and I were both too drunk to drive, we’d walk to her parents’ house from the bar and then crash there. We’d been doing that same routine about once a month ever since we turned twenty-one. It was an easy walk and conveniently my motorcycle was parked there from where I left it earlier.
But my feet would not take me in the direction I urged them to go. It was as simple as that. And one memory kept replaying in my head—the chaste kiss I’d shared with Georgie earlier in my office.
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