I roll my eyes at him and turn my attention toward the television. It’s time to pick teams. Kyle picks the Bears, earning an odd look from me. I pick the Patriots, because why not. Brady is the best.
“My dad and Quinn are from here.”
“Which makes the majority of you from Beaumont.”
I’ve never thought of it that way before. To me, everyone is family. It doesn’t matter what we do for a living or who we’re surrounded by. Kyle is famous in his own right as well.
Within seconds of the game starting, I’m up by two touchdowns. Normally, I’d get up and do a little dance, but it’d take me too long and I’m rather comfortable. I easily win the first and second games, but now Kyle has switched his team to Denver and is giving me a run for my money.
“You can try to beat her, but it’ll neve
r happen.”
I hit pause on the game and look toward the sliding glass door. Noah is standing there, staring at the television. “How’d you get in?”
“Ben gave me his code.” My eyebrows shoot up and Noah shrugs.
“Is he supposed to be here?” Kyle asks.
“More than you are, I’m sure. Harrison and Katelyn won’t care I’m here.” Noah pushes off the doorframe and saunters into the living room. He stares at the TV for a minute before turning his attention to me. “I need to speak with you, Peyton. In private.”
“I have company,” I state the obvious.
Noah pushes his hands into his pockets and nods. “It’s urgent. Maybe we can go outside and talk? Or to your room?”
Definitely not my room.
“Do you want to talk to him, babe?” I look at Kyle oddly. Why would he call me babe? He leans forward and kisses me. It’s chaste, but still, it’s a kiss. “I’ll call you after my appointment. Maybe stop by later?” He speaks low, but I know Noah can hear him.
Kyle gets up from the couch, leaving me stunned. Once the door slams, I slowly turn my attention to Noah, who is still standing in the same spot.
“Are you dating him?”
“What would it matter?”
“It’d make all the difference in the world. If you tell me you’re with Zimmerman, I’ll walk out the door right now.”
“And if I tell you I’m not?”
Noah steps closer. “Then I’m going to drop down on my knees and beg you to give me a chance to prove I’m worthy of your love.”
“I think you’re forgetting about your girlfriend, Noah. I told you before, I won’t be a side chick. I manage to get up on my first try and maneuver my way outside. It’s been so hot the past few days and there are people milling around everywhere.
Noah stands next to me, close enough I can feel him, but far enough way we’re not touching. “The day you and I spent together at the field, you told me something about text messages. When I got back to my house, I did the unthinkable and went through her phone. I saw what she was sending to you, but I saw and read some other messages… Dessie and I aren’t together anymore.”
“But she’s pregnant.”
He nods. “She is, but it’s not mine. She cheated on me sometime after telling me she was pregnant and before we left for Beaumont.”
“Noah, I’m so sorry.” I fight the urge to pull Noah into my arms.
His head drops, but he turns it slightly to look at me. “Better now, right? I mean, Nick raised a kid that wasn’t his, but he knew it. I don’t know how I would’ve coped down the road.” He clears his throat and straightens up. “However, I’ve taken some time to clear my head.”
“Was it foggy?” It’s a stupid joke, but humor is always needed.
Noah laughs. “I miss you, Peyton. I miss everything we had and believe it or not I miss what we could’ve had because I think about it all the time. I had an opportunity with you and I screwed it up, but it’ll never happen again. You see, I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember. I’m not willing to state an age because let’s face it, five years was a big gap when we were growing up. Now, it’s nothing.
“So here’s the deal. I’m going to chase you, woo you, romance you, and beat your ass at Madden because you know I can. And when I’m done, I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t feel the same way. I’m in love with you, Peyton. It’s crazy, ridiculous and unconventional, and it may have taken an accident for me to see the light, but I’m not fighting it.”