He lifted me off the wall, setting me on my feet, and a thrill went through me as he purred, “Got a brand to stick to, don’t I? Now get back on the bike and drive us home. You need the practice.”
“No, I … I think you should drive us back.”
He tilted his head. “Why?”
I flushed deeply. “Because you just kissed the life out of me, and it’ll be a while before I feel steady enough to put one foot in front of the other, never mind drive a motorbike.”
If his grin was anything to go by, he enjoyed my answer way too much. “Very well then,” he replied, a glint in his eye as he gestured to the bike. “Climb on.”
***
When we arrived back at the house, Vee poked her head out the living room window, and a few moments later she appeared at the front door, looking shifty and nervous.
“Estella, you’ve come home,” she said, and I was shocked by her demeanour. Gone was the usual resentment. She was even fully dressed, not wearing her pyjamas or housecoat. What was most surprising was that for the first time ever she looked happy to see me.
“Um, yeah,” I said, handing Noah his bike helmet. “I have.”
“I took the liberty of moving the few things you left to your old bedroom upstairs,” she went on. “I thought it was about time you started sleeping in there again.”
“Oh,” I said, taken aback. An accommodating Vee was a surreal thing to behold.
“I’ll carry your bags up,” Noah said, seeming pleased with the change in his sister. He picked up the two bags I’d left on the porch, brushing past me as he headed upstairs with them. I watched him go, unable to stop thoughts of our kiss from flooding my head as I turned back to Vee.
“Things are going to be a lot different from now on,” she promised. “You go get settled and come down when you want dinner. I made another stew. I remembered you enjoyed the one I made last time.”
Talk about surreal. I had no idea what to say, so I simply nodded and headed upstairs to my old room, the one I’d slept in when Dad was alive. Noah sat at the end of the bed, grinning away.
“What are you smiling about?” I asked warily.
“I’ve never seen my sister be so nice to someone before,” he said.
I rubbed at my neck, looking around the room. “Yeah, it’s weird.”
“It’s a good sign. I think she’s turned a corner.”
“No offence, but I’ll withhold judgment until I see how long this lasts,” I replied, going to stand by the window and wondering what he was doing still sitting there. I could still taste him in my mouth, and I needed space to contemplate things. I also needed to let Kean know I wouldn’t be coming back to his house tonight, but I didn’t have his phone number. Then I remembered that Vee sometimes called his house. Maybe I could find the number in her phone book. Or maybe it would be better to tell him in person.
Yeah, that seemed like the more respectful route.
Now that I had a little distance, and after the multitude of emotions I’d gone through while out with Noah, I knew having sex with Kean was wrong. Even if I made it clear it would only be one time, he still had feelings for me and leading him on was just cruel. Besides, kissing him hadn’t been enjoyable in the slightest.
I headed toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Noah asked, tilting his head. There was a constant knowing, self-satisfied, sexy look in his eyes now. It was a look that said he knew what I tasted like, and it made my belly quiver.
“Out,” I replied simply.
He hopped up, blocking my way. “But you just got here.”
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“I’ll come with you then.”
I eyed him in annoyance. “You’re not coming with me. This is a private errand.”
He moved closer, his arm brushing mine. “Okay, now I really want to know.”
“Move out of the way, please.”
“Not until you tell me.”
He was so persistent. “I have to go see Kean,” I said on a heavy exhalation.
Noah squinted, a shadow passing over his features. “I thought there was nothing between you and the boy wonder.”
“There isn’t, it’s just …” I paused as I levelled him with a tired expression. “I had a momentary lapse of judgement, and I need to fix it.”
I went to move by him again, but he moved, too, still blocking my exit. “Elaborate.” There was a cutting edge to his voice. It made me nervous.
I stared at the floor. “I can’t tell you. You’ll be mad if I do.”
He reached out to touch my chin, tipping it up with his fingers. “Estella.” He said my name in a way that managed to be both reprimanding and cajoling.