“What?” He shrugged and unleashed a smile so genuine it hurt her soul.
“Whatever you’re doing, stop.” Emery didn’t want things between them to mess up her living arrangements.
“I’m just being honest.” Noah took a bite of his sandwich and watched Emery’s face.
“Well, stop that too,” she replied stubbornly.
“You want me to lie?” he asked, his mouth full.
“Yes.” She nodded stubbornly.
He thought for a minute, his face serious. “Okay. I didn’t enjoy kissing you and I don’t want to do it again. I especially don’t want to do it right now.”
“Noah,” she whispered.
“I’ll be gentle.”
“I don’t want to lead you on,” she said softly. “This can’t go anywhere.”
“Why not?”
“Because you have so many girls that you kiss and do other things with and that’s just the way it is, Noah.” She sighed and put her sandwich down. “You have a great thing going. Your football and your friends—you have everything. I have nothing. I don’t want to be the one to bring you down.”
“Emily, I want you and it doesn’t matter about your past.”
“What about my future?” Emery dropped her eyes to her food. She couldn’t even look at him.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t have the type of future that you do. Things are different for me.”
Noah touched her hand. “They don’t have to be.”
“Yes, Noah,” she nodded, “they do. Listen, I want to kiss you again, and I want you to touch me.” She couldn’t believe she was saying this. “Everywhere. But there are some certainties that come with me.”
“And what are those?” he asked, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand soothingly.
“That this will end and it won’t end well.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Noah got out of his seat and slid into her side of the booth, pushing her over and crowding her. He put one hand on her jaw and the other tangled in her hair. Then he kissed her. His lips were a welcome invasion and she lost all thoughts as their tongues tangled and danced. Her body cursed her as she pulled away from him.
“We’re in public,” she whispered in his ear.
“I know,” he whispered back.
“Don’t do that again,” she chastised, staring into his eyes. She didn’t get him.
“You loved it.” His warm brown eyes analyzed hers.
She nodded. “I did, but let’s save that for when we’re by ourselves. Okay?”
“Wait, what do you mean?”
“Let’s keep whatever this is to our place.” She was giving up a little of herself—not Emily, but Emery. It confused her, but he made her feel emotions she’d never felt. He made her feel cherished. She didn’t want to share that with anyone.
“Do you mean that you’re going to see other dudes and then come back and do what you want to with me?”
“No, I’m saying that’s what you can do. I’m not dating anyone, including you. I’m just not ready.”
“I don’t want to date any dudes.” He chuckled.
She glared at him. “You know what I mean.”
He exhaled and ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t like this.”
“This is all I can give you right now, Noah.”
“You’ll let me know when that changes, okay?”
She didn’t miss the gleam in his eye.
From: Romona Hicks
To: Rachel Helms
GOT A VEHICLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m so excited. Noah helped me get it. How are things? How is Ashley? Miss you. Love you.
From: Rachel Helms
To: Romona Hicks
You know this is an emergency Facebook account, right?
From: Romona Hicks
To: Rachel Helms
This is an emergency. An emergency of awesome.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Bullshit Cherry
Nashville was a fun town, full of characters and Southern charm. Emily Sanders got her first job ever at Jack’s BBQ on Broadway after she’d finally gotten a vehicle. One of Noah’s many female friends told him about an opening for a server and she’d applied immediately. The restaurant had been around since the 1970s. It was also next to The Stage, where great music acts played every night. One of the things she loved about work was there was no quiet. After solely being in the condo for basically a year, she welcomed the hustle and bustle of the restaurant. She worked mindlessly; it kept her mind from spiraling out of control.
She’d also stopped eating meat because she was around it constantly. Her hair reeked of the smell of grilled pork. Even her skin smelled like meat. It was disgusting. The barbeque sauce ate away at the sneakers she wore, so she had to buy new ones every couple of months. Emery loved it anyway because her job allowed her to get out, make some money, and feel normal, or what she thought was normal. The days passed faster when she was working, so she picked up as many shifts as she could and would work past midnight at least four nights a week. Emery took food orders until around nine, then slung drinks the rest of the night.