Pierced by Love (24 page)

“Noelle, I don’t have to pretend to care about you. My feelings on that matter are genuine. I’m not going to stand by and let your parents think the worst of you. And I’m not going to allow your name to be dragged through the mud on campus because of me.”

“So we’re going to become an official couple, just like that?”

He looked steadily into her eyes. “Yes. Can you handle it?”

“Can you?” she shot back.

He grinned at her. “You told me yourself that I need to open myself up to new possibilities. That’s what I’m doing. Do I get to kiss you now?”

Her face turned red under his scrutiny. “We’re in a public place,” she objected.

Leaning closer to her, he whispered conspiratorially, “SeaWorld was a public place. And I don’t know about you, but I wanted that kiss then almost as much as I want it now.”

Just like that, the tension left her face as she smiled the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen. “Okay.”

And just like that, she was wrapped in his arms and they were enjoying the most euphoric kiss he’d ever experienced. Wow! If her kiss was this good now, imagine what it might be like if she really loved him. And if he loved her. Hmm. Maybe there was something to this love notion after all.

What had he gotten himself into? Pierce was calling himself an idiot a hundred times over as he drove Noelle home. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he was grateful to know that he appeared calm. But on the inside, he was shaking like a leaf. The idea of presenting a united front to Noelle’s parents and the institute population had sounded like a good idea only minutes ago, but could he really do this? He couldn’t blame Noelle for showing skepticism. He was having serious doubts now himself. Not that it was hard to be around her, but what did he know about making another person happy? He hadn’t seen any examples of that in his parents’ marriage.

Yet he really didn’t have much of a choice. Noelle was his friend and because of his lapse in good judgment, he’d invited her to San Diego, therefore placing her in a precarious situation. Why did life have to be so complicated? Heavenly Father’s plan sounded simple enough. Come to earth, gain a body, experience mortality, die, and be judged. He wondered if he’d thought in the premortal life that it would be as easy as it sounded. There were a lot of uncertainties in this mortal existence. He knew that without the Savior’s help, no one would be able to withstand the fiery darts of the adversary, as the scripture said.

Pierce knew that he needed to pray—
soon!
—and not stop until he received an answer.

He dropped Noelle off, walked her up to door, kissed her fully on the mouth for anyone who happened to be looking—not that he minded that—and walked inside his own apartment to his bedroom and knelt by his bed, bowing his head. “Dear Father in Heaven . . . please help me to know if I’ve done the right thing . . .”

A sweet spirit entered the room and warmed his soul. It had been a long time since Pierce had felt this peaceful, perhaps even before the drama that occurred on his mission. He now knew with certainty that pursuing a relationship with Noelle was what he wanted and he felt that he could move forward with faith and confidence in himself and the Lord. Heavenly Father would help him overcome his weaknesses, of which he had plenty. And when the time was right and she’d received her own confirmation, he and Noelle could be sealed for time and all eternity in the House of the Lord.

“All right, Noelle.” Jessie stood before her with her hands on her hips when she entered the apartment, a stern look crossing her features. “It’s time to fess up. We saw that kiss. So the question is—are you or are you not dating Pierce?”

Melody and Hannah were staring up at them from the couch where they’d been looking something up on Hannah’s laptop.

“Um, yeah,” Noelle mumbled, embarrassed. “Pierce and I are officially dating.”

A coy grin replaced the stern look as Jessie pumped her fist in the air. “Woo-hoo! You go, girl!” Jessie exclaimed. She yanked Noelle into an exuberant hug before abruptly backing away. “Tell us how it happened. Wait! He was the person you went to San Diego with, right?”

“Yes. I went to meet his family.” The lie, while falling easily from her lips, left a bad taste in her mouth.

“Why have you been keeping us in the dark?” Hannah asked. “You kept telling us that you were ‘just friends.’ Can you believe it, girls? Did you know about this, Melody?”

Melody was giving Noelle the evil eye, her brow lowered and her lips pursed. “No, as a matter of fact, I didn’t, although I suspected it.”

Noelle gulped, recalling that she and Pierce had decided to keep Chase’s questionable behavior to themselves until Pierce had a chance to speak to him. Now that her roommates knew they were dating, she hoped the happy news would spread rapidly through the apartment complex by nightfall, counteracting the awful rumor that already had a head start. She felt a headache coming on. “Pierce has been a good friend through this hard time. It was only recently that we discovered that we have feelings for each other,” she said honestly.

Melody was watching her closely. “Are you all right, Noelle? For someone who just announced that she’s dating the most eligible bachelor at the institute, you don’t seem too excited.” She then lowered her voice as she walked over to her. “I thought I would let you know that I heard some disturbing stuff about you today after my institute class. While we were all gone during spring break, you and Pierce—”

“I’ve heard it too,” she headed her sister off flatly. “And you can tell everyone you meet that no, we didn’t do that. It really hurts to know that
someone
is vicious enough to attack Pierce and me in that way.”

Melody’s taut features relaxed. “I’m sorry for doubting you. I should have known better. This is the last thing you need to deal with after . . . you know.”

She did. Knowing that Melody was on her side was a wonderful feeling. Noelle impulsively hugged her, whispering, “Thanks, sis. But now, I really am tired after working the past three days. I think I’ll go to bed early tonight.” She gave her roommates a reassuring smile and sidestepped Hannah’s hug by announcing that she was taking a shower before dinner. Then she hightailed it out of there.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Noelle. It’s good to hear from you. You haven’t called in a while.”

“Yeah. I’ve been pretty busy with school and everything. Actually, um, that’s one of the reasons I’m calling now. I wanted to let you know”—
before you find out from Chase and Melody
, she silently added—“that I’ve been dating a guy from my ward.”

“Is it the same young man who invited you to San Diego?”

“Yes. His name is Pierce Logan and he’s a really great guy.”
He’s a great kisser too.
“I’d like for you and Dad to meet him. Do you mind if he comes down with me in a few weeks?”

“Oh, Noelle,” her mom choked over her words, “we’ll be visiting the floral shop and bridal boutique, places like that. I’m sure that he would feel very much out of place.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Noelle said airily. “He’s from Glendale and will be staying with his mom. I’m sure that he’ll find plenty to do while the three of us take care of those other details. Besides, I would only need to stick around for the fitting.”
And I have absolutely no intention of following you and Melody anywhere else!

“Well, that should be fine,” her mom answered doubtfully. “Sweetheart, are you sure that you’re ready for another relationship so soon?”

No, not at all
. “I really love being around Pierce, Mom. He’s helped me a lot in the last month to sort my feelings out.”

“That’s all good and well, Noelle, but there’s a vast difference between love and sympathy.”

This conversation was going downhill rapidly. She decided to wrap it up. “Tell Dad I love him. I’ve gotta go now. See you soon.”

“Bye, Noelle. We love you too. We can’t wait to meet your young man.”

Noelle hung up, thinking that she was glad that at least one of them was looking forward to the visit.

Melody caught up with Noelle early the next morning just before she headed out the door to her class. “So Pierce is coming with us next weekend to meet Mom and Dad?”

“Yeah. Do you think they’ll like him?”

Melody bit her lip uncertainly. “Dad might. Mom, I don’t know.”

Noelle nodded. “That’s what I was thinking too,” she admitted. Their mother was a wonderful person, but she could be hard to please at times.

As it turned out, Pierce didn’t have a chance to ask Chase about spreading the rumor that week. It seemed he’d suddenly made himself scarce. By Friday, the majority of students at the institute knew that Noelle and Pierce were an item. What they actually thought about them being together, however, was anyone’s guess. So she and Pierce decided to attend the next dance together to enforce the idea that they were a happy couple. Pierce made a teasing comment about finally being able to dance with her and Noelle had to admit that it was an enjoyable experience.

After a few dances and plenty of singles expressing their surprise and, for the most part, delight in their new couple status, Kasey walked up to them, her glittering eyes encompassing the two of them maliciously. “Well, I see that you’ve reeled another girl in, Pierce.” Turning to Noelle, she smirked. “Enjoy him while you can, honey. He’s got wandering eyes. How you managed to tie him down is the question every girl here is asking.”

Pierce’s arm came around her waist protectively. At the moment, Noelle experienced a moment of clarity. It was Kasey who had spread the vicious rumor about them. Not Chase. But why? She glanced at Pierce, who kept his features carefully bland.

He seemed to read her mind. “Let’s talk.” They left the cultural hall and went into the rec room, sitting in a corner while a group of institute kids played a game of Ping-Pong. “Kasey’s remark must have seemed out of place to you. I need to explain something about her.” He then proceeded to tell Noelle about their disastrous date.

“Oh,” Noelle said as understanding dawned. “So that’s why you were so reluctant to come into my apartment when you picked me up to go to church that Sunday before we left for San Diego.”

Pierce nodded. “I was trying to avoid the exact thing that we’ve been accused of doing.”