Presently Perfect (Perfect #3) (23 page)

“I need to get home,” she said, scooting off the table.

I jumped up. “I’ll drive you.”

She shook her head. “No, I want to walk.”

“Okay.”

I couldn’t help myself. Reaching up, I wiped a stray tear away from her cheek with my thumb. We locked eyes for a brief moment before Tweet lunged forward, wrapping her arms around my neck. My right arm eased its way around her waist, holding her tight, while my left hand stroked her hair.

“I am so,
so
sorry,” she whispered through a sob.

I had no idea why she was apologizing. Whatever happened had kept her away from me for several days. If I found out Brad played a part in it, I would end him.

Angling my head toward her, I buried my nose in her hair. “Don’t disappear from my life like that again.”

When Tweet pulled away that sweet shy smile of hers beamed up at me. She then turned and headed out of the park. I jumped in my truck and started it. The stereo blasted, I flipped on my hazard lights, and slowly followed behind her. Rolling down the window, “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz filled the night air. Tweet’s hips swayed back and forth in time to the music. She never turned back to acknowledge my presence as the side-to-side swishing of her cute little ass wrapped in her jeans became more exaggerated. In typical Tweet fashion, she pushed aside whatever brought tears to her eyes earlier, opting instead to act silly and make me smile.

When we were almost to her house, Tweet jogged to the front steps, twirled once, and then ran up to the front door. Before stepping inside, she turned, winked, and tossed me a wave. I stared at her for a few moments.

God, I loved her.

I gently tapped my horn, flashed my lights, and drove off content and happy, having seen my girl and knowing she was safe.

Graduation day had finally arrived. During the ceremony, I racked up a few scholarships and the I Dare You Award for leadership. Tweet earned a couple of scholarships as well as an award for journalism. I was so proud and excited for her. The shocked look on her face each time her name was called was priceless.

To celebrate the graduates in the neighborhood, all the parents got together and had a party at the park. Dads gathered around the grills, joking and drinking a few beers. Some of the moms were congratulating each other on their son’s or daughter’s achievements, while others chased down the younger brothers and sisters running around.

I’d been lugging coolers of ice from my truck to where the drinks were set up. Hauling the last one, I weaved my way through the crowd, dodging kids, Frisbees, balls, and various other flying objects and set the last cooler down.

My gaze roamed over the park, searching for Tweet. She was right where I knew she’d be, at our spot.

“Hey Dad, I got all the coolers out of my truck. Anything else?”

Draping his arm around my shoulders he said, “That’s my boy!” He turned to Mr. Sutton. “Tony, isn’t my boy something?”

Dad had a little buzz going on already. He never shied away from showing me affection, but when he started asking random people their opinion of me, I knew an adult beverage was involved.

“He’s a great kid,” Mr. Sutton replied.

“Kid shmid, he’s a man now.” Dad’s one-arm hug tightened around me. “A great young man. Your mom and I are incredibly proud of you, son.”

His eyes began to mist.

Slapping me on the back, he said, “Now, go have some fun.”

Tweet didn’t notice as I approached. She continued to stare across the pond, off in her own little world.

“Earth to Tweet.” I waved my hand in front of her face, bringing her back to the present.

Clearing her throat, she said, “Sorry.”

“What do you have rattling around in that beautiful head?”

She blew out a sigh. “Nothing much, I was just thinking about all the times we’ve spent here.”

“You’re not getting all sentimental and mushy on me, are you?”

“Maybe just a little.” She threw a slight smile my way.

Swallowing hard, I admitted, “It’s going be hard not having you around.”

I hated the idea of Tweet not living in town. I knew we’d call and text, and USC wasn’t that far away, but the idea of her being gone made my chest ache. Travis graduated high school last year and was attending USC. Being a sophomore in the fall, he had already made friends, knew the campus, and had gotten used to college life. I didn’t tell Tweet I had asked Travis to keep an eye out on her. Making sure she was finding her way around campus, having fun, and letting me know if any Smurffuckers came sniffing around her.

“It’s going to be hard not having you around. You’ll come visit me, right? USC isn’t far, only about an hour and a half.” There was a hint of panic in her tone.

She’d asked me this same question every day since receiving her acceptance letter. It made me feel good to know she would miss me.

“Nothing could keep me away from my girl. I’ll be up there so often you’ll get sick of me.”

“Impossible.”

I picked up her hand and placed a gentle kiss on the back of it. Then we sat quietly enjoying our spot. The moment was interrupted when my name shot through the air.

“Noah!”

I let go of Tweet’s hand and stood as Brooke walked up.

Damn, I thought I’d have more time with Tweet.

“Hey, baby. I’ve been looking for you,” Brooke said, wrapping her arms around my neck and planting a kiss on my lips.

I shifted slightly, hoping to break the kiss, but Brooke had a vise grip on my neck as she shoved her tongue farther into my mouth. Heat ran through my body more from embarrassment than the intensity of the kiss. I didn’t want Tweet to see this.

I was so fucked in the head.

Tweet clearing her throat interrupted Brooke staking her claim.

Setting my lips free, Brooke snaked her arm around my waist. “Sorry, Amanda. I love kissing my fella. I just never want to stop.”

Tweet turned her head, but not enough to hide her eye roll from me.

“Congrats on graduation,” Brooke said.

“Thanks. Back at ya.”

I looked back and forth between the girls thinking more chit-chat was on the way.

Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

After a few seconds of extreme awkwardness and the annoyed expression on Tweet’s face, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

“You hungry?” I asked Brooke.

She looked up at me, waggling her eyebrows. “I’m always hungry when you’re around, No-No.”

“Oh my god!! That’s your nickname?” Words and laughter flew from Tweet’s mouth, causing her body to lurch backward. “Oh man, that is rich.” Snarkiness dripped off of each word.

I forced the corners of my lips down, in an attempt to hide my smile. I hated the nickname, but Brooke liked it, and I didn’t want her feelings to be hurt.

Brooke’s arm tightened around me, her eyes narrowed at Tweet, and she spit out, “I think it’s cute and Noah loves it when I call him that, especially followed by a moan.”

Shit! The claws were coming out.

A small gasp caught in my throat, causing a cough to fly out of me. Rubbing the back of my neck, I glanced over at Tweet and smirked. She didn’t hide her DEFCON 1 glare or her sneer from Brooke. I could tell by the look in Tweet’s eyes that the wheels were turning and she was about to unleash one of her smartass comments. I needed to separate these two before Brooke pushed her over the edge. Just when I was about to drag Brooke away, she giggled, further rubbing the moan comment in Tweet’s face. It was too late for me to implement rescue efforts. I could see the snark bubble up in Tweet’s eyes.

Her arms folded across her chest, her head did that little wobble thing, and Tweet blasted back, “Did I give you the impression that I didn’t think it was cute? I’m sorry. It’s as cute as a Smurffucking button.”

Brooke’s back stiffened as another awkward silence fell over us.

I glanced at Tweet put my arm around Brooke’s shoulders, and stammered, “Well, let’s get you fed. See ya later, Tweet.”

As Brooke and I walked away, she tossed her last snippy comment over her shoulder, “See ya, Tweet.”

Several yards away I stopped and whispered in Brooke’s ear, “I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going, No-No?”

“I need to tell Tweet something.”

A huge smug grin appeared across Brooke’s face as she looked back.

I jogged over to Tweet, keeping my expression neutral.

Leaning in close to her face, I promised. “You will be severely punished later tonight.”

I let the concerned expression sit on her face for a few seconds before I allowed my devilish grin to slowly appear. I knew it was wrong, but I got a huge thrill out of Tweet being upset because of Brooke. Since she would never tell me her true feelings, I had to read her body language and reactions. They were the only indications I had that nothing had changed.

You still love me, Tweet.

Maintaining eye contact, I took a few steps back, then turned, and jogged back to Brooke’s side.

Grabbing our plates of food, Brooke and I sat side by side, several tables away from Tweet. I positioned myself so that I would have a clear view of her table. I tried to keep the staring to a minimum, but found myself glancing over often. Tweet’s sister, Emily, had joined her. I couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but I could tell Tweet was uncomfortable and ready to bolt. Her gaze shot toward me with every laugh that erupted from Brooke. The longing in her beautiful teal eyes intensified each time they were aimed in my direction.

A ripple of excitement moved through me. Maybe between the thought of us living in different cities, seeing Brooke’s antics, and listening to Emily, Tweet’s walls were coming down and we could finally step out of the friend zone.

As the party went on, I had a nice little buzz going from a few beers, and I basically let Brooke be
Brooke.
We hugged and kissed off and on. As Brooke laughed, squealed, and giggled loudly, I watched for Tweet’s reaction. I knew what I was doing bordered on douchedom, but I was a man on a mission. Somehow making Tweet jealous didn’t feel like pushing her to be with me. I was positive she wanted me, but her thoughts were just all jumbled up. This was my attempt at helping her straighten out her head and it seemed to be doing the trick.

The sun had set, a couple more beers consumed, the party ended, and the park emptied. I closed my eyes and slid my hand behind her neck, lacing my fingers through her soft dark hair. Her right hand twisted in my T-shirt as she tugged me closer to her body, while the left rubbed up and down my dick. A breathy moan slipped from her lips as my tongue slid between them. The second we made contact the kiss became frantic as we pushed as far into the other’s mouth as humanly possible. The deep husky tone of Jason Wade’s vocals floated from the speakers as “Everything” surrounded us. Pulling back, I sucked on her bottom lip hard and then nibbled my way across her jaw and down her neck.

“Let’s go back to my house,” she panted.

I nipped at her earlobe.

“Noah, I want you.”

“God, I want you too, Tweet.” I moaned against her skin.

“What?!”

Two hands shoved hard on my chest, throwing me back against the seat of the car. My eyes shot open to a snarling Brooke.

I shook my head, trying to get my thoughts to fall into place. “What?”

“You called me Tweet!”

Fuuuck me like a jackhammer!

Jabbing at the button on her dashboard, she silenced the voice of Jason Wade. I had walked Brooke to her car after the party and got into the passenger’s seat. The car ran idle while we said goodbye. The emotions of the day along with Tweet disappearing from the party without a word to me, mixed with four beers, had my head foggy.

Say something, dumbass.

I raked my hands up my face and into my hair. “I’m sorry. It’s been a weird day with graduation and…”

Think. Think. Think. I’m drunk!

“I’m drunk.”

“You didn’t drink that much,” she snapped.

“I’m a pussy when it comes to alcohol, ask Travis. I’m like a little girl. A little girl wearing a bright pink tutu. It was a slupid stip of the tongue… a stupid slip of tongue.”