Page 20 of Rise & Fall
His perfectly tan skin haunts me against his brown eyes and black tee, the fabric taut against his biceps and chest. He’s chiseled like a god, and it doesn’t help the ache still deep in my core.
He runs his hand through his deep brown hair.
“You’re right. It won’t happen again,” I defend, feeling extremely embarrassed that he caught me, but his next words catch me off guard.
“Next time, just ask for help.” And like that, he leaves me as he heads down the hall, presumably to round up the girls.
I take my hand to my chest and feel myself breathe, because without proof, you’d think I died of pure shame. Or lust. I can’t be too sure of what’s happening to my body right now.
I don’t know this man, and I almost came in his bathroom because he put a band-aid on my finger?What the hell is wrong with me?
“Do we really have to go?” Em asks as she appears in front of me.
Before I can answer her, I feel my phone vibrating in my pants pocket. I pull it out and don’t recognize the number. Then I realize it’s my doctor, probably calling me about my test results from the other day.
I look up at Nolan then to Em. “I have to take this.” I make my way into the hallway near the bathroom and answer the call.
“Hello?”
“Hello, this is Dr. Marshall. Is this Dakota Young?”
“This is her.” I try to keep my voice down to a whisper.
“Miss Young, I have your test results for STDs and HIV. Your tests all came back negative. You don’t have anything to worry about. Free and clear.”
A sigh of relief escaped my mouth. I had a feeling it would be negative; I was always careful with Asher, but I desperately needed to make sure.
“Thank you,” I reply to the doctor.
“Of course. We do have some other test results we’re still waiting for from the blood work you had drawn. Once we receive those, we’ll be able to schedule you an appointment for birth control.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” I hang up the phone and take in a deep breath before heading back toward Nolan and the girls.
“All good?” Nolan looks my way, concern washed over his face.
“Yes, thank you.” I don’t give him much else. How embarrassing would that be if I told him who that was and why they were calling. Though I’m not ashamed of others to know that I take care of myself, it’s just an awkward situation to be in.
“Ready, Em? We need to get you to your dad’s house.” I walk over to the front door and help her get her shoes on. “And I have to get to work.” I smile at her. She really is such a sweet girl. I hate that I’ll spend the whole weekend without her.
“Thanks for coming over!” Aria reaches out to Em for a hug.
I lean down to grab our bags, but Nolan places his hand over mine, stopping me from the action. He brings the bags up from the ground and holds them out to me, a mysterious smile curled on his lips.
“Thank you for having us over,” I offer an awkward little wave as I lead Em out the door and into the hallway, but before we can get too far, Nolan grabs me by the wrist with as gentle of a touch as any and turns me slightly to face him. His eyes turn black in the dimly lit hallway and his smile is ever so sexy as he parts his lips to speak.
“Come whenever you’d like,” he says as he gives me one last onceover then closes the door gently behind us.
Holy shit.
Emsley is holding my hand as we walk down the hall toward the elevator. Oblivious as to what just happened, thank God. But I can’t help but look over my shoulder back at his door and think…I need to go on more playdates.
six
Nolan
Ittookmeaminute to regain composure when I woke up this morning. The weekend went by agonizingly slow. Which did nothing to help the fact that Dakota was on my mind all weekend. Maybe that’s why it went by as slow as it did.
It’s stupid to practically dream about the way someone smells or feels or smiles. Or the way they sound when they’re about to come.