Page 32 of The Stalker Snafu

Noah hummed. “He’s not usually so tongue-tied.”

I found it charming.

Turning in Noah’s arms and snuggling into his side, I greedily inhaled his earthy scent. His chest rumbled against my front with a chuckle.

“Thanksgiving break is coming up,” he said.

I smiled, looking forward to a whole week without classes and Music Theory quizzes. Pure bliss. “It is.”

“Are you going back to Kansas for the week?”

My heart jumped into my throat at the thought of seeing my parents again. If it were up to me, I’d never go back.

“I don’t think so,” I answered lightly, pushing down the unpleasant thoughts. I cleared my throat. “What about you? Any plans to visit Texas?”

“None.” Noah rubbed a hand down my back until it settled just above my butt. “Since we’re both free, how’d you like to stay here with me for the week?”

I pulled back. Had I heard him correctly? “Really? Here? For the whole week?”

Noah’s face was a perfect mask of indifference. But I knew him better now. He cared more than he let on. “I’ll still need to put in some hours at work, but that leaves plenty of time for us. We can try out a different café for breakfast each day.”

My cheeks hurt from the force of my smile. “I’d love that.”

A whole week living with Noah.

That was a big step up from sleepovers.

“We can spend a day at the zoo, too. I still haven’t been,” I thought aloud, already planning to take Mr. Elephant along with us. He’d love to meet others like him. “Teresa flies back to Cincinnati on Saturday, so I can come over after she leaves. We can start the week off with a crime-show marathon.”

“With cheeseburgers and Red Vines?”

I sighed happily and rested my head on his shoulder. “You know me so well, but don’t forget coffee.”

“Well, that was a given.”

There was a smile in his voice, and suddenly I couldn’t wait for Thanksgiving break.

I placed a light kiss on Noah’s neck just as one of our phones vibrated on the nightstand. I wasn’t inclined to move anytime soon, so thankfully he reached over to investigate.

“Who’s Cupcake Thief?” he asked evenly, but my breath hitched at the question.

I hadn’t exactly mentioned Finn to Noah yet.

I blinked against his warm neck. Exactly how detailed was one supposed to get when explaining to their boyfriend they were texting a guy who had asked them out and possibly proposed marriage before they started dating said boyfriend? Was any of it even relevant if things were strictly platonic now?

Which they were.

I pushed aside all the questions and pulled back to face Noah. It took effort not to pry the phone out of his hand. “A friend I met while catering.”

His gaze lingered on the screen, but then he chuckled and passed me my phone. “They want to know if vegetarians eat animal crackers?”

I breathed a laugh, and a knot unfurled in my stomach as I accepted the phone. I knew where Finn and I stood, but part of me hadn’t been sure how comfortable I was with Noah knowing about this weird friendship.

Something akin to relief washed over me as I curled back up against him.

CHAPTER 11

A Lie