he'll never be the one (a.i)

"back in business"

• C H A P T E R • F I V E •

"See you guys later!" Noa yells as she makes her way to the front door of the apartment; someone has just knocked on the door which means that Ashton is finally here to pick her up. Noa swings the door open and locks eyes with her date for the night.

"Hot damn, Peters. You look good," says Ashton as he shamelessly looks her up and down. He gently bites at his lower lip as his eyes scan her curves and Noa's eyes playfully roll; admittedly, she likes his eyes being on her.

"You still clean up pretty nicely," she tells him with a shrug as if she's hardly impressed when they both know that's not the case. Of course Noa thinks Ashton looks good. As much as she's played hard to get over the years, she's told him how attractive he is in confidence a plethora of times.

"What, I can't come in?" asks Ashton as Noa begins closing the door behind her.

"My roommates are home," Noa answers as if her words are synonymous with 'of course not.' Ashton sends her a questioning look and she lets out a laugh. "It's better this way. I promise."

"I thought you might have changed since college," says Ashton as they begin to walk down the steps that lead up to her apartment. Noa's the one giving him a questioning look this time. "Still keeping me a secret?" Noa's lips part slightly as she reacts to his words; she instantly thinks back to something that Hannah had said days prior.

"That's not true," Noa says with a shake of her head as they make it to Ashton's car.

"No, it's okay. I've always liked being your secret," Ashton assures her—flashing her a small smirk—before opening his door and getting inside. Noa lets out a sigh before opening the passenger side door and getting in after him.

"You're not a secret. They know all about you," Noa tells him as she's buckling her seatbelt.

"Ew. That makes it sound like I'm important or something. You crushing on me, Peters?" Noa looks over at Ashton with an unamused look. He catches her stare and begins to laugh.

"You fucking wish," Noa says under her breath as she looks out the windshield. "Where even is this thing?"

"Is that attitude I'm hearing, sweets?" Noa looks over at Ashton just as he looks at her. "I'll keep this car in park until we've made up."

"Would you drive already?" Noa asks through a laugh and she gently shakes her head. A small smile plays on Ashton's lips as he turns his attention away from the girl sitting beside him and instead begins to pull out of his spot.

"Wakeside Manor," Ashton finally answers Noa's question, and she can't help but let her eyes widen. It's possibly the nicest place in the entire town; not just anyone has their wedding at Wakeside.

"Do you think I'm dressed nicely enough?" Noa jokes. Ashton lets out a scoff before glancing in her direction.

"I think you'll put everyone else there to shame," he promises her. "And I will feel incredibly victorious knowing I'm the one taking you home tonight."

"Hmm... but what if some insanely hot bachelor comes up to me and whisks me away instead?" Noa watches as Ashton's head shakes in amusement; he's wearing a playful smile as his jaw clenches ever so slightly.

"I expect you to be on your best behavior, you know. You can't go around seducing these people," Ashton tells her which causes a laugh to abruptly escape from her lips.

"I promise to only seduce you," Noa says. "Scout's honor."

. . .

"When were you going to tell me that you don't know any of these people?" asks Noa as she sways to the music playing. It was hours later; the wedding ceremony had been stunning, and the food was delightful. But now they were an hour into the reception where the only sober individuals were the handful of kids running around.