When Time Runs Out

S~I~X

Noah's face turned from cocky to shocked when I dragged him out of the year and into the house through one of the side doors so no one would see us. "Did you have to say that so loud?" 

He grinned. I felt my palms get clammy and hid them behind my back. "Nice to see you, too." 

I sighed. "Sorry, I just... I didn't expect to see you here."  

He smirked and closed the distance between us, leaning in close to me so he could whisper. "Really? Is that why you were asking Austin all about me last night on the phone?" 

My jaw dropped when I realized what he meant. Of course, he knew about that. Austin was his cousin, they were probably hanging out, and overheard the conversation. The realization of it all made me feel even stupider than I did before I left my bedroom an hour ago. Noah obviously could tell I was uncomfortable. His brows furrowed and he reached out to touch my arm. "Hey, I didn't mean to make you feel weird...I asked about you too." 

"You did?" I asked, unable to hide my surprise.

He smirked again, causing goosebumps to appear all over my arms. Damn it, why does that always happen to me? "Yes. I asked him if his assumably hot friend Amara was single." 

I smacked his arm away. "You didn't."

"Oh, I did."

I could feel myself blushing furiously at the idea of Austin and Noah discussing private details about me in the comfort of Austin's bedroom. Sitting around, eating junk food, Austin on his computer playing some stupid game while Noah sat on the bed and watched TV in his boxers-

Okay, stop it. You're out of control now. 

I mentally slapped myself, but couldn't rid myself of the burning sensation in my cheeks from imagining a half naked Noah eating chips on a large, comfy bed. Try as I might, I nearly failed to hold back an image of myself lying across his bare chest...

"Amara? You okay? You kinda zoned out there." 

I looked up to see Noah was still watching me, a look of amusement in his eyes. I felt so overly embarrassed, that I didn't even want to speak anymore. I could only imagine a million other things I could do or say that would probably make me look like a stupid bimbo. I decided to refrain from saying anything else. 

"Excuse me," was all I said before I darted out of the room, and back out to the yard where Riley was still talking to Carole. They smiled when I walked over. 

"Amara, darling, how are you?" Carole said as I reached down to give her a hug. "It feels like I haven't seen you girls in ages." 

I smiled. "It has been a while. Thank you for having us." 

She shook off my comment. "Don't even mention it, you girls are just as much family to us." Carole peered around my body and grinned at Riley. "Have you met Noah yet? He's such a sweet kid. He and Austin get along like brothers."

The name Noah must have startled Riley because she whipped around to see him. Upon first glance, I don't think she put it all together. After staring at him for a few minutes and processing his name, she turned to me, mouth to the floor. I gave two short nods and gestured for her to follow me to the shed at the other corner of the lawn. "Excuse us," she said to Carole and abruptly pulled me in that direction. 

I pulled my arm from her grasp once we got inside the shed. Luckily Austin's dad had redone it inside so there was a couch, wine cooler, and a TV, as well as big windows for natural lighting. "You have a tight grip, you know."